OSCAR (Sherifs Sundance Kid -May, 2006-July-2007)

I am in total shock. I just can't believe what I have just read. I got a message from Maggie to check Oscar's blog. I am so sad to say that the news is not good. Our dear friend Oscar passed away on Saturday morning. He had been sick only a short time and still unknown exactly what caused it. He was so young. He was only 1 in May, just a puppy.
We are so sad and are crying for Katy and Martin because we know how much this hurts and how sad they must be. Please join us in sending healing thoughts and prayers to them.
Rest in peace, dear buddy. You will be missed.

Swimmers!

Mom has been pretty busy lately working and stuff so she and dad have worked out a pretty nice system to make it up to us. Every Saturday night for the past few weeks, mom and dad have been taking us out to some park like place where we can see people and boats and all kinds of stuff. The best part about it is that mom and dad let us get in the water...well, that is they let Finnegan and I get in the water and lately just Finnegan because I have been having skin problems and mom won't let me in. Ollie doesn't have much interest in the water and besides if he gets wet he is wet for a week. (Well that is an exaggeration but mom always says it, so I will too!)

Little Finnegan has decided he really likes the water and has been playing in my sprinkler out back too. I may have to eat him for this. It is most definitely MY sprinkler and I didn't see anything about sharing him in the agreement mom and I had when she asked if she could bring home another WFT. Sheez.

On a bad note, I've been having skin problems all of the sudden. Mom has always felt lucky because she knows of so many WFT's who have skin problems and I have always done so well. Not really sure why I have them. Mom and Dad have had me on a really high quality food and treats too, but still I have been getting hot spots. Mom got a new bag of Natural Balance Potato and Duck formula for allergies and we'll see if that helps. I sure hope so; I'm tired of being itchy!

Sparky's Story

Today I'm going to break the rules. Sometimes it just has to be done. My mom wants to tell you all about a special little rescue dog that was here a few days ago and the wonderful people who adopted him.

I'd like to share with you all a pretty nice story - I think, anyway.
In late June I got an email from a lady who said she saw a wire fox terrier
in a shelter in Delaware. Since I am the Eastern Shore of Maryland and
Delaware volunteer for Fox Terrier rescue I called the shelter to
inquire about him. The said they had him but it was the first day he was
eligible for adoption so they wouldn't work with rescue. I asked for
them to take my name and number and to call me should anything change and
asked them to please not put him down if he is not adopted. Some
shelters don't like to work with rescue groups so I figured it was one of
those cases and thought I'd call back in a week and start bothering
them again. Last Friday I got the call from the shelter. He had been up
for adoption for a week and no one was interested so they were going ot
put him to sleep. I was out of town in the Southwestern corner of PA.
I told them I couldn't come but the lady promised they would hold him
for me until Tuesday. So Tuesday I left early from work and drove to Wilmington DE to get the fella. He was in awful condition. Filthy, matted hair, feces all over
him, long toenails, stunk to high-heaven, had dirt and wax and God
only knows caked in his ears and was flea ridden. Amazing that he was up
for adoption in this condition. I told them who I was and they asked if
I had seen the dog, when I said I had they asked if I still wanted him.
(Imagine that...). His name was Sparky and he was an owner surrender
because the owners said they were moving and could not take him with them. (the
very best thing that could have ever happened to him) I paid the
fee and got him out of there. He had a full out panic attack being put into the
crate in my car. When I got him home I interacted with him a bit and took
him to the basement to get cleaned up. I worked on him for about three
hours. I clippered him down, trimmed his nails, but out the matts and
gave him a flea dip. He never flinched. He was perfectly fine with me doing all of this to him. When he got out of the sink he ran around the basement totally excited and ran over and wrapped his little paws around me and literally hugged me. Wow. What a boy. Hard to think that something this sweet could have been treated so poorly. Soon I found out a few things about him. He has terrible separation anxiety. No way to tell is this is a longtime issue or just caused by his recent he could leap a foot foot fence with no problem at all. Great Houdini. But he is a sweet, easy, calm dog who got along beautifully with my three boys and had a gentle, special little soul. Amazing little boy especially considering all he'd been through.
Since I already have the three boys at home (and are transporting two smooths over
the weekend) I couldn't keep him long. Thankfully a lady who has helped with rescue offered to foster him for me. Meanwhile another rescuer sent me three of the apps she
had on file, one of whom already had the vet check, additional reference
and home visit done.One of the apps really stood out. A couple, she is a retired registered nurse, he is a physician. She has has wires, schnauzers, scotties, and welshies. Some of them were rescues throughout the years. I spoke with her by phone she was touched by his story and was concerned that he had to go to foster when he already had separation anxiety. I sent her a picture of him and she liked him. This was a wonderful woman. She and her husband really wanted him. We discussed having her come over the weekend, but instead she and her husband drove 2.5 hours to meet me with him last night. I could tell by her face the minute she saw him, she was in love with him. Not long after our meeting, I said to them, "He's such a great little easy boy. I think you will grow to love him" and the man said "I think I already do". So sweet and touching. He is going to a wonderful, safe, secure, patient home and his whole life just turned around from horrible to marvelous in 48 hours. No question that he will have issues that he will have to overcome, but I really think this guy has found a gift. Its amazing to me how things can change so quickly because of wonderful people like this who are anxious to open their homes and hearts to a little dog that needs a little extra. Just amazing.
My husband went with me last night. He has seen dogs come through the house, he knows about a lot of the work that is involved with them and knows that oftentimes I'm not where he wants me to be because I'm transporting some dog or something. Last night after Sparky drove off with his new family, Steve said he finally understands why people do this.

Mackie's mommy

So there is Sparky's story, via my mom. I have to admit, he was a nice little guy. I tried to get her to take Ollie to those nice people instead, but she said they wanted a wft, not a Bearded Collie...duh, mom...doesn't everyone?

A game to learn more about me!!

Oh, Oh, Oh- I am all over the new game that I saw on Bussie's website (and Romeo's and Ozzy's too!)
Here are my answers:

1. Your age? 6 (I'll be 7 in November)

2. Your age when came to live with your people? 2.5 years old- mommy and daddy rescued me!

3. What color is the collar you’re wearing right now? Blue with a celtic print on it

4. Who is your favorite person other than the people you live with? Um, Um,...too many! Aunt Michelle, Grandma Sheila, Grandma Eve, Grandpa Dan and oh, yes, I do love my Aunty Robin too!

5. How much do you weigh? Oh I hate this question! About 33 lbs

6. Most expensive thing you’ve ever chewed up? I pretty much stick with my toys..

7. Do you like other Dogs? I like some, mistrust most...

8. Who is your best non-human friend? My dear little pain in the butt brother, Finnegan!

9. Squeaky Toys or Tennis Balls? Squeakies inside the house, tennis balls outside!

10. Do you like to be brushed? I like to have my back brushed. I'll bite you if you try to brush my back legs....grrrrr!

11. Peanut Butter or Cheese? CHEESE!!?/ Did you say CHEESE??? (Where is it??)

12. Do your people cut your toenails? Yup and they stink at it...good thing they have that stop bleeding stuff or I'd die from a loss of blood.

13. Any formal education? Yup!

14. Couch potato or Energizer Bunny? Both! I have times of doing both and I'm good at both!

15. Five nicknames your people call you? Mommy's Baby, Mackie Doodle, Punk, Bud, Baby Boy

16. What is your best trick? Sitting pretty (but I am also excellent at just hanging around and looking cool!)

17. Do you like kitties? They are very yummy!

18. What did you have for breakfast? Wellness dog food and tuna fish.

19. Can you hunt (aka have you ever killed anything living)? If so, what? Oh, I'm a good hunter! I've killed bunnies, birds, moles, a lizard and a squirrel!

20. When & why was the last time you went to the V.E.T.? Last fall for my ear infections.

21. Where do you sleep at night? In the spare room on the bed. (I'm not allowed to sleep with mom and dad anymore since I bite them in my sleep...)

22. Do you like to swim? Uppy!

23. Can you make puppies? Nope. (There are too many puppies anyway!)

24. Do you give kisses? Oh yes! My Aunt Amy says I give rape kisses cause I'll hold you down and kiss you wheather you like it or not!! (You'll like it, I promise!) heheheh!

25. Can you potty on command? I'm open to suggestions.

26. To Cuz or not to Cuz? Oh yes, I LOVE my cuz ball. I eat its feet off athen I de squeak it and then I squeeze it and blow the air out of it! What a fun toy!!

How humiliating!

Mo's been on a kick lately. Last week I got a haircut and nw this week mom gave me a bath and ANOTHER haircut!! Can you believe that? And she massacred me! I admit I don't let mom brush my back legs...I HATE it! She can brush the rest of me and thats okay...on second thought, maybe not, I won't let her brush my belly either, but when she gets the brush out, I come running. I love to have my back bushed and my mustashe is pretty good too...I can't say I care for her brushing my front paws, but dare not touch my back legs or I'll snap and if her hand is in the way, well so be it. (Yes, I have to admit I will bite when provoked) (Note from mom: It doesn't take much to "provoke" Mackie. Sometimes he just gets grouchy and we all stay out of his way! He also hates to be told "no" and of course having his back legs brushed sets him off...let's see so does having his feet touched while he's sleeping) Enough of that mom! I'm trying to tell everyone what a horrible job you did on my hair. So anyway, because I won't let mom brush my back legs regularly, my hair was matted. So mom decided to put me ont eh grooming table in the basement and muzzle me! The indignity!!! Then she proceeded to brush my back legs before she realized that a brush would'nt get through it! heheheh! Then she tried the Coat King to no avail, then the matt cutter and I have to admit here that I let out a little cry (just to jerk her chain of course, it never really hurt!) and she gave in. I thought that meant she would let me off that darn table, but instead she shaved my back legs!! Urgh! A WFT missing his rear furnishings! I look silly! I look bow-legged! (note from mom: He does look silly and he looks FAT!!heheheh But I had no choice. This is a good lesson to Mackie that he is just going to have to let me brush his back legs when the rest of him is getting brushed!)
I'm humiliated....