WANDA

Wanda came to us from a shelter in the western part of Virginia. She a beautiful little girl with her very unusual coloring. She was wreaking with urine smell and had to be bathed three times before she was even partially okay. She had obviously never been cared for. Our guess is that she started having "accidents" and was thrown out into a dog house or small kennel. She smelled so badly of urine when she was picked her up and her coat was all greasy and tangled.

Wanda had a bad eye and an xray showed that she had a large bladder stone-- the size of a quarter! She also had a raging bladder infection.

Look at the size of it. I received photos of her bladder surgery, which to me was amazing to see pictures of. I've never watched a surgery, so the pictures gave me an idea of what it would be like. I'm so glad we have Dr. Lucinda Hodges in Roanoke, who helps with our fosters there-- and who fosters them.

After her surgery for remove the stone and spay her, Wanda had some healing time before her eye surgery. Her right eye had to be removed because it was in such bad condition and was giving Wanda problems. A pathology report showed it was melanoma in the eye, and she is doing fine now that the eye is gone. Otherwise, she would have died.

Wanda is playing more and more now that she feels better. She even climbed over a baby gate at the vet (where she gets to visit during the day with her mom and dad) because she knew there was activity on the other side. She loves people and you can tell she was a house dog.

There was a Father's Day party at her foster home and she loved the kids that came. (Dollar, the other foster there, had to have some time outs, so we won't place him with children.) Wanda is now ready for her forever home where she will get the care she needs and will get to live out her life with parents who can recognize an "accident" as the sign of a problem instead of just pee on the floor. If you are interested in her, please email potomacpekes@gmail.com

WHAT HAPPENED SATURDAY?

I told you that Saturday was a very busy day. In fact, the whole week was a very busy rescue week for Jeanne and me. We normally go through 50-100 emails a day and most don't need answers, but many do. This week had both of us trying to juggle many things, but we couldn't ignore the requests to help the dogs who needed help.
This is one of those dogs. He came out of a shelter after his owner left him in a crate at a convenience store. Someone noticed him and stayed to watch to make sure his owner came out of the store-- but no one came. After a few hours, she took the dog to the local animal shelter-- and the good news is that this shelter will work with us. (Amazingly, many shelters won't.)

I named him Jonah after one of the suggestions (thanks, Beth!). She said he'd been through a "whale of a time." I call him Jo Jo for short and it fits. I took him the vet Saturday morning to be checked out. He's sleeping beside me as I write this blog.

After I brought him back home, my husband and I left for Richmond, a two hour drive. I was taking Jasper to a new foster home. He's been with me three weeks, and I don't normally move a foster, but Jasper gets very excited with change and I was honestly afraid he would go into heart failure! He is undergoing heartworm treatment and calm environment is critical-- my house is always changing (babies and grandkids and Pekes) and Jasper was getting over-excited. So, I moved him to a calm foster home with just one other dog and no grandkids around. (Once he is done with his heartworm treatment, he'll be FINE to get all excited!) When we got there, we were greeted by Chance (above). He was part of a puppy mill raid a few years ago (not the Bristol 18).

Is he the cutest thing or what! He's a very compact little Peke and so sweet.

He was a foster brother for Becky, who went to her new home Saturday. We were there to take Jasper at the same time, so we got to see Becky and meet her new family--and they are wonderful.

She's getting a love-pat from hew new sister.

"Oh, scratch that spot, right there..."

And then she relaxed on her new mom's lap.

She hopped right up there and relaxed.

And then, it was time for her to go to her new home.

And Chance and Jasper came out to say good-bye to Becky.

And then Jasper and I took a little walk before I had to leave, too.

And I gave him a kiss, and knew he would be taken care of so well by Sonia and Joe and get the quiet environment he needs to heal during his heartworm treatment and surgeries he needs. I left a little bit of my heart there, too. But, that's what we do-- we love them for a season and hope we continue to hear about them for the rest of their lives. Jasper is still in foster care and will be ready for a new home after he is all well and healthy. He is wonderful and loving. Like so many of them-- if you want to welcome one of them into your home, email us at potomacpekes@gmail.com .

FOURTH OF JULY--DESI AND FRIENDS

I know I told you I would do a blog on what happened on Saturday, but you'll have to wait one more day-- it's Fourth of July, so I had to do a special blog for that!
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DESI AND HER FRIENDS
Desi and her friends want to wish everyone a Happy Fourth of July-- our Independence Day (Melinda, in Australia, might not be familiar with our history). :-) Desi insisted that her mom send me the pictures of her latest photo shoot.

Wanda is posing in her patriotic outfit. Desi said that Wanda was less than impressed even though she loaned her the most sparkly patriotic dress.

It's tiring work! So, Wanda takes a rest.

Dollar (Dolla on the web site) shows off his Fourth Of July tie. You look very dapper, Dollar. His foster mom said he was a real ham.

Desi's mom must have a photo studio with lots of special things-- she always sends me the greatest pictures.

Yes, Dollar, she's taking a lot of pictures of you.

Cassidy was posing, too. (Dollar and Wanda are their foster siblings). Look at that smile!

And the boys take a snooze during the photo shoot.

Wanda was tuckered out after they were finished. I think she must have joined the boys for a nap.

Desi decided she could share the limelight with the others, but she knew they had no professional experience.

Desi wrote me this, " I think my pictures turned out the best and showed off my true divaself. Wanda just got her stitches out from her eye surgery and was a littleself conscious but mom tells her she is beautiful even with one eye.(justnot as beautiful as me though) Mom says I may be taking this modeling career a little too seriously, but I am after all a star!"

You are a stunner, Desi. Maybe you can share modeling tips with the rest of your friends. You're being a very good sport about sharing your mom and dad.

Desi and her friends wish all of you a safe and happy Fourth of July!! And I want to thank all those men and women who have served our country, helping to make it safer for all of us. God bless each one of you!

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA , AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH JUSTICE FOR ALL!

A LONG DAY

I'm writing this on Saturay night. It's been a LONG day-- began about 7 and it's after 10:30 now-- I put over 250 miles on my car and I'm tired.

So, I'm just posting a few pictures so you can guess what my day was like.

I'm not telling you who all these dogs are-- you'll find out in tomorrow's blog.

Little Jasper is tired, too-- it's been a long day for all of us. So, we're all going to bed and tomorrow you'll find out all the things that happened! What do YOU think went on? :-)

NASAL FOLD SURGERY

Pekingese are prone to having eye issues. Many of the rescue dogs we get need nasal fold surgery (reducing the size of the fold below the eye). Starlight, above, needed this done (along with stenotic nares surgery and three ear procedures). Look at her now!

Sabre, one of the Bristol 18 dogs also had to have this done. If this surgery is needed, but not done, there can be a rubbing of the hair from the fold on the eyeball. It leads to scarring, ulcers of the eye and sight damage.

Poochie, also of the Bristol 18, had this surgery, too. It does change the look of the face, but they're so cute anyway.

Chance had huge folds and had his reduced. You want a vet who can do this well. You don't want too little or too much done. Many vets will refer you to an opthalmologist for this procedure. If the procedure is not done, the eye can water excessively, trying to protect itself-- but the opposite is also true in Pekes and many have Dry Eye, and need drops every day. (Some dogs need the surgery and eye drops.)

Taloola had her done-- and look how cute she is! I'm always amazed at the "before and after" pictures-- not just because of the surgery, but of how they look once they've been cared for and loved.

Cocoa Puff (now Pekachu) also had this. It's very important to wear the cone (e-collar) after the surgery so the eyes are not rubbed, causing the stitches to open up and a re-do having to take place.

My Scooterbug, who is using a toy for a pillow (his tongue perpetually out) had this surgery done when he was young. He's ten now! He's my best boy!! If you want to find out more about this surgery, just google Nasal Fold Surgery, Dogs. It's amazing how much information is available-- but most important, work with your vet to come to the decision that is best for your dog. You can also use this link: http://www.animaleyecare.net/diseases/macropalpebral.htm

I don't know if this little guy will need it. He's coming into rescue today. He has an appointment to see the vet this afternoon-- we just need a name for him. He was found in a crate outside a Sheets store (like WaWa or 7-11). Someone finally realized no one was coming to get him. They had dropped him off. In spite of this, he is very sweet. I'll do a blog on him later. Any name ideas? :-)

MIDNIGHT

Jasper heard I was going to the shelter today. Yes, I am, Jasper. You just wait at home and rest.

Scooter and Jasper heard me come home. Is she bringing another dog here? Scooter is used to it, but Jasper knows something is up! And he was beside himself when he saw another black Peke come into the house! I had to finally put him upstairs so he didn't get all worked up over the new one! (Since Jasper is undergoing heartworm treatment, he doesn't need to get his heart racing!)

Yes, I was bringing home Midnight. He was in a shelter near me. I found out why he was there.

This little 13 pounder's owner died, and one of her friends took him to her house. But, her Pit Bull attacked Midnight, so the lady had animal control come and take Midnight to the shelter. Midnight doesn't seem to have any injuries from that attack. But, he spent almost two weeks in the shelter and I'm sure he was terrified.

At the vet, he was looking around-- he wasn't crazy about the flash on my camera. He kept turning away, so I wasn't able to get very many pictures of him.

Midnight is only about a year old. He is going to have his eye folds (nasal fold surgery) reduced next week and he's on antibiotics for kennel cough. I think with time, he will settle right into his foster home. He's a sweet boy who has been through a lot this month-- it's time to for life to be happy for him.