What do dogs mean in your life?

I love my dogs. Past present and future, dogs are always going to be part of my life. Through the years, my dogs have made me laugh in the face of heartache and personal tragedy. They have stood vigil on nights when sleep would not come. They have made me feel safe when I was afraid and have stood guard when I had reason to fear.  They have made me joyful when joy was scarce. They have made me feel beautiful when I felt ugly. They have loved me when I felt unlovable. They have made me weep and feel helpless when illness or old age took them from me.

I simply cannot live without dogs. From the first dog who entered my life when I was 3 (Candy) to the 6 who control my life now and all of those who came in between, my dogs have helped me become a better person.

This realization led me to conduct an unofficial survey among my Facebook friends. I asked "what have dogs meant to you in your life?" The response was wonderful and I will share some of the comments in this article. In fact, the response was so incredible that I will be writing part two of this article next week.

As you read the comments, think...what do dogs mean in your life?

Kelly wrote, " To our only child, our dog is her confidante in times of need, her source of comfort when she is sad and her playmate when she is lonely."
Scout wrote, "EVERYTHING"

Jane wrote, " She looks into my soul and makes my world a better place...often goofy, highly amusing ..my large breed lapdog keeps me loved and always entertained."

Tina wrote "My dogs are my destressing tools."

Patti wrote, "I can't even express what my dog meant to me. Some people are lucky enough to not just have their dog, but to be their dog's human"

Lisa wrote, "they are my fur kids. I wake,up to wet noses in my face with tails wagging."
Yvonne wrote," I only wish I could be the person my dogs think I am"

Nikki wrote, " They are my shadows, the ones who will follow me anywhere or through anything. The ones who will never complain. Constant companions. Early to rise with me, late to go to bed. ..and they are always happy to see me. They love me for who I am, faults and all."

Lisa wrote," They have the purest of hearts, no grudges, no anger."
Beth wrote, " He is the very definition of unconditional love and support and he forces me to be a better person because of it"

Sandra wrote, "My dogs have been my heart and soul "

Joan wrote, " As a teenager "Happy" was the ultimate refuge..when insecure he provided security. When sad, his back became Kleenex ...when in trouble, only he understood me...his name said it all ( as Joan is my sister and Happy our childhood dog, I concur)

Arlie said, "Sam was one of a kind. I cried for 3 days when he went to dog heaven"
Susan wrote," I honestly believe that dogs truly give you unconditional love. If you are lucky enough to be a dog lover, you are lucky enough to have these angels guide you through your life."
Every-one's words ring so true and I thank my doggy angel guides past and present; Candy, Happy, Chelsea, Teardrop, Roxy, Shooter, Shiloh, Timber,Piper, Clarence, Clover, Convery, Sparkle, Clipper,Calypso, Possum. BKP and Buff...you make me a better me. And to all of the fosters of the past and future canine companions along the road of life, thank you.

What does your dog mean to you? What do dogs mean in your life?
It is humbling to think of how much they enrich our lives. Think about it...then give your dog a hug and stay tuned for more next week.

Emergency preparedness and your pets!

The Spring thaw and the flooding situation in so many communities has led us at HART to ponder emergency preparedness for our pets. Emergencies  come in many forms, and they may require anything from a brief absence from your home to permanent evacuation. Each type of disaster requires different measures to keep your pets safe. The best thing you can do for yourself and your pets is to be prepared. With that in mind, we have come up with a few ideas.

Get a Rescue Alert Sticker 
This sticker, placed on your window or door, will let people know that pets are inside your home. Make sure it is visible to rescue workers, and that it includes 1) the types and number of pets in your household; 2) the name of your veterinarian; and 3) your veterinarian's phone number. If you must evacuate with your pets, and if time allows, write "EVACUATED" across the stickers. You can pick up such stickers at most pet food stores,

Arrange a Safe Haven 
Arrange a safe haven for your pets in the event of evacuation. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND. Remember, if it isn't safe for you, it isn't safe for your pets. They may become trapped or escape and be exposed to numerous life-threatening hazards. 
Contact your veterinarian for a list of preferred boarding kennels and facilities.
Ask your local animal shelter if they provide emergency shelter or foster care for pets.
Identify hotels or motels outside of your immediate area that accept pets.
Ask friends and relatives outside your immediate area if they would be willing to take in your pet.

Prepare Emergency Supplies and Traveling Kits 
Keep an Evac Pack and supplies handy for your pets. Make sure that everyone in the family knows where it is. This kit should be clearly labeled and easy to carry. Items to consider keeping in or near your pack include:

• Pet first-aid kit and guide book (ask your vet what to include)
• 3-7 days worth of pet food (be sure to rotate every two months)
• Disposable litter trays (aluminum roasting pans are perfect)
• Litter or paper towel
• Liquid dish soap and disinfectant
• Garbage bags 
• Pet dishes
• Extra collar or harness as well as an extra leash
• Photocopies of medical records and a waterproof container with a two-week supply of any medicine your pet requires (Remember, food and medications need to be rotated out of your emergency kit—otherwise they may go bad or become useless)
• Bottled water, at least 7 days' worth for each pet (store in a cool, dry place and replace every two months)
• A traveling bag, crate or sturdy carrier, ideally one for each pet
• Blanket (for scooping up a fearful pet)
• Recent photos of your pets (in case you are separated and need to make "Lost" posters)

Preparing for the worst will give you peace of mind. Even if the worst never happens, you will be confident that you can face any scenario. A little effort now can make an emergency situation less stressful for both you and your pet.

Sasha's Puppies

Sasha, the expectant Mom

HART had a dog come into their care in February 2013. Her name was Sasha and she was a gentle, sweet Husky mix. She was doing great at her foster home and her spay surgery was scheduled. Fast forward a few weeks, her foster Mom noticed she was gaining weight, at a pretty fast pace, "could this dog be pregnant or is she just eating too much?". Off to the vet she went and lo and behold she was indeed pregnant and pretty far along too.

Sasha resting with her foster Dad

6 puppies identified

Sasha was moved to another long-time, experienced HART foster and preparations began for the arrival of the puppies. A puppy room was set-up with a whelping box and all things needed to deliver and raise a litter of pups.

Sasha getting used to her whelping box a few days before the birth

The evening of February 26th Sasha was quite restless and unsettled. Her foster Mom slept with her in the puppy room to calm her and be available in case the puppies decided to arrive in the middle of the night. They didn't but the next morning, Sasha was definitely preparing for their arrival and sure enough at 1:18 pm little Orange Boy made his appearance. Over the next 5 hours, 5 more pups arrived. There were no complications and Sasha took to motherhood immediately. She was an excellent Mom and continues to be very attentive to their every need.

14 days old

The puppies are healthy, happy and doing very well. They are weighed daily and all continue to gain weight every day and are hitting all major milestones when they should. Weekly pictures are posted and videos are also being taken fairly frequently. Follow the links below to view pictures and video. We are updating this page quite often so be sure to bookmark it to follow their progress. Very exciting and oh soooo cute!

Pictures of the pups!

• Newborn
• 2 days old
• 9 days old
• 17 days old
• 23 days old
• 31 days old
• 39 days old
• 46 days old
• 53 days old
• 59 days old

Videos of the pups!

Their foster Mom is taking lots of videos of them and uploading them to YouTube several times a week. Click here to view a list of them!

The puppies will be ready to join approved families around the beginning of May. If you are interested in adopting one, please visit the Adoption Application page of our website to read about our screening process and download an application to submit. http://www.hartanimalrelief.ca/adoptions.htm

You can also view them (and other available dogs) on Petfinder at http://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?shelterid=ON154

Adopter Update - Tippy!

I just wanted to give an update on "Tippy" our new Beagle 10 month old puppy who we were fortunate enough to adopt on 18th December 2012.

 

We have changed his name to "Kendall" as a new life needs a new name. It took a few weeks for him to get to know us and get the lay of the land but he now has fit right into the family. Every day he makes us laugh with some antic or another and yes he has managed to redesign one of my favorite shoes. But all in all he has adjusted really well. I had forgotten how much work a puppy can be but as I crawl into bed each night I know it is all worth it.

 

Training is coming along and leash skills need more attention. I estimate that it will take about another 4-5 months to have him fully trained or he will have us trained!

 

He is great with other dogs and people which is something we wanted in a pup.

In the spring / summer we want to bring another doggy home so Kendall will have a playmate. I think he is happy and has adjusted really well. 

Thank you HART for accepting us as his new family!

Best wishes,

Cynthia

Adopter Update! Casper

Casper is a real cutie pie. He follows me all over the place. He loves to sit on my lap when I'm at the computer. It was great at first, but then my legs and arms got sore so I bought him a soft doggie bed. He went in it right away as if he knew what I needed. Very smart little guy. He loves his walks especially at the beach where he comes alive and runs with excitement, but not off leash!

He is fitting in with us like he's been with us forever. He actually has many many characteristics of our Peaches who passed last July. It's as if God knew that I missed Peaches so much. But Casper's own personality is coming out more and more. He is so gentle and sweet, we can't believe how lucky we are!

 

Any time you want to know about him, just email! Glad to brag and write about him, he's so very special.

 

Thanks

Mary and Barry