“I Rescued a Human Today”/ Three New Matching Challenges for Gracie, Gatsby, Harper and Adelade!

Tuesday Morning, January 19, 2021

Gem of the Day: I Rescued A Human Today
By Janine Allen

I rescued a human today.

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering
apprehensively into the kennels.

I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn’t be afraid.

As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident 
I had in the back of my cage.

I didn’t want her to know that I hadn’t
been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy 
and I didn’t want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn’t feel sad about
my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make
a difference in someone’s life.

She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me.

I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her.

Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship.

A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.

Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side.

I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.

I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven’t walked the corridors.

So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.

I rescued a human today.

We have three matching challenges for  Gracie, Gatsby, Harper, Missy and Adelade!

What Is A Matching Donation Challenge? 

First, from Janet Bartos, we have this wonderful challenge for $300.00! Is there anyone reading this who can match Janet for these five precious babies? Thank you Janet! See pictures below.

On Jan 17, 2021, at 3:43 PM, Janet Bartos <jpbartos@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

I’m grateful that many people are keeping their dogs and hope forever homes will be found for these precious babies when it is time.

 

Please issue a matching challenge for $300.00 to help provide the care the fur babies need.  Love to all you and the other volunteers do to protect & help these precious gifts!

 

Janet Bartos…in memory of Minnie & Sadie, my senior girls who came from you.

Next, from long time Small Pawser, Dawn Bove, we have this generous matching challenge for $250.00! Is there anyone who can match Dawn? Thank you again, Dawn!

On Jan 17, 2021, at 3:40 PM, Dawn Bove <d.bove@fcpmllc.com> wrote:

Hello Robin: What a cute bunch of new fur kids.

I would like to make a challenge for $250.00 to help get them all spruced up.

I hope someone will match me soon.

Stay well and safe.

As always sent with love, Dawn >

 

___________________________________________________________________

Sunday, January 17, 2021

Gem of the Day: When the Man waked up he said, ‘What is Wild Dog doing here?’ And the Woman said, ‘His name is not Wild Dog any more, but the First Friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always. ~ Rudyard Kipling~

Hello Small Pawsers!

We hope and pray that you are all safe and well!

It’s been a REALLY different kind of January for all of us, including at the home office of Small Paws Rescue.

We have rescued a few Bichons and Bichon Mixes and I’m going to tell you about them, but since Covid invaded every aspect of our lives, they really are harder to find.

As long as people are working at home and not traveling for work as much, they are keeping their dogs, it seems.

Owner surrenders used to come in in droves, from people saying they are working/ traveling for work too much and, you guessed it, don’t have time for the dog, anymore. (Hmm..do they keep their kids?)

                                Our Kansas Highway OGK (Only God Knows) dog, Sally Anne Pressnall

Shelters are filled with pit bulls and large black dogs like our Sally Anne Pressnall, whom many of you have met. (By the way, Sally Anne is 16 1/2 years old and is like the Ever Ready Bunny. She’s had two ACL surgeries and just keeps on going. She STILLruns in the woods with Dale. Her teeth have never been cleaned because they are pristinely white. (Obviously she has no Bichon in her AT all, but I digress.

How COVID-19 has accelerated a 20-year surge in demand for pets

This is from Sara Rhodes, one of our phenomenal Team Leaders. If you’ve ever seen Sara in action you know what I mean. She was born to do this!

From Sara Rhodes at pacess4@att.net

<So we keep checking shelters , trying to see if there are any bichons in need, but since Covid 19 and more people staying home, there seems to be a drastic decline.  I heard that it has been like that for many rescues. 

It’s really odd because we are still working as much as ever.

We still have to provide continual care for our Hospice dogs. These are Bichons that for one reason or another aren’t placeable. Seizures, diabetes, Cushing’s disease, etc. But the vet has told us that even though they probably won’t be adoptable, it isn’t “time” yet, so of course we provide for their care. Each one costs around $2000.00 per year. If you have a senior Bichon, you know what it costs to take care of them.

A couple of weeks ago, here in Tulsa, we got a panicked late night call from a good Sam, (Good Samaritan) saying they had found a dog and had taken it to the local ER. The ER told them to call me. So of course I presumed it was a Bichon, maybe even one of ours that had gotten loose.

I asked Rick and Jan Battan to go and meet the lady and get the dog and we’d begin the search for the owner in the morning. Yes there was a chip but it wasn’t a number that ANY of the American microchip companies used. I called them all at midnight. No collar. No tag. Wanna see what she was? Of course you do!

She was a Schnabber (my pet name for Schnauzers)!  We found her Mom, very distraught, the next day by using the “Next Door” app for local neighborhoods.

I told her Mom that “Heidi” hadn’t said a word to us about where she lived, nor did she seem to know her Mom’s phone number and that she MUST have an American Microchip, and a collar and tags with her phone number on them!

We were all blessed with a good save that night. Many thanks to Jan and Rick Battan for coming to the rescue!

Ok, without further ado, these are our newest Small Pawsers.

Small Paws Volunteer, Michelle & Gracie

Meet five year old “Gracie” in South Texas under the direction of our South Texas Team Leader, Jody Ferraro. 

We believe that Gracie is a five year old party Bichon-poodle mix. Red and white!

Unfortunately, Gracie came into rescue with horrible ears that were filled with red yeast. And her body has yeast as well. And, (you didn’t think that was all, did you?) she also has demodectic mange.

What is demodectic mange?

So Gracie has some skin issues that will take a while to clear up, but she is receiving the proper treatment now.

Then, also in South Texas, we have a little guy who was a stray at the shelter and he had a LIME sized lipoma on his little head.

                       Meet 7 year old “Gatsby”. The shelter vet removed the lipoma. See the huge scar?

                                         Gatsby has definitely met a Bichon. And now he’s ours!

                                                            Gatsby is one laid back little guy.

                                                                “Are YOU my MAMA??”

                              He wants to be called “Gatsby the Great”. (Hey, I’m just the translator.)

Gatsby is getting a much needed dental on Monday. He’ll be available in a few weeks after his vetting and a couple of weeks in Foster care, so we can get to know him before placing him. That’s how we make the best matches!

Then in Alabama, we got in a sad case. The owner has a terminal disease and was being taken to a facility. Her cousin filled out the Owner Surrender Form for “Missy”. We have her now and she is safe. The cousin sent $250.00 with Missy. That was very nice.

Next, near Detroit Michgan, thanks to Dawn Mead, Volunteer Extraordinaire, we just got this precious one year old male. Meet “Harper”.

                                                              Yes, he is a doll baby!

Harper will be considered for grievers, first.

What is a griever? It’s someone who has lost a pet or a person in their lives in the last six months.

He just came in yesterday and hasn’t had any vetting done yet. He’ll be neutered soon.

Then, near Tulsa, Oklahoma, meet five year old “Adelade”. She will be spayed on Monday. Adelcade came into rescue with  a low white count. After a month of good nutrition, she is testing normal!

Now before you get all excited, (It’s too late, right??) Adelade is being adopted by her foster parents, Rick and Jane Battan. They have fostered over 50 Bichons and Bichon mixes the years for Small Paws and have fallen in love with this little girl. Foster parents always get first rights of refusal to adopt their foster dog. Thank you Jan and Rick!

Now, about paying for these  dog’s vetting. It is averaging between $1200.00-1500.00 per dog, depending what all is wrong with them. o we need to raise around $5000.00 just to start.

We also have stray holds on three other dogs at shelters. One is in Nevada, One is in Michigan, and One is in Texas.

This means that if no owner shows up, they will come to us. However, we probably get 15 stray holds a week. Most of the time an owner comes forward. 

I have to tell you that we are hearing from people who are needing to cancel their monthly donations due to a job loss. Bless their hearts. Please pray for those in our country who have lost jobs and are struggling. 

I absolutely DESPISE asking you all for money. Ask anyone who knows me.

So I’ll say it this way.

If and ONLY IF you are able, and are able to take care of you and your own dogs, this is how to help.

I’m here and will issue matching challenges if any come in for these five babies.

What Is A Matching Donation Challenge? 

All My Love, Robin

 

We have also now added Text-to-Donate feature! It’s simple and secure. You can use any major credit card as well as Google Pay and PAYPAL! Text the number 44321 (how easy is THAT number to remember?!) and type the letters SPR ( all capitals) in the message area. A secure link will come up with simple instructions. After that, you can text a donation of any amount to Small Paws anytime without filling out your information again! We hope you enjoy the ease and security of Text-to-Donate, to help the Bichons!

 

 

 

    What Is A Matching Donation Challenge?                 

 

 

 

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Humphrey Sisco