DICKENS-CHRISTMAS IS COMING

 Dickens came into rescue early January of this year.  Of the 19 dogs we took in, he was in the most serious condition. He stayed in the vet for medical care.  When he could leave the vet, he came to my house.  He has come a long way. 

I want to show you a picture of him yesterday.  I'm setting up the Christmas tree.  I'll slowly get it done.  Dickens came to watch me.   He had no idea what I was doing.  This will be his first Christmas.  

Since our main, wonderful vet is near me, I often foster the medical ones.  You can see how skinny Dickens was.  He was 12 pounds of skin and bone.  He had no muscle or fat anywhere on his body.   

He had very little hair and his eyes has many scars on them which means he has low vision.   He is now over 15 pounds and is much healthier.  

A lot of them came here initially, and they were so dependent on each other that they stayed together, even climbing on top of each other to be close.  Dickens is at the top.  They all had sweaters on.  It was January and cold.  And they didn't have enough fat or hair to stay warm.   I have a lot of sweaters, so they often got a different one.  

Look at Dickens now!  When it is time for a meal, he is THERE.  And Paddington is fine with Dickens being here.  They all wait for me to fix their food.  Dickens is so excited and happy.  (Cinnamon's spot is behind me, so she's waiting there.  They all know their bowl spot.  Dickens "runs" to his spot when I have his bowl ready.

Dickens had very limited use of his back legs and he just pulled himself around.  To see him being able to walk is a joy.  He still has his red-light therapy and I think that helps.  

Paddington tried to take his toy.  Paddington won but dropped it as soon as he had it.  Silly boy.  

Dickens is my buddy on the couch.  I pick him up to put him on, but sometimes he will slide down the ramp to get down.

Here's one morning coffee picture.  They all take a rest while I have my coffee   Eating takes so much energy. 

He LOVES toys and has so many in the bed by the end of the day.  He can get his head into the toy container and pull them out.  

Dickens has come so far since we got him.  He is incredibly sweet and loving.  He's good for everything-- baths, blowing dry, nail trims.  He's good.   So, we will celebrate his first Christmas with him this year and for him, it will be one of pure joy.   🎄🎄

MORE PRECIOUS PEKES WE REMEMBER #2

I know all are not here, and some will be on a blog later this week.  

Many of you remember Lexie.  She was such a beautiful little girl.  She came from a home where she had no care.  She came to me in critical condition.  We fought for her life for 7 months.  We found out she had IMHA.  She was my first introduction to this disease, and I had more foster dogs with it.  There's a very low chance of this being healed.  We really tried though.  My beautiful girl.  

Koko was a PVPC alumni who also had IMHA.  For her, it was very fast.   If you want to know about it, here is a link.  Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA) in Dogs and Cats - Veterinary Partner - VIN 

Simon and Bella were a pair I fostered.  Tiny Bella liked to be bossy.  LOL  She had a wonderful life in her home but came down with pancreatic cancer.   I didn't know dogs could get that.  Like with people, it's very fast.  

Jules and Pearl were adopted together.  They came as bonded sisters when their owner could no longer care for them.  Their mom still misses them so much. 

Brucee Wu came into rescue in 2022.   He was one of my fosters and was so sweet.   

Pollyanna was in a shelter near me.  She had "burns" all over her back.  Her adoptive mom had so many happy years with this precious girl.

Barty was my granddog.  I saw his shelter picture and knew we had to help him.  My daughter ended up adopting him.  He was over 17 when he passed away. 

Cashew "Cash" was in a shelter in Virginia and was a wonderful boy.  He was older, but we thought he was healthy.  He had a wonderful home for over a year.  

Guinness was adopted by Cashew's mom. Like Cashew, we thought he had years to live.  But he lived a year-- it was the best year of his life.  

Mollie and...

Darby and.....

Phoebe all belonged to one of our board members.  Amee sometimes takes females that need extra help.  These three had so much healing time with their mom.  

Jackson was a special one. A local vet called me and said his owners were going to put him down because he was blind.  He was signed over to us, and he was a precious boy.  I'm so glad he could have that special time in his own home.  

Ricky aka Bric was Jackson's foster mom's second foster.   He had "quirks" that meant we couldn't adopt him out.   So Marti kept him the rest of his life.  (She adopted Kringle of the Christmas rescue.)

Joyful Grace was a well-known foster with us.   She was in such bad shape, and she had every bit of medical care we could give her.  Everyone hoped she would live a long time.  

Mr. Petey was another one who came to us with serious health issues.  His spine had been damaged somehow.   We tried pain meds and we had a wheelchair made just for him.   He couldn't tolerate it because it made his spine hurt more. He was so sweet, but his pain got worse.   We won't let dogs suffer when we can't help them.   His behavior changed because he was in such pain.  We gently let him go and peace came to him. 

Camden and Brandy belonged to a long time Peke loving friend.  Brandy was one of the Bristol 18 dogs.  They both has long, loving lives.  Now their mom has one of the Christmas dogs.  :-)  

Taz. Allie Marie. and Oshi lived happily together.  When Oshi and Allie Marie passed away, Taz was alone and lonely.  They adopted Mistletoe/Missy from the Christmas rescue. 

Taz' heart healed when she came. Taz and Missy are now best friends!

Gus came to us, and he needed medical care and time to get healthy.  Once he did, he was adopted and lived in New York City.  

Katie and Louie came into rescue separately, but they became best friends in their foster home.  They were adopted together.  The best! 

After Katie died,  Lady joined the family. She was fully part of the pack.  They had each other until the end.  They both died on the same day. 

Didi and Sassy were Jeanne's girls.  When Jeanne died, her girls went to live with Paige to finish their life.  All Jeanne's other dogs have left, too.  Hannah was still alive several years ago, but I don't know if she is now.  She was an old girl.    

Potomac Valley Louie came to us in 2013 as a young, injured Peke puppy.   His eyes had been severely injured in an accident, and we took him right away.   (His owners couldn't pay for his care.)  He had surgery and his lack of sight never got in his way of living an awesome life.   His adventures were wonderful to see.

 

Elvis was in serious shape when we got him.   He was starving and we thought he had a mass in his stomach.  When he was operated on, it was a mass of everything he was eating to try to soothe his hunger-- rocks, grass, hair.   He recovered wonderfully and lived a wonderful life with his family.  

Mizmo was remembered by some of you.  He was the cutest boy.  But, his health issues could not be healed.  He had much love while he was with me.  

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If one of your adopted one of our PVPC dogs and want them honored here, just post their picture and the dates you had them.  I can add them to this blog.  Every dog who has come through our rescue is special.  Each one was loved by all of us.  And they are remembered.  (I'll do another Pekes We Remember, so post your pictures in the comments.) 

We Are Rescue

Until you have held a tiny puppy in your arms as it kissed your face with slobbery puppy breath and felt the love, Until you have held an injured or severely ill dog in your arms and felt their pain.

Until you have looked into the eyes of a tired aging senior dog and felt their wisdom, And until you have seen and understood the look in your dogs eyes that tell you their time on earth with you is over .... and you humanely let them go,

You will never understand the life of a rescuer.

We find beauty in the most incomprehensible places and the otherwise homely faces. It is our gift to see beyond the dirt, terror, sadness and defeat and find the true soul that lies within.

We are Rescue

Author Unknown

PEKES WE REMEMBER

I asked you which Peke you remember most from my blogs-- which was a favorite.  Starlight was at the top.  My little girl with button eyes.  I got her in 2008 (it doesn't seem that long ago). Her name had been Star but, on the way to get her, I passed Starlighter Lane.  So, I changed her name to Starlight.  She refused to let anyone touch her except us.  We finally figured out she had chosen us.  I used to sing "Star light, Star bright, first star I see tonight...."  She left us in 2018.    

Zoey came to us from a shelter in N. Virginia.   She was adorable and I knew she would be a fast adoption.  She turned into a hospice Peke because of bone cancer.  I loved to carry her around on my shoulder.  

Zoey again with Missy.   Missy was Bogie's sister.  Both were hospice dogs.   They were so cute!  I've had quite a few-- and I'm glad they can be loved for a long time.   Missy was so loved. 

Many of you remember Nala and BeeBee.  They were bonded sisters when they came.   They had seizures and we kept trying to adjust their medications.  Nala had to have meds at least 5 times a day.  They were the sweetest pair.  They both had IMHA and we fought that fight.   They battled as hard as they could.  

Holly Bell "Oreo" was briefly with me.  But her transporter wanted to keep her and they did. What a beautiful girl she was.

Beautiful Kai Kai.  His coloring was stunning with a deep red coat-- his hair had black tips on it.  I've never had one like him before.  I never figured out why he wasn't adopted, but after a year, I decided he was staying.  I'm so glad.  He was my heart.   

Clara came from a small shelter.  She was about 8 pounds at the most.  She was another hospice dog since we found she had brain cancer/tumor.   I could carry her around in my hand-- she was just so small.   She had big beautiful eyes.  A truly special one.

Floyd with Starlight-- he was another hospice boy.  He came to me almost blind and deaf, but we all loved him.  He had quite a following.  

Chumley with his dumbbell.  He LOVED it.  My granddaughter fell in love with him and we had to keep him for her.  He was such a great boy!  He loved all the kids. 

Kenobi-- oh what a special boy her was.  He was only with me 2 weeks before he left us.  I'll never forget him and his red sweater.  He would sit with Sugar Bit and have tea parties.  

How many of you remember Cranberry.   I had her all her life.  She was a little bossy with the fosters.  When a new one came, she would go to the stairs and just sit.  And sit.  When she realized everyone was having fun, she came down to join them  LOL  

Sissy was another foster who stayed.  She was a quiet soul-- we think she had a brain tumor, but it only showed problems at the end.   She was so soft and fluffy.   A sweet girl. 

Of course, we all remember Callie, our Treeing Walker Coonhound.   She joined our family and found love and peace here.   She was a hound, but she NEVER bayed!  She never howled.   Maybe there WAS some Peke in her.  She always thought she was one.  She was Mama to all the dogs here.  

Unlike some of you, I don't remember the day they died.  I DO remember how they lived and how they loved, though.  That is more important to me.  And they were all so loved.   Who else was special to you of the Pekes we've had?  You listed more than I'll do a blog on later.   So much loved had gone through our home.  What a blessing.