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I know that he’d eventually adjust to being blind, as most dogs do just fine without their sight, but to allow him to go blind after all that he’s been through just doesn’t seem fair.

We have had him evaluated for cataract removal surgery and he is a great candidate.  However, the operation is very expensive and the rescue simply does not have the funds to cover the cost of the surgery.

We’re asking for all of our friends help in raising the money to get Phee a new set of peepers!  Here’s the link to the donation page:  http://www.gofundme.com/pheespeeps  If you are able to donate or share our fundraising page, we would be so grateful!

Thank you so much for your support!

On December 1, 2012, SNORT was notified that an emaciated Boston Terrier named “Oreo” was on the list for euthanization at the NY Animal Care & Control facility in Manhattan.  I immediately said I would foster him.  SNORT made the call for him to be pulled from the shelter and a transport was arranged.

The following day, my husband and I drove an hour to meet another volunteer and take custody of “Oreo”.  When I first laid eyes on this precious boy, I honestly could not believe that he was even alive.  To say his condition was shocking is an understatement.  He was not just emaciated – he had lost most of his fur, had a swollen, infected eye and he was unable to hold his bowels. We’ve all seen photos of animal neglect, but to see it in person – to touch it – to smell it – the feeling of his pain in my heart was almost unbearable.  He was truly at death’s door.

A walking skeleton.

We wrapped him in a clean blanket and took him into our car.  I held him on my lap for the hour-long ride home.. and I cried.  I sobbed for him and what he’d been through.  And then I made him a promise that he would be loved and treated with kindness for as long as he was alive, no matter how long that was.

Emaciated and exhausted.

When we got him home, we bathed him and treated his eye with ointment.  His skin was raw and inflamed.  You could see and feel every bone on his tiny little body.  His nails had obviously never been trimmed and were so long and gnarly that they curled under his toes.  He was so frail that he could barely keep his legs beneath him as he stood.  He reminded me of Bambi on ice – slipping and sliding on the vinyl of our kitchen floor.

Phee’s first bath in his foster home.

It quickly became apparent that this was more than just a case of neglect.  This dog was gravely ill.  Feces was leaking out of him continuously.  He refused food, but drank bowls full of water.  He would stare off into space as if he were on another planet.  I honestly wasn’t sure he would make it through the night and if he did, what was left of him that could be recovered?

I set up camp on the couch, with “Oreo’s” puppy-pad-covered bed on the floor next to me.  He was restless, unable to get comfortable.  He was very concerned at the fact that he was making a “mess” with  his leaking bottom, so he attempted to clean up after himself.  I scooped him up and wrapped his bottom in a puppy pad.  I held him and rocked him through the night.. until he finally sighed, laid his head on my shoulder and gave in to the feeling that he was safe.  It is a moment I will never forget as long as I live.  I felt him release the weight of his world on my shoulders.  And again I promised he would be loved and treated with kindness.  Forever.

Finally letting go of the weight of his world.

The next day, I brought him to the vet to determine what, if any, underlying issues he had that would be causing his condition.   He was diagnosed with diabetes, which would require daily insulin shots for the remainder of his life.  The vet said he was too far gone and was against treating him at all, stating “I don’t understand why anyone would want to save a dog like this!  No one will ever want to adopt him, even if he does survive!”  I felt a red-hot anger welling up inside me and exclaimed “THEN HE WILL JUST STAY WITH ME FOREVER!”   I had promised him that – love and kindness – for the rest of his life.

From the exam room, I called the rescue coordinator for SNORT, but could not speak through the tears that were pouring from my eyes.  I handed the phone to the veterinary assistant who explained the situation and the decision was made to do everything we could to give this boy a chance at recovery.

“Oreo” was renamed Phoenix, in reference to a mythical bird that obtains new life by rising from the ashes of its former self – and Phoenix was about to be reborn. December 2, 2012 was the first day of the rest of Phoenix’s life.

Without hesitation, I began giving him insulin shots that night.  I diapered him and cleaned his wounds.  I applied ointment and drops to his eyes many, many times daily.  At first, he fought me and bit me, but slowly he began to heal, both physically and emotionally.  A new dog was emerging from beneath the scared, broken shell he had been.  He began not just to trust me, but to love me.. and the feeling was mutual.

Phee’s little diapered hiney.

We quickly found a new veterinarian who was more understanding of our situation and helped us to get his diabetes regulated.  I spent hours upon hours reading about diabetes.  I joined online support groups for caregivers of pets with diabetes.  I spent every waking moment trying to understand this very confusing and often frustrating disease.  Finally, after 2 months, his glucose levels were normal and we found our stride.

Phee (as he’s now affectionately known) suffered a setback with a UTI in January and a URI in February, but has made a recovery that has been nothing short of miraculous.  He has gained back over 50% of his original body weight and has regrown most of his fur.  His eye has mended, though he was diagnosed with KCS (dry eye) and will require daily eye drops for the rest of his life.  But most importantly, he’s regained his spirit and has become a joyful, bubbly, affectionate little man that anyone would be very lucky to have as part of their family.

Finding comfort in the arms of The Man.

During the last 3 months, the first veterinarian’s words became stuck in my head and I came to believe that, due to his medical conditions, no one other than me would want him.  So I allowed myself to fall in love with him.  For many weeks, I considered keeping him as my own.  But unbeknownst to me, a lovely couple with two Boston Terriers of their own had been following Phee’s story from the time he’d been listed as “URGENT” on the shelter’s facebook page.  As soon as he was listed as available, they applied to adopt him.  My heart skipped a beat and I felt the tears well up and pour down my face.  As a foster mom, I knew this day could come, but I had never imagined it could come so soon.  I cried for days, but when I think back to that time when Phee first came to me, I know how important it is that I let him go.  Another dog will need me soon.

He will be leaving me in just a few days, but I will never forget him.  I made a promise to him and I intend to keep it.  My sweet boy, you will be loved and treated with kindness – FOREVER.

From the ashes of his former self, a new life is born.

Wally, The Woman, Phee and LuLu

To learn more about how you can help by volunteering, fostering, adopting or donating, please visit www.SNORTRescue.org.

And please remember:

If you can’t adopt, FOSTER.

If you can’t foster, SPONSOR.

If you can’t sponsor, VOLUNTEER.

If you can’t volunteer, DONATE.

If you can’t donate, EDUCATE – NETWORK – CROSSPOST.

Everyone can do something, large or small, to help save a life!

{Click on the photo to view it full-size}

As you know, 2 months ago we began fostering Phoenix.  He has needed a lot of care to recover from the horrible condition he was in when he came to us.  It’s been a long two months, but Phee will be listed for adoption this week.

I created a video documenting his road to recovery.  I hope you enjoy watching it as much as I’ve enjoyed helping this boy on his journey to his forever home.  Whoever adopts him will be very, very blessed.

For more information on adopting Phee and other dogs like him, please visit www.SNORTRescue.org or Petfinder.com.

And please remember:

If you can’t adopt, FOSTER.

If you can’t foster, SPONSOR.

If you can’t sponsor, VOLUNTEER.

If you can’t volunteer, DONATE.

If you can’t donate, EDUCATE – NETWORK – CROSSPOST.

Everyone can do something, large or small, to help save a life!

We were thrilled when Northern Biscuit Bakery asked Lu and Wally to test both their Grain Free Grilled Bison with Blueberry dog treats and their Wheat Free Pumpkin Pie dog treats, and were even more thrilled when they offered to send us some to share with our readers!

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Lu and Wally couldn’t wait to break into the package!

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Yes, it’s that time of year again.. already! I thought I’d take a moment to talk to all of you out there who may be considering getting a puppy for Christmas.  A puppy is a commitment for 8-15 years and a decision to add one to your family is one that should not be made in haste.

Consider wrapping a collar, leash, food bowl, books on raising puppies, and an IOU with the promise to take the time for your family to pick out your puppy after the holidays. Go to a shelter, apply with a rescue organization or find a REPUTABLE breeder – one who does health testing on the dogs they breed and breeds only dogs that conform to breed standards and have breed-appropriate temperaments.

As cute as they are, puppies chew everything, poop and pee wherever they want, and require lots of exercise and training. Puppies aren’t for everyone! If you are considering adding a dog to your family this holiday season, you may want to consider the possibility of adopting a young adult or grown dog.

If you do make the decision to add a puppy or dog to your family, you have the following options.  No option is the perfect choice for every situation, but I urge you to consider all your options before you head to a pet store.

OPTION 1: RESCUE or BREED-SPECIFIC RESCUE
This is often the best option for many families. In general, rescued dogs are usually more than six months old, are house-trained, are past the chewing-everything stage, and are forever grateful to be placed in a loving home.

A rescue organization is one that places dogs in temporary foster homes where they can be evaluated for temperament and health issues, and matched with a family that suits their needs. Have your heart set on a specific breed?  Locate a breed-specific rescue that is dedicated specifically to accepting and placing only one breed of dog.

These dogs will already be spayed or neutered, up to date on their shots, and in some instances, microchipped – a huge cost savings to you.

OPTION 2: SHELTER
An estimated 6-8 million dogs are surrendered to shelters each year. Half of those dogs are never adopted and see their last days in those same shelters.

It’s a big misconception that all shelter dogs have “baggage” or are broken. The majority of these dogs are perfectly wonderful companions who’ve found themselves in a shelter through no fault of their own – their owner may have passed away or lost their job, or perhaps needed to move into housing that does not allow pets.

These dogs will often be spayed or neutered, up to date on their shots, and occasionally microchipped.

There are purebreds, mixed breeds, ‘designer dogs’ – dogs of all shapes, sizes and ages just waiting for someone to give them a second chance at happiness.

There are currently over 13,000 shelters and rescue groups and over 350,000 pets available for adoption on Petfinder.com.   You can even search for a dog by age, sex and breed.

OPTION 3: BACKYARD BREEDER vs REPUTABLE BREEDER
If you decide you REALLY must have a puppy, please take the time to find a REPUTABLE breeder. A reputable breeder will breed only one or two breeds at the most. They will do breed-appropriate health testing on all of their dogs before breeding them. They will be selective in who they allow to purchase their puppies and will help you pick a puppy with an appropriate temperament for your family.  They will require that you sign a contract that you will spay or neuter your pup and will agree to take the dog back at any time in the future, for any reason.

How do I find a reputable breeder? Click here to read about how to locate one.

A backyard breeder is one that breeds purely for profit, taking little to no consideration for temperament or breed standard.

Breeders to avoid:
- those who bred their family pets just because they’re cute
- those who breed because they want to get back what they paid for their dogs
- those who list multiple litters for sale in online ads
- those whose dogs are not a part of the family and are kept in kennels, runs, or cages
- those who do not have the parents on the premises, or refuse to show you the parents
- those who sell their puppies to the first person who offers them money, without any concern for matching the dog to the type of lifestyle you lead

OPTION 4: PET STORE
I know it’s tempting to go to the pet store and pick up that cute puppy in the window, but do you know where that puppy came from? If you’re in a pet store, you can be reasonably assured that the adorable little puppy you’re considering was born in a “puppy mill” – a high volume breeder that breeds many different breeds, purely for the sake of profit, with no concern for the health, breed standard or temperament of the dogs it breeds – and chances are, his mom and dad have never seen a loving or kind home and likely never will.

These dogs may be inbred and may have genetic deformities. They may have illnesses such as parasites or respiratory infections. They may have trouble being housebroken because they’ve lived in their own waste in a cage. They may have poor bite inhibition and be “nippy” because they’ve been taken from their littermates too early. They may be hyperactive and noisy – because they’ve not been allowed free exercise they may develop habits such as running in small circles and excessive barking. They may also have long-term immune problems due to being overloaded with pesticides and antibiotics.

Even if YOU are lucky and YOUR puppy turns out “okay”, a large percentage of the others will not, and YOU helped provide the incentive for them to be born by buying the one who came before them.

Now, you may feel the urge to ‘rescue’ that puppy, but by giving your money to a pet store, you’re only opening up a slot for another puppy to fill. The reality is that no responsible breeder would ever place one of their puppies in a pet shop. A breeder who has placed a puppy in a pet shop has disqualified himself as a responsible breeder.

In addition to the hefty price tag that pet store puppies carry, don’t forget that you will have to get your puppy shots and, in a few months, get them spayed or neutered.

Should you decide to add a puppy or dog to your family this Christmas, I hope that this post will help you make the best decision for your family.  Remember, puppies are not stocking stuffers!  They are living, breathing creatures who deserve to be treated with kindness and loved their whole lives through.

LuLu, Wally and I wish you the best this holiday season!

“Rescue.  It’s good for your heart.”

His former owner was homeless. She turned him in to the shelter because she realized she could no longer care for him. She did take him to the vet, but having limited funds, there was only so much she could do to find out what was wrong with him. All she was able to afford was a skin scraping. I know letting him get to this condition is unconscionable, but he may have been the last friend she had in the world… I’m sure it was a heartbreaking decision for her to turn him over.

When he came to us, we assumed he was just starved, but it turns out Phee, as he’s affectionately known, has diabetes and his blood glucose level was extremely high. We started him on insulin Monday night and he’s already made such a huge improvement.  His appetite has improved, he’s no longer drinking bowls and bowls of water, and he’s found his playful spirit again.

He has some trouble holding his bowels at night, so we have to diaper him, but he has 99% control over his bowels during the day and always lets me know when he needs to go out.  He also has dry eye and corneal scarring in his right eye as a result of the untreated diabetes, but this is easily managed with eye drops a couple of times a day.

Phee’s a good boy and we’re happy to be able to help him on his road to recovery.. and eventually on to his forever home!

If you would like to help support Phee in his recovery, please browse his wish list on Amazon.com.  We are an all volunteer organization and your support is greatly appreciated.  There are several medical necessities that we will need to be purchasing long-term, so we would be very grateful for any assistance in purchasing these items.  If all of Phee’s wish list items have been purchased, please consider making a donation to help with his veterinary expenses.   If you’d like to donate toward his care, you can donate directly to SNORT at http://www.snortrescue.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21&Itemid=30  Thank you so very much!

We will be updating our Facebook page with Phee’s photos on a regular basis, so be sure to like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/luluandwally   Also, please follow SNORT – Short Noses Only Rescue Team on Facebook to learn more about our organization!

I know these pictures are a little hard to look at, but Phee will be looking great in no time!  :)

Phoenix on his way to us!

Skinny man

Getting nice and clean!

All clean!

I think I would like a treat too!

I think I like it here!

Phoenix is our new foster.  He was pulled from a high-kill shelter in Manhattan on December 1.

He has significant health issues that he is recovering from at this time.

You can read more about Phee here:

http://www.lifewithlulu.com/2012/12/05/meet-our-new-foster-phoenix/