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

(pictures lost/removed)

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

Juniper Crossed Rainbow Bridge Today

My precious Juniper crossed rainbow bridge today. As time has passed and especially this year, his ability to walk has diminished until the last few weeks, he could not walk at all. He ate, drank, and pottied lying down (which was very upsetting to him). I always tried to comfort him about this while giving him sponge baths to keep him clean. If I left his line of vision, he cried and barked and was very upset. Needless to say, I carried him around lots. He weighed only about 8 pounds.

Sweet Juniper was born on February 17, 1998. I named him after Brother Juniper, one of St. Francis' friars who was said to be a clown and a very funny fellow.

As Juniper crossed the bridge, I can see my husband and Juniper's dad, Tom, running to meet him. Tom and Juniper are so happy tonight. Juniper is pain free and young. His spirit is full of joy. I can see him running and leaping, playing with Poppy and the others who have gone before him. I can see Tom, holding and kissing him.

I won't forget our last moments, Juniper, and your sweet kisses and beautiful face. I could not bear for you to suffer any longer, especially knowing the pain was probably going to increase. What else was there to do for the sake of love and mercy?

Tonight I shall hold the others especially close and give thanks that they are still with me.

"All my dogs have been a ladder for me to God." Poppy's Mom

Touching Story of A Dog Who Crawled His Way Home After A Tornado

Ultimate Dog Tease

He's a Good Dog and I'm Moving

Ultimate Loyalty

“More than 30 dead dogs and 6 cats found at the bottom of a ravine in Prentiss County, Mississippi.”

Through our laws, Mississippi must say ‘No!’ to such horrors

By Sandy Williams

It is the headline that has haunted my thoughts for the last several days. “More than 30 dead dogs and 6 cats found at the bottom of a ravine in Prentiss County, Mississippi.” Some had been beaten, some had been shot, some had been tortured and hanged. As I watched a news clip in horror, I saw several little puppies lying at the bottom of that ravine with their heads crushed in. How could anyone commit such a cruel and sick act of violence?

My mind keeps seeing someone or several people standing at the top of that ravine, looking down and laughing. They feel a sense of excitement, a sense of power over those helpless animals. They had done the unspeakable and they were getting away with it. What they didn’t feel was remorse. People who commit such horrible acts of violence have no conscience, and if they do it once, they will do it again.

My mind keeps thinking of the local people from that area watching the evening news and there on the screen, to their horror, is their precious pet lying at the bottom of that ravine. Days before their family dog had suddenly disappeared from the safety of their own yard. Or their home had been invaded by thieves and not only did they steal their sense of security, they took their most valuable possession, their beloved little puppy.

My mind keeps thinking of those individuals who are so disturbed and sick that they commit these unforgivable acts of violence against animals and they are not adequately punished for their crimes. How can it be that the state in which I live does not consider such acts of violence against a helpless living creature a felony?

It is a fact that individuals with a history of abuse and violence toward animals will eventually turn their rage on a human being. Every serial killer in history has had a past of abusing innocent animals before they turned to torturing and mutilating humans.

Now, I want to take your mind back to Prentiss County. As you look down into that ravine, to your horror you see a small, innocent child lying lifeless on the rocks below.

Then I want you to sit down, right now, and write or e-mail your state senator and your representative or call them personally and tell them this must be the year that Mississippi makes animal cruelty against dogs and cats a first-offense felony in our state. We are sick and tired of all of the excuses of who this law might offend. As citizens and voters in Mississippi, all we are concerned about is who this law will protect.

Sandy Williams, of Tunica, is executive director of the Tunica Humane Society. For contact information on your legislators go to ms-fact.org.



Read more: http://www.sunherald.com/2011/02/05/2835484/through-our-laws-mississippi-must.html#ixzz1DIXqsXlG

Reily, Waveland Animal Shelter, Mississippi

I visited Riley today, a 5-year-old Maltese at a shelter in Waveland, MS. This is a kill shelter, but I was told that Riley is in no danger right now. Riley has been there about 10 days, turned in by owner who lost job and could not afford to keep. He is 5 years old, neutered and up to date on shots, heartworm negative.

I was going to adopt Riley to insure his safety but was told that two couples are interested in him. Both couples plan to come to the shelter today or tomorrow. I did not adopt him because it seems best probably that he go to one of these couples. I told the shelter people that I will call tomorrow to check on him, and if he has not been adopted by Monday, then I will like to have him then.

I spent some time in the shelter office with Reily. He was not afraid and seems to be happy. Perhaps 9-10 pounds. Very sweet with kisses. Needs bath and to be brushed but no more than a couple of mine do right now. Seems to be healthy; needs dental. Gets along well with other dogs. Will let you know the end of the story.

END OF THE STORY

I adopted Riley and released him to Northcentral Maltese Rescue while I continued to foster him for several weeks. He is doing great. In my notes I wrote: "He is very sweet, of course. Is very friendly fellow, follows me all over the house, is now taking nap in my lap (where he is the most happy) and gets along very well with all the other dogs. Loves to be held. He eats well and is not problem at all."

After I had Riley several weeks, he was transported to Wisconsin where he received some needed medical attention and was adopted into a wonderful home. Now he has a forever mom and dad who love him so much. Love and kisses to Riley, a sweet, sweet Maltese.


Riley traveling north to Wisconsin.

UNLEASH YOUR DOG'S POTENTIAL!

Just One Dog

Deck The Halls

We Won!

We Won!

Yorkie Puppies Playing

Back from the Brink in Missouri: Prop B to Bring End to Puppy Mill Cruelty

http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/2010/11/missouri-prop-b-victory.html

FROM A RESCUE GROUP: This is the top story all across the rescue world today. We are looking at probably thousands of dogs being dumped in the next 12 months. I wish I had more foster homes who are ready and willing to take one or two of these dogs in over the next year. If we don't they will be killed like disposable stock. I wish more people would look into their hearts to find a place to help."

Contact Northcentral Maltese Rescue, Inc., if you would like to foster a Maltese. http://malteserescue.homestead.com/

Foster information on website.

Lean on Me

OK Go - White Knuckles

Little Tag 19, a puppy mill story

Lawmakers re-examining animal cruelty laws - WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS:

Lawmakers re-examining animal cruelty laws - WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS:

This article says, in part:

Due to the current animal cruelty laws in Mississippi, a woman who was caught harboring 130 dogs in squalid conditions in Pearl River County last month won't be punished.

"She really didn't have a consequence. It's an agreement she limit herself to ten dogs," says Lydia Sattler, Director of the Mississippi Chapter of the Humane Society of the United States. Sattler helped investigate the puppy mill, and helped with the seizure of the animals.

Under stricter laws, the woman might have been levied a fine or forced into counseling.

Seeing the Suffering of Puppy Mills Firsthand

By Liz Bergstrom

After working at The Humane Society of the United States for more than two years, I had seen plenty of videos and photos of the squalid conditions at puppy mills across the country. I had seen images of dogs caked with their own waste, living in cramped conditions, or with rotten teeth and clouded eyes. Still, none of this made it easy to see the consequences of a puppy mill firsthand. Read more about the rescue »

I went along on my first puppy mill rescue in rural Mississippi after HSUS and its Wilde Puppy Mill Task Force were called in to help by local law enforcement. Our convoy of cars and transport vehicles, filled with HSUS staff and volunteers from other animal groups, pulled up to the property one muggy July afternoon.

Once the sheriff's department had served the warrant, spurred by concerns about the conditions of the dogs at the facility, I followed our team down the long, unpaved driveway hemmed in by trees. Though the sun had already started to get lower in the sky, the sweltering, oppressive heat showed no sign of letting up.

A disturbing scene
I saw the house come into view at the end of the driveway. I had just heard other team members describe how dog waste was piled on the floor inside and how the caustic air made their lungs and eyes burn.

Even from outside the house, I could smell overpowering ammonia from accumulated urine and hear the dogs barking and yipping nervously. They had no way of knowing that this would be the last day they would be forced to live in their own excrement, crowded together with other dogs and deprived of the care they needed.

While experienced animal handlers strapped respirators over their faces and went inside, I assisted at a table outside where team members recorded basic information about the animals, took photos, and attached collars for identification. Nearby, a veterinarian and transport vehicles were at the ready.

Breath of fresh air
Soon I saw the first dogs being carried out of the harsh fumes inside the house. They breathed fresh air for the first time in who knows how long. Nearly all the dogs were small breeds, so some of them came out two by two, the rescuers holding one safely in each arm.

A skilled veterinarian checked every dog for serious medical issues before either a volunteer or I secured a numbered collar around their necks. Though we were marking each animal with a number, I knew that before long, they would be adopted to a permanent home where they'd have a name and the individual attention they deserved.

I felt each animal's warm, dirty fur as I slipped the collars on and told them everything was going to be OK. Despite the blur of sweat, buzzing flies, and paperwork, I noticed little things like the unique dapple patterns on a dachshund's ears. I shuddered to see injuries like a dog with an open wound on her leg and a dog with a hole in the middle of his eye.

Sign the pledge to help stop puppy mills

Hope for mom and pups
The stream of photos and records paused as one of the rescuers carried out a large blue bin. I looked inside to see a weary-looking mother dog with eight puppies nursing among a bed of filthy towels. The vet estimated they were only about 16 days old. With so many dogs to identify and photograph at once, someone handed me a pure-white puppy who was barely bigger than my hand. I looked at his stubby legs and round belly while the shutter clicked.

Hours later, after the number of animals climbed past 100 and the house was finally empty, I walked back down the long driveway. It was completely dark and all the animals had been loaded into vehicles and taken to the temporary shelter.

Back at the shelter, where the dogs had clean crates, food, and water, they were already becoming more quiet and calm. Some of the dogs barked, but some were fast asleep.

Better things ahead
I noticed a Chihuahua with such a huge belly that I wondered if she would give birth at any minute. She seemed relieved to have a clean place to rest. When I looked at her and talked to her quietly, she looked back at me and wagged her tail in a circle. I thought about how her puppies would never have to live in the awful conditions their mothers had endured.

Instead they'll grow up as family pets with dog toys, leashes and walks, visits to a veterinarian, and plenty of attention. They won't have any idea what their life would have been like if not for this rescue.

There are so many other dogs in puppy mills who haven't yet been this lucky. Still, these animals' lives changed so much in a single day. I felt lucky too being there to see the dogs beginning to wag their tails and to know that their ordeal was over.

Liz Bergstrom is a public relations specialist with The Humane Society of the United States.


SOURCE: Seeing the Suffering of Puppy Mills Firsthand

Mississippi Pupy Mill Raid by HSUS

Mississippi Puppy Mill Raid

Puppy Mill Raid - Carriere, MS - approximately 50 miles from where I live. The HSUS led a rescue on July 13, 2010, of more than 100 dogs from a puppy mill operation in Carriere, Miss. Local residents had reported concerns about conditions at Sea Breeze Kennels, which had been advertising puppies for sale through classifieds and the Internet.

The first voice you hear is my vet, Dr. Jennifer Hendrick, Live Oak Animal Clinic, Pass Christian, MS. She is also the one showing horrible matted hair on one of the dogs. I'm so proud of her. She has taken care of my Maltese dogs for years and all the ones I have fostered for Northcentral Maltese Rescue.

Last Chance Highway: Making A Change

The Dog Beach Boggie

The Old Man and the Dog

by Catherine Moore

'Watch out! You nearly broadsided that car!' My father yelled at me. 'Can't you do anything right?' Those words hurt worse than blows. I turned my head toward the elderly man in the seat beside me, daring me to challenge him. A lump rose in my throat as I averted my eyes. I wasn't prepared for another battle. 'I saw the car Dad please don't yell at me when I'm driving. 'My voice was measured and steady, sounding far calmer than I really felt.

Dad glared at me, then turned away and settled back. At home I left Dad in front of the television and went outside to collect my thoughts. Dark, heavy clouds hung in the air with a promise of rain. The rumble of distant thunder seemed to echo my inner turmoil.
What could I do about him?

Dad had been a lumberjack in Washington and Oregon . He had enjoyed being outdoors and h ad reveled in pitting his strength against the forces of nature. He had entered grueling lumberjack competitions, and had placed often. The shelves in his house were filled with trophies that attested to his prowess.

The years marched on relentlessly. The first time he couldn't lift a heavy log, he joked about it; but later that same day I saw him outside alone, straining to lift it. He became irritable whenever anyone teased him about his advancing age, or when he couldn't do something he had done as a younger man.

Four days after his sixty-seventh birthday, he had a heart attack. An ambulance sped him to the hospital while a paramedic administered CPR to keep blood and oxygen flowing. At the hospital, Dad was rushed into an operating room. He was lucky; he survived.

But something inside Dad died. His zest for life was gone. He obstinately refused to follow doctor's orders. Suggestions and offers of help were turned aside with sarcasm and insults. The number of visitors thinned, then finally stopped altogether. Dad was left alone.

My husband, Dick, and I asked Dad to come live with us on our small farm. We hoped the fresh air and rustic atmosphere would help him adjust. Within a week after he moved in, I regretted the invitation. It seemed nothing was satisfactory. He criticized everything I did. I became frustrated and moody. Soon I was taking my pent-up anger out on Dick. We began to bicker and argue.

Alarmed, Dick sought out our pastor and explained the situation. The clergyman set up weekly counseling appointments for us. At the close of each session he prayed, asking God to soothe Dad's troubled mind. But the months wore on and God was silent. Something had to be done and it was up to me to do it.

The next day I sat down with the phone book and methodically called each of the mental health clinics listed in the Yellow Pages. I explained my problem to each of the sympathetic voices that answered. In vain just when I was giving up hope, one of the voices suddenly exclaimed, 'I just read something that might help you! Let me go get the article.' I listened as she read she article describing a remarkable study done at a nursing home. All of the patients were under treatment for chronic depression. Yet their attitudes had improved dramatically when they were given responsibility for a dog.

I drove to the animal shelter that afternoon. After I filled out a questionnaire, a uniformed officer led me to the kennels. The odor of disinfectant stung my nostrils as I moved down the row of pens. Each contained five to seven dogs. Long-haired dogs, curly-haired dogs, black dogs, spotted dogs-all jumped up, trying to reach me. I studied each one but rejected one after the other for various reasons, too big, too small, too much hair.

As I neared the last pen a dog in the shadows of the far corner struggled to his feet, walked to the front of the run and sat down. It was a pointer, one of the dog world's aristocrats. But this was a caricature of the breed. Years had etched his face and muzzle with shades of gray. His hipbones jutted out in lopsided triangles. But it was his eyes that caught and held my attention. Calm and clear, they beheld me unwaveringly.

I pointed to the dog. 'Can you tell me about him?' The officer looked, and then shook his head in puzzlement. 'He's a funny one. Appeared out of nowhere and sat in front of the gate. We brought him in, figuring someone would be right down to claim him, that was two weeks ago and we've heard nothing. His time is up tomorrow. He gestured helplessly.

As the words sank in I turned to the man in horror. 'You mean you're going to kill him?'
'Ma'am,' he said gently, 'that's our policy. We don't have room for every unclaimed dog.'
I looked at the pointer again. The calm brown eyes awaited my decision. 'I'll take him,' I said.

I drove home with the dog on the front seat beside me. When I reached the house I honked the horn twice. I was helping my prize out of the car when Dad shuffled onto the front porch.

'Ta-da! Look what I got for you, Dad!' I said excitedly.

Dad looked, and then wrinkled his face in disgust. 'If I had wanted a dog I would have gotten one. And I would have picked out a better specimen than that bag of bones. Keep it! I don't want it.' Dad waved his arm scornfully and turned back toward the house.

Anger rose inside me. It squeezed together my throat muscles and pounded into my temples.
'You'd better get used to him, Dad. He's staying!' Dad ignored me. 'Did you hear me, Dad?' I screamed those words as Dad whirled angrily, his hands clenched at his sides, his eyes narrowed and blazing with hate.

We stood glaring at each other like duelists, when suddenly the pointer pulled free from my grasp. He wobbled toward my dad and sat down in front of him. Then slowly, carefully, he raised his paw. Dad's lower jaw trembled as he stared at the uplifted paw. Confusion replaced the anger in his eyes. The pointer waited patiently, then Dad was on his knees hugging the animal.

It was the beginning of a warm and intimate friendship. Dad named the pointer Cheyenne . Together he and Cheyenne explored the community. They spent long hours walking down dusty lanes. They spent reflective moments on the banks of streams, angling for tasty trout. They even started to attend Sunday services together, Dad sitting in a pew and Cheyenne lying quietly at his feet.

Dad and Cheyenne were inseparable throughout the next three years. Dad's bitterness faded, and he and Cheyenne made many friends. Then late one night I was startled to feel Cheyenne 's cold nose burrowing through our bed covers. He had never before come into our bedroom at night. I woke Dick, put on my robe and ran into my father's room. Dad lay in his bed, his face serene. But his spirit had left quietly sometime during the night.

Two days later my shock and grief deepened when I discovered Cheyenne lying dead beside Dad's bed. I wrapped his still form in the rag rug he had slept on. As Dick and I buried him near a favorite fishing hole, I silently thanked the dog for the help he had given me in restoring Dad's peace of mind.

The morning of Dad's funeral dawned overcast and dreary. This day looks like the way I feel, I thought, as I walked down the aisle to the pews reserved for family. I was surprised to see the many friends Dad and Cheyenne had made filling the church. The pastor began his eulogy. It was a tribute to both Dad and the dog who had changed his life. And then the pastor turned to Hebrews 13:2. 'Be not forgetful to entertain strangers.' 'I've often thanked God for sending that angel,' he said.

For me, the past dropped into place, completing a puzzle that I had not seen before: The sympathetic voice that had just read the right article...Cheyenne's unexpected appearance at the animal shelter, his calm acceptance and complete devotion to my father and the proximity of their deaths, and suddenly I understood, I knew that God had answered my prayers after all.

Cute Puppy Whistle

Muffy and Her Baby, Lucky Apple

This kitten is Lucky Apple. She got her name from a friend, as I saved her in an apple orchard some years ago. Her sister was dead, and Lucky Apple was very cold so she was on her way out also. I think the mother abandoned them, so I put her inside my blouse and took her home. My friend rushed to the vets and bought a tin with kitten milk and a small bottle with a tiny teat. I fed her until she was big enough to drink and eat alone. Muffy thought she was her baby, so would wash her and sleep with her, and no one was allowed near her except us. Lucky Apple is now a big cat and with her adoptive family.

Source: my friend Marie

Lucy's Last Days

Rainbow Bridge

Lucy, July 24, 1994 - May 19, 2010

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

---------------------------
For Lucy, My Granddog, who went to Rainbow Bridge today, surrounded by love and tenderness and resting on my feet. Such a gentle one. It was an honor to care for her during her last months. She lived a long life - full of joy and adventure. She loved having her ears rubbed to the very end. I'm sure she was greeted by her pal Sammy and there has been a great reunion.

Sammy

The Journey

When you bring a pet into your life, you begin a journey. A journey that will bring you more love and devotion than you have ever known, yet will also test your strength and courage. If you allow, the journey will teach you many things, about life, about yourself, and most of all, about love. You will come away changed forever, for one soul cannot touch another without leaving its mark.

Along the way, you will learn much about savoring life's simple pleasures -- jumping in leaves, snoozing in the sun, the joys of puddles, and even the satisfaction of a good scratch behind the ears. If you spend much time outside, you will be taught how to truly experience every element, for no rock, leaf, or log will go unexamined, no rustling bush will be overlooked, and even the very air will be inhaled, pondered, and noted as being full of valuable information.

Your pace may be slower, except when heading home to the food dish, but you will become a better naturalist, having been taught by an expert in the field. Too many times we hike on automatic pilot, our goal being to complete the trail rather than enjoy the journey. We miss the details: the colorful mushrooms on the rotting log, the honeycomb in the old maple snag, the hawk feather caught on a twig.

Once we walk as a dog does, we discover a whole new world. We stop; we browse the landscape, we kick over leaves, peek in tree holes, look up, down, all around. And we learn what any dog knows that nature has created a marvelously complex world that is full of surprises, that each cycle of the seasons bring ever changing wonders, each day an essence all its own, each day a gift from God.

Even from indoors you will find yourself more attuned to the world around you. You will find yourself watching: summer insects collecting on a screen; how bizarre they are; how many kinds there are or noting the flick and flash of fireflies through the dark. You will stop to observe the swirling dance of windblown leaves, or sniff the air after a rain. It does not matter that there is no objective in this; the point is in the doing, in not letting life's most important details slip by.

You will find yourself doing silly things that your pet-less friends might not understand: spending thirty minutes in the grocery aisle looking for the cat food brand your feline must have, buying dog birthday treats, or driving around the block an extra time because your pet enjoys the ride. You will roll in the snow, wrestle with chewier toys, bounce little rubber balls till your eyes cross, and even run around the house trailing your bathrobe tie with a cat in hot pursuit, all in the name of love.

Your house will become muddier and hairier. You will wear less dark clothing and buy more lint rollers. You may find dog biscuits in your pocket or purse, and feel the need to explain that an old plastic shopping bag adorns your living room rug because your cat loves the crinkly sound. You will learn the true measure of love. The steadfast, undying kind that says, "It doesn't matter where we are or what we do, or how life treats us as long as we are together."

Respect this always. It is the most precious gift any living soul can give another. You will not find it often among the human race. And you will learn humility. The look in my dog's eyes often made me feel ashamed. Such joy and love at my presence. She saw not some flawed human who could be cross and stubborn, moody or rude, but only her wonderful companion. Or maybe she saw those things and dismissed them as mere human foibles, not worth considering, and so chose to love me anyway.

If you pay attention and learn well, when the journey is done, you will be not just a better person, but the person your pet always knew you to be. The one they were proud to call beloved friend.

I must caution you that this journey is not without pain. Like all paths of true love, the pain is part of loving. For as surely as the sun sets, one day your dear animal companion will follow a trail you cannot yet go down. And you will have to find the strength and love to let them go.

A pet's time on earth is far too short, especially for those that love them. We borrow them, really, just for a while, and during these brief years they are generous enough to give us all their love, every inch of their spirit and heart, until one day there is nothing left. The cat that only yesterday was a kitten is all too soon old and frail and sleeping in the sun. The young pup of boundless energy now wakes up stiff and lame, the muzzle gone to gray.

Deep down we somehow always knew that this journey would end. We knew that if we gave our hearts they would be broken. But give them we must for it is all they ask in return. When the time comes, and the road curves ahead to a place we cannot see, we give one final gift and let them run on ahead, young and whole once more. "God speed, good friend," we say, until our journey comes full circle and our paths cross again.

And bless their souls for sharing their lives with us... and adding so much to our very existence.

(Posted this day in memory of Lucy)

Greenville Euthanize List - Greenville, S.C.

Look at these sad little ones - scheduled to be put to sleep unless someone helps them. Website: http://www.noahs-arks.net/RESCUE/Greenville.html

Most young and heathy. As of this post date, there is one-year old Chloe and her 9 puppies, surrendered by owner and were scheduled to be put to sleep on 3/26. There is no update on their status.

"Greenville County Animal Care Services in an open admission shelter, which means that it accepts animals regardless of their adoptability. An average of 1,500 stray and unwanted pets is turned into their facility each month. Approximately 55% of the animals entering our facility are found homes through adoption and animal rescue services. Unfortunately, as long as there are more dogs and cats than responsible pet owners, the animal shelter will need to euthanize animals." http://www.greenvillecounty.org/acs/

Edie - rescued an hour before euthanasia

Darkside of Mississippi - Animal Cruelty and Neglect

Backaches, Heartbreak and Hope in Mississippi

Backaches, Heartbreak, and Hope in Mississippi : The Humane Society of the United States

PRESTON, Miss. — The Humane Society of the United States and the Mississippi Animal Rescue League assisted the Kemper County Sheriff's Department in the seizure of 165 dogs and cats who were found living in deplorable conditions in Preston, Miss. The animals were removed from Raven's Hope, a non-profit organization that claims to offer animals for adoption. The seizure is the largest known animal rescue in Kemper County. . . .

MERIDIAN — Raven's Hope Animal Sanctuary in Kemper County garnered statewide attention early last week as more than 150 dogs were taken from a labyrinth of outdoor cages surrounding an otherwise unassuming house. . . . "We found seven dogs deceased already when we arrived," said Jordan Crump, a spokesperson for the Humane Society of the United States. "There were an untold amount of skeletal remains all over the property." The remains were presumably of dogs, she said. "I've been on about 30 rescue missions," Crump said. "This is probably the worst I've seen. . . . (Read more here.)

Look Who's Coming for Dinner!

A Great Valentine's Day for Murphy

Murphy and His Forever Mom & Dad

What a wonderful Valentine's Day for Murphy. Today he went to his forever home. He has a wonderful new mom and dad. God is good! He has given Murphy the very best. Murphy also has a new sister. Her name is Libby. What a beautiful family!

Libby, Murphy's New Sister

Baxter

Neuter That Boy - GRated

GoD and DoG

Rosie may become a prosthetic poodle

RACINE - If you don't look at her back half, Rosie looks like any other miniature poodle - cute, petite, with bright brown eyes.

It's her back legs - just like her back story - that are horrific.

Rosie was seized July 23 by the Hot Spring County Sheriff's Department and an anti-cruelty group in Rockport, Ark. She was one of 34 dogs rescued from an unscrupulous breeder's filthy trailer.

The Malvern (Ark.) Daily Record reported, "Many of the dogs were in poor health, covered in feces and urine, and living in cages that in some places were stacked up to the ceiling of the residence."

Rosie - who'd been bred to produce litters of puppies - had arrived with a skin condition, fleas and an ear infection.

Besides all of that, she had a special problem, says Dr. Brian Ray of Belle City Veterinary Hospital in Racine. She had a congenital problem: kneecaps that slide in and out of their joints.

Because that was never surgically corrected, and in view of her caged existence, her hind legs are now horribly twisted. Ray called her problem a "severe grade 4," with 4 being the highest level. She cannot defecate or urinate without soiling herself, and hobbles around on her rear knees.

"The amazing thing is, they bred this dog. Can you believe it?" said Mary Palmer as Rosie was being examined Wednesday. She said Rosie's case was being used to prosecute the breeder.

Palmer is president and founder of Northcentral Maltese Rescue, a Racine-based nonprofit. She accepted Rosie from the Arkansas anticruelty group which had too much on its hands without having to deal with Rosie's special medical problem.

Palmer plans to find a way for her group to pay for whatever comes next. She knows it will likely get very expensive but said, "It's in rough shape, but this is a happy little dog.

"You can't save all of them, I understand that," Palmer said. "But there are some that come along that touch your heart so deeply that you can't turn away.

"We're just jumping in with both feet."

The "both feet" metaphor is ironic considering that Rosie is highly likely to lose two of hers to partial amputation of her deformed limbs.

What comes after that could get very interesting. Joining Ray Wednesday in examining Rosie was Doug Reichert, a licensed prosthetist with Reichert & Kelsey, Kenosha. They are considering having Reichert make Rosie two prosthetic, removable legs.

At one point Rosie tried to thank Reichert for his concern with two air-licks toward his face.

Reichert has never done prosthetics for a nonhuman before, but he thinks he could help. After amputation, he told Ray, "If I have a femur, that's all I need."

If they choose that route, the dog's prosthetics could be something like the leaf-spring prosthetic feet that South African runner Oscar Pistorius has, Reichert said.

Another option being pondered is to get Rosie a cart - essentially replacing her useless rear legs with wheels. By day's end Wednesday, after talking to a cart manufacturer, Ray was leaning toward trying that first.

"If we can avoid surgery it would be best," he said.

"I think it would be the quickest route to having her running around and having some fun."

Posted in Local on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 5:25 pm Updated: 7:34 pm. | Tags: Belle City Veterinary Hospital, Northcentral Maltese Rescue,

Shag-Ra & Phyllis - The Miracle of Love

Northcentral Maltese Rescue

Cherry Blossom & Pepper - ADOPTED!!

My friend Renee (located on Mississippi Gulf Coast) has rescued two poodles. If I recall the story correctly, the owner died and heirs were going to put these two sweet ones to sleep to “rid themselves” of the problem. The real estate agent and my friend intervened. She is trying to find a new home for them; meanwhile, they are living with her. I’m her backup in case she needs help or a place for them to be for short period. They are both seniors and are healthy. One is the mother, the smaller one, and her name is Cherry Blossom. Her son is Pepper. We think they are about 11 and 13. They have been together for life and need to stay together. They love each other very much. They are housebroken and have adorable personalities.

Please pass this information along so we can find these two precious ones a home for their remaining years.

Adopt Me

Tiara Topknot Take 2

Emie and Sunny - Looking for Loving Home Together

Location Racine, Wisconsin: Emie and Sunny are a bonded pair of 4-5 yrs olds. We are spay and neutered. We just got our teeth all cleaned and sparkling too. We weigh about 7 & 8 pounds respectively. We have had a pretty rough year. From living in a loving home to a drug home, life was not always so good. Even though our Mom had problems she loved us enough to get us to rescue. We have been through so much, but are still as sweet as can be. We love to snuggle and cuddle and be close. We give kisses, just want to be loved. Sunny is very aware of any dogs that appear on TV and he will run to the tv and bark at them to tell them to get out of his space. Our foster Mom says that she cannot believe how well behaved we are. Although things have been kind of crazy we are still pretty much housetrained and do enjoy going outside and do really well on a leash. We just got a bath and new hair cuts so we look and smell pretty good now!!

Please call Mary if you would like to give us a forever home. 262-633-9371

Dog Whisperer on Puppy Mills

Dog Whisperer on Puppy Mills

Murphy

Looking for a forever home.

MURPHY NEEDS FOREVER HOME

I am a foster mom to rescued Maltese dogs. I do this for Northcentral Maltese Rescue. At the moment, I have one permanent foster, Rosie, who is blind but otherwise healthy, and then Murphy.

Murphy was left him in a shelter in New Orleans and rescued by a tender-hearted young girl who adopted him. She brought him to her grandmother who released him to me and Maltese Rescue.

Murphy is a jewel. He has a sweet disposition, is very devoted and bonded quickly with me. He is healthy, likes to take walks, and is very good on a leash. He enjoys snuggling and sleeps very close in bed with me at night. He has been fully vetted and weighs about 13 pounds. The vet says he is about 5 to 6 years old, a Maltese, maybe a little mix. He’s a little shy occasionally and probably would enjoy the company of another easy-going dog to play with (not a dominant one) or would do well as only dog. He is housebroken but does need to be taken out on a timely basis.

Application to adopt Murphy is made through Mary Palmer, Northcentral Maltese Rescue. For more information or go to the website at http://www.malteserescue.homestead.com/ or call Mary Palmer at 262-633-9371

Celebrate Earth Day With Our Pets

DOUBLE CLICK IMAGE ABOVE TO ENLARGE AND SEE ALL.

Source: http://www.gocomics.com/cathy/2009/04/19/

Jasmine, the Mother Theresa Greyhound

Jasmine, the Mother Theresa Greyhound

Posted using ShareThis

Bogart - One Happy Puppy

Located in the Milwaukee Wisconsin area: Bogart is a 7 month old 5 1/2 pound Maltese. Born in a puppy mill, Bogie is free from a sad future there. He is happy and learning what it is like to run and play. Bogie is neutered, current on shots and ready for a bright new future. He needs a home that can keep up with his puppy energy and a buddy would be nice who is close to his age and energy level. Bogart is working on his housetraining so will still need a little help in that area. Please call Mary if you are interested in opening your home to this little bundle of love. 262-633-9371

Cuba - The Social Butterfly

Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Cuba is a delightful little 7 months young Havanese. He loves to play, he loves to leap in the air and he is a social little butterfly too. Cuba came from a puppy mill but he's already forgotten that life, or lack of life. He's just so happy to be free. He loves to play with his little foster sister Mindy and to cuddle with his foster parents. Cuba is one perfect little angel boy, oh except when he sleeps then he tends to snore. Cuba is doing quite well on his housetraining, he still has an accident now and then but he's only been working at it for a week now, shouldn't take too much longer before he completely understands the process. Cuba is neutered and current on his shots. He weighs 9 pounds. If you're looking for an Angel, no need to look further. Please call Mary at 262-633-9371

Mindy the Pom

Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Mindy is a 6 month young Pomeranian. She came from a puppy mill and is so excited to be out! She weighs a whopping 4 ¾ pounds. Mindy is a playful little girl, she plays with her foster brother Cuba, when she's not interested in playing with Cuba anymore she has no problem telling him to back off, she may be petite but she doesn't let that stop her! On the softer side, she is a cuddler and will brighten anyones day. Mindy is spay, and current on her shots. She is working on her housetraining at this time, but is still a pup so training will have to continue.

Mindy is a sweet confident little girl anyone would be lucky to have her in their life. Please call Mary at 262-633-9371

Bruser - Loaded with Puppy Fun

Located in Milwaukee Wisconsin, Bruser is one of the most adorable puppies you will ever see. He is loaded with fun puppy energy and loves to be held and give puppy breath kisses. Bruser is a Maltese/Yorkie mix, he is neutered, current on shots appropriate for a 12 week old pup and Micro chipped.. He will not last long so please don’t wait to get your application in. Please call Mary at 262-633-9371

Tina - Just a Puppy

Located in Milwaukee Wisconsin, Tina is one of the most adorable puppies you will ever see. She is loaded with fun puppy energy and loves to be held and give puppy breath kisses. Tina is a Maltese/Yorkie mix, she is spayed, current on shots appropriate for a 12 week old pup and Micro chipped.. She will not last long so please don't wait to get your application in. Please call Mary at 262-633-9371

Shasha - Pretty As A Princess

LOCATED IN MUSKEGO, WISCONSIN: Hi, my name is Sasha. My foster mom gave me that pretty name and I know it very well. I am approximately 4 years old and was recently rescued from a puppy mill. Luckily, I am in good health. I have been spayed and am up to date on all my shots. When I entered my foster home, I was a frightened little girl who didn't trust humans at all. In fact, I feared just about everything. Oh...how my life has changed since then. In the last several weeks, my personality is really beginning to blossom. I am trusting humans more and more. You see, I had never experienced a kind human touch until now, and I really like it! I love being petted, pampered, and massaged. I also feel very secure with other small doggies around me. I snuggle with them while sleeping, & we play together when I'm awake! I weigh only 7 pounds, but am a very good eater and must be careful not to overeat. Plus, I have learned to go potty on a pad like a good little girl. I am adjusting nicely to my new life outside of a puppy mill, and what a wonderful life it is! My tail just won't stop wagging...I am so happy!

Guess what? My foster mom thinks I'm as pretty as a Princess. Just see for yourself! Yes, I really do feel pretty in my new red dress. But, I'll let you be the judge!

My new forever home must be a family who will have patience with my progress, show me the compassion, love, and the understanding that I deserve. These are the things I will need in order for me to continue to blossom into the loving little Maltese girl that I was meant to be, and will be, when the right family comes along to adopt me. Could that family be yours? Please call Mary at 262-633-9371 for more information on how you can adopt Sasha.

Pete Shows Us How to Skateboard

"The Oz Man" - Little Ozzie - Looking for New Home

Located in Orange County, California; Meet little Ozzie. We call him the "Oz Man". This little boy is 18-months-old. He is full of love, and life. He gets along well with the other fosters, and even enjoys snuggling with a few of them. He loves to lay, and play, in the big bed with his foster mommy. He's a good boy, from a good home, which the original owner, sadly, has health problems. So she made the, very hard, decision to surrender him.The "Oz Man" is fully vetted. He's doing well with housetraining, but will need a little extra attention, in that area. Whomever adopts this sweet angel,will be VERY lucky, indeed. Please call Mary at 262-633-9371 if you are interested in this little angel.

Loving Life and Smiling - Cagney Waits for a Home

Location Milwaukee Wisconsin. Did someone say play? I'm an expert! Cagney may have spent the first seven months of his life in a puppymill but that has not dimmed his zest for life. He's an adorable 8# Maltese with personality plus. He's a curious, smart, happy, fun-loving puppy who will make a wonderful addition to your home. This little bundle is neutered and current on his shots. Cagney gets along great with other dogs and people and loves to play chase in the yard. Being a puppy, Cagney is still working on his potty training skills. He needs a home with an active playmate. Cagney's love of life shines through. Just look at that smile!

Please call Mary Palmer at 262-633-9371 for more information on how you can adopt Cagney.

The Journey

When you bring a pet into your life, you begin a journey - a journey that will bring you more love and devotion than you have ever known, yet also test your strength and courage. If you allow, the journey will teach you many things, about life, about yourself, and most of all, about love. You will come away changed forever, for one soul cannot touch another without leaving its mark.

Along the way, you will learn much about savoring life's simplep leasures - jumping in leaves, snoozing in the sun, the joys of puddles,and even the satisfaction of a good scratch behind the ears.

If you spend much time outside, you will be taught how to truly experience every element, for no rock, leaf, or log will go unexamined, no rustling bush will be overlooked, and even the very air will be inhaled, pondered, and noted as being full of valuable information. Your pace may be slower - except when heading home to the food dish - but you will become a better naturalist, having been taught by an expert in the field.

Too many times we hike on automatic pilot, our goal being to complete the trail rather than enjoy the journey. We miss the details - the colorful mushrooms on the rotting log, the honeycomb in the old maples nag, the hawk feather caught on a twig. Once we walk as a dog does, we discover a whole new world. We stop; we browse the landscape, we kick over leaves, peek in tree holes, look up, down, all around. And we learn what any dog knows: that nature has created a marvelously complex world that is full of surprises, that each cycle of the seasons bring ever changing wonders, each day an essence all its own.

Even from indoors you will find yourself more attuned to the world around you. You will find yourself watching summer insects collecting on a screen. (How bizarre they are! How many kinds there are!), or noting the flick and flash of fireflies through the dark. You will stop to observe the swirling dance of wind blown leaves, or sniff the air after a rain. It does not matter that there is no objective in this; the point is in the doing, in not letting life's most important details slip by.

You will find yourself doing silly things that your pet-less friends might not understand: spending thirty minutes in the grocery aisle looking for the cat food brand your feline must have, buying dog birthday treats, or driving around the block an extra time because your pet enjoys the ride. You will roll in the snow, wrestle with chewie toys, bounce little rubber balls till your eyes cross, and even run around the house trailing your bathrobe tie - with a cat in hot pursuit- all in the name of love.

Your house will become muddier and hairier. You will wear less dark clothing and buy more lint rollers. You may find dog biscuits in your pocket or purse, and feel the need to explain that an old plastic shopping bag adorns your living room rug because your cat loves the crinkly sound.

You will learn the true measure of love - the steadfast, undying kind that says, "It doesn't matter where we are or what we do, or how lifetreats us as long as we are together." Respect this always.

It is the most precious gift any living soul can give another. You will not find it often among the human race.

And you will learn humility. The look in my dog's eyes often made me feel ashamed. Such joy and love at my presence. She saw not some flawed human who could be cross and stubborn, moody or rude, but only her wonderful companion. Or maybe she saw those things and dismissed them as mere human foibles, not worth considering, and so chose to love me anyway.

If you pay attention and learn well, when the journey is done, you willbe not just a better person, but the person your pet always knew you tobe - the one they were proud to call beloved friend.

I must caution you that this journey is not without pain. Like all paths of true love, the pain is part of loving. For as surely as the sun sets, one day your dear animal companion will follow a trail you cannot yet go down. And you will have to find the strength and love to let them go. A pet's time on earth is far too short - especially for those that love them. We borrow them, really, just for awhile, and during these brief years they are generous enough to give us all their love, every inch of their spirit and heart, until one day there is nothing left.

The cat that only yesterday was a kitten is all too soon old and frail and sleeping in the sun. The young pup of boundless energy wakes upstiff and lame, the muzzle now gray. Deep down we somehow always knewthat this journey would end. We knew that if we gave our hearts they would be broken. But give them we must for it is all they ask in return.

When the time comes, and the road curves ahead to a place we cannot see, we give one final gift and let them run on ahead - young and whole once more.

"Godspeed, good friend," we say, until our journey comes full circle and our paths cross again.

~ Crystal Ward Kent

Meet Winter - Ready to Love a Family

Scottsdale, Arizona: Meet Winter,the handsome little love bug who is just full of love to give to the perfect family. Winter is between 4 and 5 years-old. He is initally a little shy and takes a little time to warm up to new people and new situations. Once he does though, look out! Winter is still learning the doggy door but is fully potty trained and has had zero accidents in his first week with his new foster family. Winter would do well in a family with no other dogs or one with dogs who are quieter. He's a good boy, and loves nothing more than being held. He'll wrap his paws around your neck, and nestle his little head on your shoulders. But more important he will wrap himself around your heart. He is current on shots and neutered. Please call Mary Palmer if you think your heart needs some warming from Winter. 262-633-9371

Waking Miss Daisy

Spencer Is Looking for a Home

LOCATED IN SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA: Spencer is a very happy little guy, with a terrific personality. He was in really bad shape when picked up in Phoenix as a stray. His ears were full of dirt and a serious ear infection. The vet estimates that he is approximately 9 years old; he is a little hard of hearing as a result of his previous ear problems, but this does not take away from anything he does. Spencer is neutered, has had a dental, is up to date on his vaccinations. He looks and feels like a totally different dog than when he was picked up. His tail is always wagging and he gets along well with his other doggy brothers and sisters, although he is not quite as rowdy as they are. He is perfect on the potty training and would do great either in a home as an only dog or a home with other quiet dogs. If you are interested in a great companion please call Mary at 262-633-9371.

Maltese In A Box

Tinkerbell - Give This Girl Your Heart and A Home

Located: St Charles Illinois. My name is Tinkerbell. My story has a pretty rough beginning. I was one of 125 dogs living in a little house with just one human. Someone came and took all of us away. I went to a vet and he said I had a really bad heart problem. My tummy was swollen and I was not feeling well at all. Then I took a long ride to Wisconsin to a place called rescue. They took me to a vet who said my heart was just fine, but I was full of parasites. They gave me some medicine and wow did I start to feel really good. Today I am 4 1/2 pounds of puppy energy. They think I am about 11/2 to 2 yrs old, and boy oh boy do I love life. I have so much energy that I need a home with someone who can keep up with me. Take me for walks, and play, play, play. Don't get me wrong I LOVE my cuddle time too. I love sleeping in a human bed and knowing I am safe. I would really like a buddy, but one that is young enough and has enough energy to play with me. Unfortunately I lost the hair on my ears and part of my tail because of the trauma to my system from those nasty parasites. There is some fuzz starting to grow back, I do look a little silly right now but then I am a silly little girl. Please call Mary (262-633-9371) if you want to adopt me, I would be so happy

Sweet Tessa Looking For Her Forever Home

Located in Racine, Wisconsin; Tessa is a 1 ½ yr old female. She has been spay and is current on all of her shots. Tessa is a Maltese /Shih Tzu Mix we believe. She weighs about 7 ½ pounds of bounding energy. She will win anyone over with those huge sweet eyes. Tessa was picked up as a stray, limping in the cold. When no one claimed her at the shelter she was transferred to Maltese Rescue needing veterinary care. While we suspected she had a broken leg we were surprised to find that the leg could not be repaired. Tessa had to have her rear leg removed. Now, here she is just a few weeks since her surgery and she is running like the wind. She does not know she only has three legs. Shhh don’t anyone tell her. She is a snuggle bug. But so full of energy, so a home with enough energy to keep up is necessary. Please call Mary for more information about Tessa. 262-633-9371

Another Tucker

Located in New College Pennsylvania; Tucker is a wonderful little Maltese. He has been in my foster care since February 1, and is an absolute joy to have in our home. Tucker is a 5 year old, neutered Maltese and weights about 12 lbs, and could stand to lose a pound or more. He loves to go on walks, and will walk well on a leash. He gets along well with other dogs, but would prefer a home without other dogs or a home with a submissive dog, just like him. Tucker loves to cuddle up on the sofa next to me or rest on my lap, and most of all at bedtime he wants to crawl into bed with us and our two other dogs. Tucker seems to prefer woman over men and children, but would do well with a man in the household who took his time getting to know Tucker. Tucker is 98% potty trained, but needs to be fed and walked on a regular-daily schedule. I take Tucker out frequently during the day to remind him it is potty time. We haven’t had any potty incidents since he has been in my care. Tucker has been to obedience school and understands basic commands such as: Sit, Stay, Come, Leave it, Shake, Dance and is extremely eager to please. Tucker will certainly be missed in our home when he goes to his Forever Home, as he has been my constant shadow since the day we met. He is without a doubt a bundle of joy, and would be a loyal, playful and wonderful companion to his Forever Family. Please call Mary at 262-633-9371.