Moms and Babies

When a mom and her babies get on my radar, it's hard to sweep them aside.

 

Lola was brought to a central CA shelter as a stray, pregnant, a few weeks away from giving birth. Big Dog Rescue gave her a place to land; she gave birth at Cheryl's house and now she's with me! There so much more to the story, but it has to wait. You deserve photos and the comfort and purpose I feel when a mom dog trusts me to help her raise her babies. 

And 7 beautiful puppies, sleeping and eating and sleeping some more.  

Lola is a Golden Retriever, or maybe a lab. Looks like the dad was a husky. 

Watch them on the puppy cam!  
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/sue-s-puppy-cam
 

A Home for Layla - Feb 9, 2014

Layla is so tired tonight! She went on a meet and greet today with a potential adoptive family. And she got a bandage change. She’s healing well. Next time, in 3 weeks, they’ll xray her leg. She’s on her way!

The family loved her. They’re going to take this week to get everything in order – dog walkers, crate, food, toys. Because....they want to adopt her!

So, I have a few more days with this girl and then she’s on her way. 

And she’s on her way.

Amazing Slip Stitch Afghan - Feb 6, 2014

Relax

Knit

Slip

Purl Purl Purl

Relax

Repeat

Haircut and Community Cats - Feb 4, 2014

I got my hair cut yesterday. While I was waiting, I noticed a bowl of cat food outside on the window ledge. I asked my stylist what that was all about. And what I heard back from her was the concept of Community Cats, not from the animal welfare perspective, but from the human this-is-the-right-thing-to-do perspective. Anise has been working out of an old building in downtown Petaluma for 8 years. During that time, she’s TNR’d 10 cats with the help of Forgotten Felines. She traps; a FF volunteer holds on to the cat until the next clinic; spay/neuter, vaccines, ear tip; RETURN! Then Anise feeds the cats and lets them live. She’s named them all and even converted the other tenants in her building – they all take turns feeding and paying for the low cost services through FF.

Recently, an office space opened up in the building. The leasing agent contacted Anise to tell her that the cats were a problem for a potential tenant. Anise took a deep breath and said, ‘I’ve been here longer than anyone, yet not as long as these cats. This is their home. Please find another tenant for that space, or you will have to find 2 because those cats belong here. If they go, I go.' The leasing agent wasn’t happy. An hour later, Anise received a call from the building owner. He thanked her for sticking up for the cats and giving them a chance at life. He told her about his own ‘unofficial’ colony and his own commitment to cats. They found another cat-friendly tenant!

Then we talked about what would have happened without Forgotten Felines. I told her that in another county, their ‘low-cost’ spay/neuter options were $200. She said that there was no way they could have helped all of those cats for that fee.

After the haircut, I was making my payment on her ipad. Guess whose photo was the background? Precious – the most beautiful community cat in downtown Petaluma.

Layla : Jan 19, 2014

 I keep my distance. Which means, she’s alone for more hours than she should be. I know that her timeline is shorter than mine. I know that she needs me, that she needs exposure to all of that stuff. And I know that she will forgive me these 48 hours of uncertainty.

The wag of her tail, the intensity in her eyes, the way she sits patiently, waiting for my reaction, for my approval.

She sat in the shelter for days with a broken leg. Broken through, all the way through. Yet, she wags and she connects. Then she hung out at the vet’s office until surgery to insert pins and staples. Of course, she won their hearts.

Is that why I hesitate? Because she’s the color of honey and carmel? Just like my first dog, my forever girl. Or is it that I’ll have her for 4 weeks, longer than most of my fosters.

 

I know that tomorrow at 5am when I hear her stir, that I will hold her close and succumb. There is no way I can resist the innocence of a puppy.