Leo - Update

Hi Sonya:

How are you?

We found out that Leo's skin problem and maybe the redness in his paws could be due to Zinc deficiency. Some breeds, especially the northern breeds, husky and malamutes, are more prone to this problem genetically. Zinc is found in meat, bones, fish, and whole grains. I think Leo's previous diet was most likely lacking in good nutrients as well. We are hoping that the high meat diet that he has now will improve the pinkness in his paws which had shown maybe a little improvement if any since when we got him. We might try Zinc supplement which should be safe since any excess will be excreted from the digestive system; at least that's what the info from internet says. One good sign is that he is no longer chewing on his paws during his leisure times. This is for your info in case you get such breeds with similar problems in the future.

Leo is quite enjoying himself. Although he's unlike our other dogs since he doesn't like to go on car rides. He doesn't like the raw meat much. He likes my cooking so we try to mix it up a little since we believe the raw meat should be better for his skin condition. Today I had cooked fish mixed with rice for my babies; he and Krissy devoured it in an instant. Leo also had some pizza which I know he's not supposed to. We had a good walk in the snow this morning and I took a really good picture which I will e-mail you later. He is so gentle when I hand feed him. Yesterday, he bit me slightly by accident. I didn't say anything since he didn't mean it but he looked so guilty about it so I had to comfort him to tell him it's ok.

Krissy is more used to Leo now which is a comfort. However, her limp is still bad despite the pain killers the vet prescribed. The good signs are she still likes to eat a lot and she wants to go and walk around. I hope she's not in too much pain but it's hard to tell with dogs since they are so stoic. Although it's only been less than a year since we had her, we have grown very attached to each other.

Carmen

'Marian' - adopted Feb 13th

Hi Sonya, Helen and RAPS staff

We adopted 'Marian', the older Great Dane, a week ago; I thought you might like an update, together with some photos. You can see her here with her new friend, Aslan, our 6 1/2-year-old Great Pyrenees, and Norbert.

She was such a good girl right from the very first moment. We thought she'd be scared on the ferry trip back to Vancouver island, so we stayed in the van with her all the time (apart from a few minutes). She slept on her new bed in the back nearly all the way. Probably exhausted from all her experiences, the surgery, a month at RAPS, and suddenly new people again. We introduced her to Aslan on neutral ground; the usual sniffing introduction, then they both went for a walk together before the sniffing turned from courteous to a bit rude. No problems on the first walk.

We kept an eye on them together for the next three days, just while they both adjusted. Then the next step was leaving them together in the house while we were still there, but not in the same room. All OK. Over all those days they got into three differences of opinion, just air snapping, dominance stuff, nothing serious; usually it was just because they'd both tried to get through the same doorway at the same time. No real aggression just for the sake of it.

Then it was a visit to the vet for an introduction; the entire staff were waiting anxiously to meet her, she had such a big fuss made of her. All is well, they figure she's probably about 5 or 6 years old and that she does, as you had said, have a bit of Catahoula from somewhere!

We can now leave them alone in the house together for a couple of hours (and probably more if we wanted to) and no problems (at least not that either of them have told us about) and they ride together nicely in the back of the van. After much thought we have named her Abigail, often shortened to Abby. No, she doesn't have a clue yet but that's OK. This week we'll be doing some basic training at home so that she and Aslan are on the same page when it comes to commands! She has shown her Catahoula side more this past day or two, blocking Aslan's way into different rooms, just by turning sideways; no growling or anything like that. He hasn't complained. Mostly she does it because we're around, I think. And she's tried that Catahoula trick, while they are playing, of trying to knock him over, very gently, but butting her head under his tummy and trying to dislodge his back legs. Hasn't worked because he's pretty savvy. Today was her first day in the dog park and she behaved very politely.

After our Great Dane died last September Aslan stopped eating and lost quite a bit of weight. We tried all the different foods and tricks, but no luck; our vet had suggested another dog but knew that we didn't really want to do that since we have enough to worry about with my MS these days. But of course that didn't work, and you'll be pleased to know that as soon as Abigail arrived, Aslan started eating again. What a relief. And he has a new friend to be with.

Anyway, thank you for letting us adopt her. We think she is a gem, and so do all our friends.

Regards
Diane

Bibby, the 13 year old schnauzer, has a new chance at life.

Hi Carol et al,

Bibby has settled in beautifully, despite all the changes.

We had company waiting for us when we arrived before Christmas. You saw the two little white dogs in the pictures I sent. A mother and daughter duo. Bibby soon became the 4 yr old mothers hero, defending her gallantly from her daughters' frequently tormenting behaviour, by putting himself between them and growling at "Sugar" when she persisted in nipping at "China". The owners were happy to see Sugar finally learn some manners toward her long suffering mom.

About mid January they left to return to the rain coast, leaving Mr. Bibbs to discover that he, in fact, was top dog in this home and not a mere visitor. Almost the same day we started construction on an outdoor kitchen and the Bibbs took naturally to welcoming every worker on arrival with a list of warnings. (We feel he must have picked up a few bad habits from Sugar and China as we had hardly heard him bark prior to meeting them.)

One thing he didn't learn from them was that he is allowed to poop in his yard. He must be walked morning and night to a spot at some distance from home territory. Of course peeing is another thing. He starts at our neighbours and leaves messages at every post, shrub, weed and stone of 2 or more inches in height. He's made several friends along our route and greets them happily through the fences, whenever they are out. Needless to say, despite walks taking 30-40 min., we don't cover much ground.

Rick's mom arrived mid-January and Bibby didn't take long to discover that the best place to retire to, at supper time, was immediately under her chair. I've had a heck of a time trying to limit the amount of food that accidently drops off the table at that spot.

Speaking of food, I've been able to continue his raw food diet. I hadn't found a store selling it here and was researching having it delivered (the shipping charges nixed that idea) so I searched out free range organic buffalo, lamb and chicken meat at a couple of local stores, purchased organic veggies, fruit, seaweed, and Rick and I set up a raw dog food making enterprise in our kitchen. We used the above plus olive and fish oils, apple cider vinegar, nuts, blueberries, seeds, organic free range chicken eggs, etc., etc.,

Rick thought me crazy, but worked like a trooper grinding and mixing and bagging until we'd bagged and frozen a month's worth. About 3 days later we found a shop selling frozen raw, organic, free range dog food and bones, not one block from our favourite grocer. Rick shakes his head that we're paying over $8.00/lb. for dog food but the Bibbs seems so healthy for an old boy that we don't want to take any chances. He runs and jumps like a pup and other than long, long, deep sleeps...(is he alive?), accented by snoring, seems like a pup to us.

We didn't have a chance to ask before leaving if you knew what had happened to his R hind leg, much atrophied compared with his L. Also he has an odd shaped rib. Neither seem to concern him at all, though when tired he's fallen over toward the weak side once or twice. Also do you have his last weight? He is 21 lbs, up 4 lbs from his first weigh-in here in Yuma in January. I'm going to try to maintain him at 20-22 lbs. A neighbour who has a 10 yr old, large female of mixed heritage, in excellent condition, high energy, and on the lean side, checked Bibby's rib cage and seems to feel as I do, that more weight would take a toll on his joints. We know he's gained muscle since arriving here and so he may not have added much fat in that 4 lbs but he is running around the yard like a spring chicken, so we think all is well.

His "one" bad habit is... can you guess??....Only when left alone, (which is rare) he raids anything with the smell of food or what might be food; in the 2 cases since being here...garbage cans... eating, of all things, paper towels! The latest happened about 3 days ago and I checked all his poops till yesterday, discovering one complete paper towel, of course rolled and bent into a sausage shape and covered discretely in a coating of poop, to fool the less discerning spy... (RICK!). As I continued my work finally finding what I was really searching for, (the remains of 3 cooked sharp chicken bones) Rick saw what I was up to and reasserted his claim that; it was bad enough he had to pick it up; he would not disect it!!!

He was amazed though, when on our way south, in December, I unrolled ( it was actually accordioned up) a 3ft long piece of plastic strip, from an innocent looking...well...turd. It appeared to be a film strip, completely intact. If it hadn't been below zero and blowing colder out there, I might have examined it more closely to see if Bibbs was, in fact, a spy in his old life.

It did make me wonder if that amount of plastic may have made it hard for him to metabolize food? If it had been stuck in there for some time, his weight loss may have been accidental. We had had him over a week, at that point, and were not missing any film as we've been digital for some time. He's snoring away beside me now as I write, having given up waiting for his chance to send his love...mom is always blathering on too long. He was holding the position of honor by day 2: that of sleeping between mom and dad, face and front paws pushing mom to the edge on one side, and business end and rear legs forcing dad to the edge on the other.

I'll include a few more photo's. Mr. B sends his love and appreciation for all you do for he and his canine friends and promises he'll visit as soon as we return to BC. He'll decide then whether he'd like to stay on as our baby. We've already made our decision the day after the "SLEEPOVER". Rick loves telling that story. He thinks, Carol, that he needs you as a salesperson at the marina!!!

Love to all of you wonderful people at RAPS,
See you in May,
Lenore and Rick

Daisy

Hi guys!

Just wanted to give you an update on how Daisy's doing since she came home two weeks ago.

She has settled in really well and definitely decided my house is her castle! She sleeps alot during the day but gets 2 - 3 long walks during which she plods along pretty slowly. Let me know if she is supposed to be more energetic...I assume this is normal, but if not will get her checked out.

She loves the raw food, of course, and I also got her some high-quality dry stuff to intersperse now and then so she can be flexible if we travel.

She has a big comfy bed that she prefers over any other spot in the house, and some toys that she mostly ignores.

We go to the park next door and so far have stayed away from making new friends but I'm going to think about working with a trainer on how to properly introduce other dogs. Taking it slow for now so she doesn't get spooked.

We use a halter for walks and she doesn't pull at all. I'm working with a clicker as well and have *almost* mastered a rollover trick (we usually get halfway then she flops to the side!).

Anyway, I just thought you might like to hear how she's doing since she was at RAPS so long. I'm really glad to have her around and we get along famously. Thanks so much!

Regards
Meghan

Tawny

To the Staff and Volunteers of RAPS:

Attached are a few pics of Tawny the Adorable Husky whom I was fortunate to adopt on Monday. Because she is so affectionate and loves to cover you with kisses, my daughter and I have chosen as her new name "Kisu" which is modern Japanese for "kiss". I have since discovered that in the Salish language, Kisu refers to the prized steelhead trout found in our BC waters. When my daughter adopted her Husky/Malamute several years ago, she similarly changed her name to an unusual one that seemed to suit her, and Lua has become a wonderful, loving companion.

As you will see from the photos, Kisu has immediately settled into her new home. She particularly loves her new bed! She was spayed last week while at the shelter, and is looking forward to having the sutures removed next week and retiring the cone which she has to wear at all times unless closely supervised to prevent her from damaging the sutures and the large incision. As you know, everyone who has met Kisu loves her, and she drew many raves today from other dogwalkers: "She's beautiful!" "What a wonderful dog!" I am so happy and proud to be her adopted Pa(w), and look forward to many years together.

Thanks to all of you at RAPS for the wonderful work you do, caring for so many animals in their times of great need and finding so many of them, like Kisu, a loving home. With very best wishes,

Abe

Thank you for Lisa!

Hello,

I'm just writing to say a huge THANK YOU!! Yesterday I came into your shelter with my boyfriend Colin looking to find a cat to take home and make a part of the family. We ended up leaving with "Lisa". I say that in quotations because we've actually changed her name to Sophie. She's just didn't seem like a Lisa to us. We figured that at 6 months old and we plan on having her for the next 20 years that she could adjust to a new name at this stage in her life. Anyways... WE LOVE HER. You told us she was a great cat but we could of never imagined this. From the moment we brought her home yesterday she was curious and full of wonder as she scoped out the condo. She has taken a huge liking to the view from our 19th floor in Gastown facing the North Shore and has been so lovely and sweet these last 24hours. Colin keeps telling me that he just can't believe how quickly she has adjusted in our home.

We are in love with her. We will take great care of her. Thanks so much again!!!

Georgia

PS - I've attached a picture of her sleeping on the couch.

Pilgrim - Update

Just to give you another update on Pilgrim, we are falling more in love with him every day (if thats even possible!). He is an absolute treasure to have around and I have never seen a cat who is so confident yet so absolutely non aggressive. His body language when dealing with our other cat is so mature, he is wise way beyond his age! We love him to bits and pieces! We havent decided yet on a final name but Strawberry keeps coming to my mind just because he is so absolutely cute and sweet and because of his strawberry blond haircoat. My husband has taken to calling him "short stuff" since Strawberry goes well with shortcake and well, short.... :)

He is not hugely interested in playing, he has his moments in the morning when he bounces around but mostly he seems content hanging out with the dogs and following me around the house. Since our other cat doesnt play with him yet, I spend a lot of time with him and we got him every cat toy available at PetsMart but he seems more of a cuddler than a player. He loves to catnap and finds the most comfortable places and he is so cute when his paws and tail start twitching in his sleep! He sure has an appetite, too! He licks his bowl like a little dog after breakfast and dinner and he always comes and greets me when I get back into the house.

He is such a special little guy, thank you so much for letting us adopt him!

Best,
Barbara