BLOG - Margaret Pender - owner DogGone Right!

I started working with two little Ganaraskan Terriers this week. Trixie is a 7 months old and a golden colour. What a sweetheart, she is so cuddly and smart as a whip!

Daisy is a black and tan Ganaraskan Terrier, about 9 months old and very smart. She has an older 5 year old Ganaraskan golden brother, Eddie.

It's Friday afternoon of the August long weekend and it has already been eventful and I suspect will continue to be so. Over the weekend their will be 10 dogs in and out of here for boarding, Windy (Golden Doodle); Bagley (Yellow Lab)and BarkleyQ (Yellow Lab cross); Nahla (Pit Bull) and Wilma (French Mastiff); Franklin (Golden Doodle); Blue (Golden Retreiver); Reudi (Bernese Mountain Dog) and then my own two girls Angel and Molly.

By noon hour poor BarkleyQ, had been stung by either a bee or a wasp. I'm guessing a bee, because less than a minute later I was stung by a bee. Anyway Barkley's eye started to swell, and I had to pull the stinger out, ice it and gave him a couple of Benadry tablets. He's doing well, sleeping mostly.

A few of the neibourhood kids knocked on the front door of my house today asking me to help them with an injured Mourning Dove on the street. I found an old pillow case followed the kids outside. It was quite the site. Five kids all sitting in line on the curb watching me in the middle of the road trying to catch the bird.

Once I caught the dove and placed it in a shoebox, I put the box in my bedroom and blocked it off from my dogs. Needless to say they were very interested in the shoebox. I called the Toronto Wildlife Centre and made arrangements to take the bird to their facility just north of Toronto.

I learned a few things at the Wildlife Centre:

1) Baby birds are called fledglings.

2) You can tell by the length of the tail feathers if the bird is a fledgling or and adult.         Fledglings - shot tail feathers, Adults - long tail feathers.

3) If a bird can be released back into the wild, it will be released within a few kms of where it was found.

4) They invite/encourage anyone who is involved with a rescue to be part of the release.

I told them I definitely wanted to be part of the release and said I would ask the neibourhood kids to join us. Hopefully the little bird will make a full recovery and TWC will call to let me know.

Re-certified for Pet First Aid today. Angel was used as one of the demo dogs. Poor girl had to put up with her ears, legs, hips, tail etc. being bandaged up by not only myself but one or two other people. Check out the picture below of Angel.

This morning I took Cleo to rehab and she did well and had a 15 min swim. The swim now is to help her with the tension/strain in her front shoulders as she has no control below her lower chest area. She is such an amazing dog. Consider how it feels to have no control of the lower part of your body and have to rely on others. In Cleo's case she cannot control her bladder and bowel movements. When left alone for more than a couple of hours she has to wear a ciaper.

Cleo has full mental capabilites, it is her body that has problems. She is such a fortunate dog to have such wonderful humans who are willing to extend her life as long as she is willing. Which I suspect will be many more month.

I also took Angel, Lucy and Abby for a walk around noon hour today. Man the wind wad brittle, but dogs being dogs they enjoyed the run, run, run for an hour.

Late this evening I took Angel out for a run and ran into Mark (Lab) and his person. Mark and Angel chased each other round and round. It is such a wonderful thing to see dogs run and play.

This morning I took Cleo to rehab and she did well and had a 15 min swim. The swim now is to help her with the tension/strain in her front shoulders as she has no control below her lower chest area. She is such an amazing dog. Consider how it feels to have no control of the lower part of your body and have to rely on others. In Cleo's case she cannot control her bladder and bowel movements. When left alone for more than a couple of hours she has to wear a ciaper.

Cleo has full mental capabilites, it is her body that has problems. She is such a fortunate dog to have such wonderful humans who are willing to extend her life as long as she is willing. Which I suspect will be many more month.

I also took Angel, Lucy and Abby for a walk around noon hour today. Man the wind wad brittle, but dogs being dogs they enjoyed the run, run, run for an hour.

Late this evening I took Angel out for a run and ran into Mark (Lab) and his person. Mark and Angel chased each other round and round. It is such a wonderful thing to see dogs run and play.

After taking Cleo to rehab Angel and Lucy and I went to go a local conservation area to run and play. Angel ran like the wind (well slower than the wind she used to run after, but still very fast, she is 9 1/2 yrs old after all, with Lucy chasing her.

When Angel reached what I consider far enough I called her back... the funny part was Lucy was so intent on chasing Angel she shot past her as Angel was running back towards me. They passed each other. This went on for at least 1/2 hour.

Many times I would call them back (reinforcing their recall) and they woud run full speed back to me, because I asked them to and, they knew when they got back to me I would then send them running off again. They love to run and I love to see them run.

I was asked to go and help out at The Toronto Humane Society this past weekend and met some amazing dogs.

Security is very tight, 2 security guards at each door and your name has to be on the 'approved volunteer' list and you must show picture ID. Sign in and sign out every time you enter or leave the building.

On Saturday I worked in the Veterinary Clinic with some of the dogs who had recently had surgery or medical conditions. I fell in love with Keisha, a beautiful Husky, very loving and wonderful temperament. She had recently had minor surgery on her side so her walks were limited in time but I spent time with her and walked her a couple of times during the day.

Molly is a 14 yr old Shih Tzu cross, but you would never guess her age if you met her. Full of life and love.

Then there was Oidin (I think), a 14 mo. old miniature Poodle who had Giardia. This little guy fit into the palm of my two hands and when we went out he quickly picked the leash up in his mouth, and pranced forward taking me for a walk rather than the other way round, as if to say 'come on, let's go'.

Sunday, I gave Girlie, an elderly adorable Terrier cross a bath. Girlie has a skin condition that requires her to have a bath at least once a week. In the bath Girlie gladly put her front paws on my left hand so I could give her a good rub down on her back, chest and tummy with the Oatmeal soap. When finished, she ran around the bath room, tail wagging and you could see in her demeanor she felt better. Spent the rest of time there walking some of the shelter dogs. I wish I could remember all their names, but there were so many that needed walking, socializing I was more focused on giving them some love and attention that I lost track of names.

Monday November 30, 2009

It was a little cool this morning as the dogs (Angel, Lucy and Windy) and I ventured out for a walk but, we had a great time at the Beach.

Tania from Canine Wellness fitted Cleo with her new harness. The harness is going to help me lift Cleo up.

For those of you who don't know Cleo is a 12 year old German Shepherd diagnosed with Degnerative Myelopathy (DM). DM in dogs is very similar to Lou Gerhig's in humans.

Volunteered at the 'Paws for the Cause', organized by K9 Rescue Me, held at the PawsWay today. I had the opportunity to meet with many people to give them advice from basic obedience training tips to behaviour modification for their dogs.

Took Cleo to rehab this morning and she did very well in the pool. She has her good days and bad days. Today was a good day as she was able to pull herself up in the front enough to eat breakfast.