Shylow - Update

Hi there! Just writing to give an update on Shylow:

She is doing very very well. We love her dearly already. She is gentle, affectionate, has a “soft mouth” around us, gives us kisses, plays with us, sleeps in her crate through the night (door open) and is up to 2 hours/day in her crate (door closed). We’ve got a schedule set up for her so that she won’t have to spend too much more than that in the crate (and no more than 3 days/week). She’s happily continuing with her raw diet and has tolerated some new faces (my sister, my parents, Lori, and strangers on the street) with increasing curiosity and calmness. Meeting other dogs are a different story but we’re working with her and she IS getting better! We met with Lori Mason on Monday and she spent lots of time with us and gave us lots of training tips – she was really great!

Thanks again so much for taking such good care of her – it’s obvious that she’s been well-loved.

I’m sure Shylow would also send her hello … and thanks!

Cindy

Odin - Update!

Hi Everyone,

I've been thinking of all of you lately and wanted to share some photos of my handsome mug. This is me with some of my buddies. We go out on the ATV daily and I have so much fun in the snow! I'm helping my Mom round up the horses for dinner in the last pic. Hope you are all well and say hi to all my friends at the shelter.

Love, Odin

Jules

Hi there, my name is Colin and I adopted Jules. I wanted to share how she was doing with everyone.

Jules is happy to report that 1 month into her adopting she is really starting to enjoy the new home. Walks everyday, and dog park every weekend, not to mention some treats in the mix too. She is still eating her regular diet, and is very much enjoying it. Sleeping is a breeze on her new bed. She met 15 people in the first week of her new home and no growling or biting. Off-leash the first time to the dog park, and listened very well to commands given. LOVES to play fetch! And she's warming up to the whole family! There will be another report in a months time. Photos will follow.

Thanks! And Jules is a great dog.

*Milo*

Milo the dog at the Richmond Animal Shelter
in need of hydrotherapy after hit-and-run accident

Dec. 2, 2010 - Milo, the sweet four year-old, male Mastiff-shepherd dog at the Richmond Animal Shelter who was hit by a car and abandoned by his owner in Richmond in July, has reached a new milestone in his recovery from that terrible accident. Thanks to public support over the summer, Milo received a complex surgery to repair a compound fracture of his femur. After a long recovery from surgery and additional complications from his injury, Milo is now scheduled to undergo rehabilitative hydrotherapy at Canada West Veterinary hospital. The Richmond Animal Protection Society is looking for financial support to help Milo in the final stages of his recovery.

For orthopaedic injuries, hydrotherapy is a safe way for Milo to recover the muscle mass needed to walk properly according to Canada West Veterinary Hospital website. Once Milo is sound on his feet, he will be available for adoption from the Richmond Animal Shelter. Milo is an exceptionally sweet dog, who will make a wonderful companion. RAPS can provide the media with photos of Milo, or the media can visit Milo at the Richmond Animal Shelter by calling 604-275-2036.

In July, Milo required around-the-clock care for his injuries when he was hit by a car and left for dead. He was found in the early morning hours of July 11 by a Richmond City worker. Milo required immediate surgery followed by months of rehabilitation. Additionally, Richmond Animal Shelter manager, Sonya Kamp, made extensive inquires to find the owner of the dog, but no owner came forward. The driver who hit Milo fled the scene.

Donations for Milo's hydrotherapy can be made online or by calling the Richmond Animal Shelter at 604-275-2036. Updates on his recovery will be made frequently on this blog site.

Shima, adopted kitten

Before there was a real home for all the critters, Carol and all of the volunteers used to keep the trapped animals in their homes. Carol had a feral cat who had just given birth to 3 kittens in her bathroom on August 26th, 1998, and I was able to take home a little male two months after he was born. I called him Shima, which means striped in Japanese, as he was an orange and white striped tabby. Throughout his life, he had the best care, but he wasn’t born with everything he needed to live a full and healthy life. He had a constant emission from one of his eyes, a tiny little meow because of some affliction of his vocal cords, and an allergy to his own dental plaque. He finally had to have all his teeth pulled out in his tenth year. But despite all of these things, Shima was the most loving, affectionate and sweetest of cats. I called him “my little love sponge.” He glommed onto me and was never far from my lap! But, he kept his distance from other people.

In September he began to cut back on his food, then he began to refuse to eat altogether. I began to force feed him, but he was beginning to throw up what little he ate. Then he lost his meow! After x-rays, and a second opinion, he had an ultrasound and it was revealed that Shima had a large tumour in one of his lungs. He was scheduled for surgery, but then after checking back with my vet and really understanding the difficulties of the operation and post-operative care including a feeding tube, I realized that it was impossible. I brought him home and let him live out is remaining days in the company of two other cats. The vet came to my house on November 17th – the one sunny day between storms - and Shima went to cat heaven. I’m sure you all understand the deep grief we feel when we have to say goodbye to a dear companion who has loved us and who we have loved. I carry strands of his orange and white hair with me in my locket, so he is not far from my heart.

Here is a picture of Shima taken a month before he died.