CALEB--PEKE WITH A JOB

I want to extend my deepest sympathy to my friend, Linda, whose Shih Tzu Chloe died on April 27 at almost 17 years old. Chloe was deeply loved and cared for by Linda. We're so sorry about her loss. REST IN PEACE, SWEET CHLOE. July 14, 1993 - April 27, 2010
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You know, from reading my blog, that I think Pekes need jobs. They come in all sorts-- from helping you do yardwork, helping you with laundry, helping to clean the house.

Well, Caleb has a job-- he helps with the dishes. He really does-- he and Scooter were checking to make sure I had loaded the dishwasher correctly.

Scooter directed him to check areas that he was too big to get into. Caleb is under ten pounds and small, so he got right up there on the lid to do what Scooter told him to do. Caleb doesn't have a mean bone in his body and is just a cuddle of fur. SO CUTE!!

Yes, Scooter, you are doing a great job, too!! You are my Big Boy!!!

Check out the brushes, Caleb.

Are you done? Did you check everything?

I guess so. Scooter is making sure, but I think Caleb is just laying down on the job-- I know, I know, you could see that coming!

Who could resist this face!! I just have to grab him a few hundred times a day to kiss him!

Gracie Lu Babysits

GRACIE LU AND BODIE
Remember Gracie-- she was in the blog with Bodie last year. Gracie is like a Mama dog and she will let Bodie know how to act when he's with her. Gracie sent me an email I'd like to share with all of you.

Hi Linda,

It's me again Gracie Lu. Guess what I did today??? I puppy sat for Bodie, that the little Maltipoo whose Grandmom lives down the street.

She had lots of folks at her house and I really needed to go and see what was going on but Mom said a great big NO.. In a while Bodie's Grandmom called and wanted to know if I would puppy sit him while her company was there. Of course I said okay.

He is really little and so young, too, and I'm a big girl. I let him eat my cookies and my treat and I went to walk with him in the yard.

Then I got tired and so he sat in Mom's lap while I guarded the door. Wasn't that nice of me?

Oh yes, Mom made pictures-- Aren't they cute!? After the pictures were done, we each went to separate rooms. Babysitting is hard work and I needed time alone!

Love, Gracie"

(from Gracie's mom: My friend Peggy had asked some friends to her house and thought it might be best for Bodie to visit Gracie. They did fine by ignoring each other. But Gracie really wanted to go down there even when Peggy's daughter came to get Bodie. My Gracie is not the least bit nosy!!)

Oreo

Oreo came into rescue last fall. He was a one year old puppy whose owner had died. The family didn't want him (???) but we did!
He was fostered in Virginia Beach with his foster brother Clarence (owned by his foster mom Kim).

He was a sweetheart and I knew he would go fast. (We have a foster now who looks a lot like him-- Merit.)

A friend from church met him and fell in love. This friend didn't have a lot of dog history, but I knew when she committed to something, it was not taken lightly. She was a new widow and lonely and when she met Oreo, she wanted to adopt him.

Years ago, she met me and found out what I did-- rescue Pekingese. She told me recently, "I thought it was really odd what you did." :-) But, now that she has Oreo, she told me, "I used to think you were odd, but now I pray for you. Oreo has given me a reason to get up and has given me so much joy."

WOW, what better compliment could we have as foster moms/dads for what we do. So, to all my foster helpers-- this is for you. People may not understand what we do, but once they do, we see what a difference these dogs can make in a life. We save the dogs, but sometimes, I think we help save people, too. :-)

ALICE SAVED

WE GIVE DOGS TIME WE CAN SPARE, SPACE WE CAN SPARE AND LOVE WE CAN SPARE. AND IN RETURN, THEY GIVE US THEIR ALL. IT'S THE BEST DEAL MAN HAS EVER MADE.
M. ACKLAM
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Alice is a precious little girl who was saved from a puppy mill by a young woman who has a tremendous love for Pekingese. She is also fostering Cody.

Who could resist this picture-- what a little dollbaby! We are looking for a very special person to share their life with Alice, as she is a very special Peke! She is a puppy mill breeder girl obviously now retired, but she had quite a rough life in the mill.

She was absolutely abused by humans and is still pretty apprehensive with her foster parents from time to time but she is learning that it is alright to be affectionate with people. When you pick her up and bring her to you, she loves to sit in your lap and will fall asleep with you while you hold her for hours.

She is blind in one eye (her pretty blue eye) and can see fairly well in her other eye. She is spayed now and has gotten a clean bill of health from the vet. Alice has had a haircut to get rid of her mats but it will grow in very nicely. She is a big eater! She is potty trained and uses pee pads and can walk on the leash. She sleeps in the bed with her foster mom at night, and loves to roll around in the bed when she wakes up in the morning.

She is also very independent and entertains herself with chew toys and exploring her surroundings. She has the most beautiful face on a dog that you have ever seen. She looks like a puppy so most of the time when we go to the park people ask me whether she is a baby or not. She has a walk like she is on a mission to conquer the world and you can tell that she really wants to be a member of the family.
Here is a video of her chewing her favorite chew: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emNoTlOl358

If you are interested in adopting Alice, please contact Emily Anderson at Ms.Emily.Anderson@gmail.com.

MY FOSTER DOG IS BEAUTIFUL

MY FOSTER DOG IS BEAUTIFUL...
(The dogs in this post are all fine-- not like the challenging fosters this blog describes-- but I wanted to use our beautiful pictures to go with the blog. The first one, FozyBear, is precious, but has another story that I might be able to tell later. Just pray for this little one.)
My foster dog stinks to high heaven. I don't know for sure what breed he is. His eyes are blank and hard. He won't let me pet him and growls when I reach for him. (Picture of Fozy above, will be auctioned at our Fun Day.)
He has ragged scars and crusty sores on his skin. His nails are long and his teeth which he showed me are stained. I sigh. I drove two hours for this. I carefully maneuver him so that I can stuff him in the crate. Then I heft the crate and put it in the car. I am going home with my new foster dog. (Group meeting of a new foster dog.)

At home I leave him in the crate till all the other dogs are in the yard. I get him out of the crate and ask him if he wants 'outside.' As I lead him to the door he hikes his leg on the wall and shows me his stained teeth again. (Caleb enjoying new foster Janey's bed--)

When we come in he goes to the crate because that's the only safe place he sees. I offer him food but he won't eat it if I look at him, so I turn my back. When I come back the food is gone. I ask again about 'outside.' When we come back I pat him before I let him in the crate, he jerks away and runs into the crate to show me his teeth. (Janey posing for a picture)

The next day I decide I can't stand the stink any longer I lead him into the bath with cheese in my hand. His fear of me is not quite overcome by his wish for the cheese. And well he should fear me, for I will give him a bath. (Rommi and BooBoo posing pretty.)

After an attempt or two to bail out he is defeated and stands there. I have bathed four legged bath squirters for more dog years than he has been alive. His only defense was a show of his stained teeth that did not hold up to a face full of water. As I wash him it is almost as if I wash not only the stink and dirt away but also some of his hardness. His eyes look full of sadness now. (Precious Alice, from a puppy mill--isn't she beautiful!)

And he looks completely pitiful as only a soap covered dog can. I tell him that he will feel better when he is cleaned. After the soap the towels are not too bad so he lets me rub him dry. I take him outside. He runs for joy. The joy of not being in the tub and the joy of being clean. I, the bath giver, am allowed to share the joy. He comes to me and lets me pet him. (Cody and friend, Polly Pockets.)

One week later I have a vet bill. His skin is healing. He likes for me to pet him. I think I know what color he will be when his hair grows in. I have found out he is terrified of other dogs. So I carefully introduce him to my mildest four legged brat. It doesn't go well.Two weeks later, a new vet bill for an infection that was missed on the first visit. (Sweet Oscar)

He plays with the other dogs.Three weeks later he asks to be petted. He chewed up part of the rug.Eight weeks later his coat shines, he has gained weight. He shows his clean teeth when his tongue lolls out after he plays chase in the yard with the gang. His eyes are soft and filled with life. He loves hugs and likes to show off his tricks, if you have the cheese. (Chubby, new foster)

Someone called today and asked about him, they saw the picture I took the first week. They asked about his personality, his history, his breed. They asked if he was pretty. I asked them lots of questions. I checked up on them. I prayed. I said yes. When they saw him the first time, they said he was the most beautiful dog they had ever seen. Six months later I got a call from his new family. He is wonderful, smart, well behaved and very loving. How could someone not want him? I told them I didn't know. He is beautiful. They all are.~ Martha O'Connor (Alice, foster)

Cranberry-- Oh My

You remember my Cranberry-- Cranberry Muffin the Christmas Puppy is her whole name. Long story. :-) She is definitely the alpha dog here. Sometimes, she gets special privileges because she IS the alpha dog here and she needs to know she is special even though she is surrounded by other Pekes-- some who live here now, some who have lived here a long time and some who are just visiting (fosters). I let her go into the dining room with me. I was having some quiet time and doing some reading. The dogs are not generally allowed in there-- it's MY space. But, I let Cranberry in. And I was reading and sipping my coffee and having---- are you ready?----- cornbread with peanut butter on it. Yep, I was raised by a southern mama and I love cornbread with peanut butter. Left over cornbread--- for breakfast. Only a southern person could understand this.

I left a small portion on my plate when I went into the study on the other side of the kitchen. I let her stay in the dining room just to have "alone time." She likes that. But, then I heard her barking and went to let her out. But, she wasn't at the baby gate-- she was ON THE TABLE. And she ate my cornbread and peanut butter. She laid down on my Bible, and next to the GLASS candle holder and ate my breakfast. Of course, being the Peke mom that I am, did I immediately get her. NO. I said, "STAY!" and ran to get my camera! It was a blogging moment. And she stayed!

I couldn't resist getting her picture. And then I got her off the table!

Pekes and Safety

TYPES OF ACCIDENTS THAT CAN BE PREVENTED THROUGH CONSCIENTIOUS HOUSEKEEPING
Here are a few of the more common ones:

1. Tripping over loose objects on floors, stairs and platforms. (When the Pekes are biting at the ankles or not moving off the stairs like the princes/princesses they think they are.)

2. Slipping on wet, greasy or dirty floors. (Pekingese can come in wet and leave water everywhere from shaking. They can also leave an "accident" on the floor.)

3. Bumping against projecting or misplaced material. (Dog gates and toys may vary from day to day depending on the Peke herding strategy of the day.)

4. Puncturing or scratching hands or other body parts on protruding nails, hooks or rods. This is given especially at feeding time or the special treat or bribe with dog treats.

5. Injuries from falling objects. (Do Pekingese count when they jump on you or toss one of their toys?)

6. Mistaking the contents of an unmarked container of material. (No telling what's in the dog food container, maybe I need to go on the same diet as Max…… )

Unfortunately, there aren’t any short cuts to good housekeeping. No one likes to work in a dirty, cluttered place, so each one of us have to be responsible for keeping his or her surroundings neat and safe. (Can we teach Pekes to be responsible for THEIR space??!) A clean workplace is less costly to operate, more productive and safer. In addition, employee morale is known to be higher in departments with good housekeeping programs. (I keep trying to tell this to the dogs-- they just won't listen!! I picked up fifteen toys yesterday-- and half those were in the yard. Who is taking all those toys to the yard-- oh, yes, Caleb!)

Getting plenty of sleep is important to our safety-- if we're sleep deprived, we don't function well. (Are you listening, Cranberry??)

Getting plenty of sleep is a very important part of your personal safety. Most people need 7.5-8.5 hours of sleep each day. Sleep loss built up slowly over several nights can be as harmful as sleep loss in one night.

Both produce a decline in performance such as slower reaction times, failure to respond to changes, and the inability to concentrate and make reasonable judgments. (Cranberry must be sleep deprived a lot because she has no ability to tolerate Caleb puppy behavior!)

Research that tested a fatigued state from continuous hours of wakefulness against blood alcohol levels concluded that:

• 17 hours awake is equivalent to a blood alcohol content of .05. (Typical night as you try to fight for position in the bed with a determined Peke.)

• 21 hours awake is equivalent to a blood alcohol content of .08 (Thunderstorm episode in our house with one white dog wrapped around your head. In the middle of the night, you roll over to give your husband a kiss and you either get licked, grumbled at, or find yourself looking at your dog's back side.)

• 24-25 hours awake is equivalent to a blood alcohol content of .10 (Can we say PUPPY ZONE?)

Typically, in a 24-hour period, our alertness is reduced between the hours of 3:00 and 5:00 during the day and the night. ( So, at the time we need to make dinner, feed the dogs, finish our day's work, we are at a low on energy-- so Pekes, go pick up your own toys!)

In addition to fatigue caused by shortened periods of sleep, the quality of sleep during the day is not the same as during the night. People have a natural tendency to be awake during the day. Every person has a circadian rhythm—an internal biological time clock.

This rhythm follows body temperature and changes our level of mental alertness. (There is a difference between man's circadian rhythm and the Peke's no rhyme or reason rhythm. Why do Pekes wake us up at night-- snoring, taking up more bed space....)

How about you? Do you get enough sleep? It is important that you do for your safety and the safety of your coworkers and those you live with.

Are you listening all you Pekingese? :-)

Have a Safe Week!

Human Resources Division of Risk Management