Santa Pix 2011

A little sad as this is the first Christmas without Oscar in the photo.

But, happy to have a great one of Brosa & Delta!

We have a photo of Walker as well, but I still need to pick the print up (I didn't purchase a digital download of it like I did with the above).

Walker to stay in Foster care a while longer

Poor Walker - a vet appointment yesterday confirmed that his Demodectic Mange was not completely cleared up, and has returned after the stress of his arrival.  He is now on a monthly treatment, along with 2 weeks (2 x a day) antibiotics.  A return appointment in 1 month will be scheduled for another skin scraping.

I had first noticed last week that his paws were red and puffy, seemingly overnight.  His throat was pink as well (although I chalked that one up to a combination of pulling on his collar and playing bitey-face with my crew).  Yesterday morning I noticed his groin/belly seemed quite pink and I drew attention to that.  It was that scraping that confirmed the presence of mites.

Poor little Walker. :(  BUT on the upside, he was a very good boy at the vet!  No issues meeting the doctor, and allowed the doctor to get up close and personal, inspecting his body, paws, mouth...

So this (and last weekend's Santa Pix) really confirms that being in public places really isn't the issue for him.   The issue is territorial / at home, and so we'll have to deal with that training appropriately.  We probably have at minimum another 2 months, while ensuring his demodex is a thing of the past once and for all.  Poor pup should never have had to suffer for so long.  At least he isn't full of parasites the way my last foster dog, Kyleigh, was while she was suffering from mange.

Pictures of his feet and throat after last week's bath, which I sent to the rescue to question if an appointment should be made.

Right front paw

Left front paw

Throat

Nobody does Lazy Sundays quite like MY crew do!

BROSA HAS JUST CRAWLED UP FROM THE FLOOR PILLOW

STRETCHES OUT SOME MORE

WALKER FLIPS OVER

AND HANGS OUT LIKE SO FOR A WHILE

THEN WALKER REPOSITIONS HIMSELF

Gawd love Delta's tolerance!!

Brosa is 3 years old today!

How time flies!  Today is a quiet day but we're hopefully celebrating with his friends this weekend, complete with an Itty Bitty Bone cake from Three Dog Bakery.

Happy Birthday Turd!

ETA - AFTER OUR SANTA PIX EXCURSION, BROSA HAS HIS BIRTHDAY CAKE - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2011

BROSA HAS A TASTE OF HIS CAKE

OH YES, HE LIKES IT!

AND SO DOES DELTA

HA HA!  JUST LOOK AT BROSA'S EYE!

EVERYONE IS ASKED TO SIT/STAY - WALKER WOULDN'T SIT, BUT HE STAYED EVEN THOUGH HE REALLY DID NOT WANT TO!

OKAY, GET YOUR CAKE!

BROSA ENJOYED EVERY LAST CRUMB.  :)

Walker - Week 1 Update

Walker is doing fabulously!  He is a lovely dog, full of energy, loves to play.  Delta & Brosa are enjoying him much to my surprise (it took them longer to get used to Kyleigh).  In fact, Delta, at almost 10 years old, has found re-newed energy and loves to wrassle with Walker as well.

Walker went to school Tuesday night and did beautifully.  His attention span is great, and his tail never stopped wagging - he loves me! (or perhaps it was the yummy hot dog bits and liver that I had for him, ha ha!)

1 week later, he shows no signs at all of the terrified puppy who arrived at Halifax Stanfield Airport. 

Walker's Petfinder profile will probably be up within the week as he's ready to be adopted by his family.  Come and get him - he's waiting for you!

A chilly and frosty Saturday morning results in some very frisky puppies!

Handsome Walker, ready for his for-ever family!

Walker loves the stuffys - his family needs to decide if the entertainment is worth it. ;)  If there are children, then Walker should absolutely NOT have his own stuffys as he won't be able to differentiate between the toys that are allowed to be chewed on, and which ones are not.

Introducing Walker, a BTRC Foster dog

Let me introduce you to our new foster dog, Walker.  Walker is a 1 year old neutered male.  He is half Boston Terrier (mom) and half (we believe) Boxer. He has been in foster care his whole life as he, his mom and his 6 brothers and sisters all had Demodectic Mange.  While everyone else has long been adopted, Walker remained in his original foster's care all year.  His foster parent could no longer look after him and asked that someone else take over.  Due to being "substantially similar" in Ontario, I was contacted and agreed to take him on.

Walker came to me Saturday night from Toronto via an airline who shall remain unnamed.  The dog that arrived was not sweet and happy.  I'd expected some nervousness due to the trauma of leaving the only people he has ever known, and being shoved into a noisy airplane for hours, to be greeted by strangers.  However, Walker was VERY unhappy and fear-aggressive.  We can only imagine what kind of trauma he experienced on the trip, whether it was the trip itself or the way the airline may have (man)handled him.

With many thanks to two trainer friends of mine (one who is very experienced with working with fearful dogs), Walker finally left his crate late the next morning.  For the next several hours, we kept things slow and calm, working on confidence building so that he would know he is safe.  He would not come near me much at all, until I was the only person left, and then he began his bond with me.

Walker was quite "soft" and submissive during play with Brosa the first 24 hours out of his crate, but by Monday afternoon, his confidence was back and he engaged play completely.  The crate is no longer a place of fear once again.

We begin training Tuesday evening to work on his social skills and obedience training, in preparation of adopting him to his real family who is waiting for him out there, somewhere!

Walker is a medium to large size dog, with terrier & Boxer energy.  He will require a home that has the energy and commitment for him.   Walker is good with other dogs and seems to be okay with cats.  His original foster home had children who loved him as well.  He is a love bug who is also a bit wary/cautious of strangers.

If you or someone else you know may be interested in adopting Walker, please read all of the information/links on this page, then complete Boston Terrier Rescue Canada's adoption application.

Finally over his fright from his terrifying plane ordeal, Walker exhibits confidence and joy outdoors

making himself comfortable!

The tail hasn't stopped wagging

Still shy but seeking attention from Delta

Waiting for a cookie!

Walker is sitting further back behind Brosa and isn't that small - he's actually the medium size dog of the 3

Shyness is gone now - the chase is ON!

There's a new dawg in town.

RIP Sasquatch/Cesar

After mama cat and her kittens were delivered to the SPCA, I was informed that Sasquatch, the polydactyl, was a boy, not a girl.  Oops!

Sadly, Sasquatch (renamed Cesar at the shelter) became quite ill, along with mama Kallie.  I found out this week that he passed away.  Kallie is still fighting a serious upper respiratory illness.  The other 3 kittens were adopted, but Circus cat also came back to be treated for an illness.  His prospect looks well though, and he will go back home when he's recovered.

Please keep Kallie and Circus in your thoughts for a speedy recovery.

RIP dear Sasquatch.  I hope the short time you had after being rescued from the cold, cruel world was comfortable for you. :'(