“He has what?” I looked down at Gilligan wiggling and squirming on the floor as the vet tech and veterinarian attempted to hold him still to examine his back knees.
“Chronic Cruciate Ligament Disease,” the vet repeated as she accepted slobbery kisses from Gilligan all over her cheeks, “basically he has bad knees.
Every once in a while a larger than life character crosses your path. This is as true in rescue as it is in any other walk of life. Joey, a seemingly insignificant little tan Chihuahua, is one of those whose stories I enjoy telling. Joey has certainly left his mark on my heart.
Ask anyone in rescue if they love puppies and they will all tell you “Yes!” Ask anyone in rescue if they look forward to the day when their phone no longer rings with requests to take unwanted litters of puppies and they will tell you “Yes!”
Clarence the angel said to George Bailey in the Christmas classic It’s A Wonderful Life, “Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?” Have you ever considered the ripple effect of your life or the void left behind in your absence?
The very patient editor of this online magazine, Lorie Ham, knows that every month my article will be past due. Often times the inspiration for my article waits to grab hold of me until the weekend it is due. This month was no exception, my article is late, but the inspiration was exceptional and I think worth waiting for.
I ran into a friend and fellow rescuer at H.O.P.E. Animal Foundation in Fresno yesterday. Linda was busily unloading her transport van with lots of little crates full of a plethora of little dogs. She lined the hall with crates and waited patiently as the H.O.P.E. staff checked each little guy in. The dogs had several things in common: they were adorable, fantastic, and unadoptable in this valley and on their way to new homes in Oregon and Minnesota.
My family was adopted by a dog. Yes, you read that right, we didn’t adopt this dog–he adopted us! Long before I formally became involved in animal rescue I had the privilege of saving a few on my own, but I can’t really take credit for saving this guy however, he pretty much saved himself.
Reedley Homeless Pets just turned a year old. In March of 2012, I began partnering with the Reedley Police Department’s Animal Control. It has been a wonderful, but difficult year. I have experienced a side of rescue I hadn’t ventured into before.
“Parvo positive” are most likely the two most dreaded words a rescuer can hear. If you rescue long enough the odds are that you have heard them more then once. I’ve heard them way too often over the past few months: the most recent, just ten days ago.
"¡Yo quiero Taco Bell!" is a phrase most people alive in the late 90s will recognize and associate with the adorable Taco Bell Chihuahua. That little tan, apple head Chihuahua, stole the hearts of millions of Americans and for good reason: Chihuahuas are adorable!
