Check out our little Caleb!

Caleb is 10 years old and has had massive amounts of surgery (back surgery, luxating patella surgery, dentals, etc.) so when you see him 'waddle' you would think he's an old man!  However, he's just as cute as a bug in a rug --- and when you see him play with toys, you think he's a young puppy... And when he runs about?  You're shocked!  Caleb absolutely LOVES life, people and just about most other dogs...

He's a keeper for sure and looking for his furever home.  Last of a rescuer's hard work's life (she passed away recently from cancer), we suspect he didn't get placed ahead of time because she loved him so much... All of the rest of her saved dogs went into their furever homes and we took on Caleb.

GREAT DOG and deserves a furever home all of his own!

Another one of those 'Kodak' moments...

I wish I had some kind of mechanism that could quickly take a snapshot of the visuals we volunteers get every day at the rescue shop... The cute poses of new puppies... The behavior of some of the adults that is just precious, etc... 

Mr. Peepers has given me so many of these 'Kodak' moments... I am apt to find him hanging out in a dryer load of clean toys (that makes it difficult to see him!) or following us around in the back room as we go about our chores in that cute red T-shirt he is now sporting... 

Mr. Peepers is a 'one of a kind' kind of guy.   You can't help but fall in love with him if he's around you for very long!   The other day I had just folded up a stack of clean blankees.  As I went to put them on the shelves, I spotted him curled up on a warm blankee I had just put away... I happened to have the camera in my shop shirt because of photos I'd just taken of new dogs who had just arrived....

Adorable, huh?

TLC's Speedway

Have you seen TLC's "Speedway" yet?  It is our version of an indoor doggie park.  We do it three times a day at the rescue shop!

Not for women only....

The majority of the folks in rescue are usually of the female gender for some reason... I have never quite figured out why because I have found some pretty compassionate men in my time... But for some odd reason, about 75% of those who do rescue are ladies... 

This week I was reflecting on just how very lucky TLC as a rescue has been... The synergy in the rescue shop is unique and dynamic... The volunteers who come in for countless hours and give of themselves are one of our strongest resources... I am truly humble when I think of the richly compassionate folks I am surrounded by each and every day... 

Some of our most dedicated volunteers are male... That alone makes TLC somewhat different than many rescues... And when we have quiet time at the rescue shop, it is not uncommon to find these guys spending the time to socialize and rehabilitate the dogs... 

Five days a week, Big Joe and his son, Joseph come into the rescue shop and each give an 8-hour day... Joseph has 'the touch' as we call it - the ability to really understand dog language and work with issues a dog might have... A quiet kind of young man by nature, Joseph and his dad are heavy foster dads as well... Many lives have been saved by these two fellas... They are especially good at changing 'men-fearful' dogs into men-loving dogs!

Part of our emergency contingent plan at the rescue shop is the ability to move all of our rescue dogs out immediately in the event of a fire, earthquake, etc... In creation of this plan, we also constructed two unusual components we affectionately call 'the cribs'... On wheels and fitting through the rescue shop's front door, they allow us to rapidly move rescue dogs if need be... Throughout the day, some dogs hang out here, and the cribs are also the center part of our 'speedway'... 

A few weeks ago, I found Joseph and another volunteer (Shawn) inside the cribs, loving up on and socializing with some of the dogs... This is a very important part of what we do - regaining the trust of the dogs we save and showing them that there are humans who care, don't hurt them and are always willing to sneak in a few cuddles, hugs and pats...  The picture was too cute to let pass by, and I seized the opportunity... 

Everyone that volunteers at the TLC rescue shop is committed to saving the lives of these dogs that were destined to die for one reason or another... It doesn't matter if there is poop that needs to be picked up, a bath needing to be done or whatever... Whatever it takes... And everyone is unwilling to put in the time and effort to socialize and rehabilitate these dogs...  For us it is "all about the dogs"...

Even the President of TLC can be found doing this... 

When Sugar and Ray came to TLC, Ray had a strong fear of men whereas Sugar was overly friendly to one and all... Mr. President was found one Saturday afternoon making 'eye-eyes' with the two of these little ones... Using food as a way into Ray's heart, Paul worked quite some time with the pair, using Sugar initially to show Ray that he too could trust a man again...

It took time, patience and a willingness to have Ray go from "You are not trustworthy" to.... "OK, maybe I might trust you a bit".... 

And then onto "OK, I trust you enough to give you a kiss".... 

And that's all these little ones really want - a second chance or as another volunteer always says, a 'do-over' in their own furever home... They might come to us sick, fearful, unfriendly or unadoptable... But we want to give them a second chance at life... Whatever it takes... Whatever the gender... Whatever amount of time and patience is required... 

That's what makes TLCers so gosh darn special and spectacular - the volunteers and foster moms/dads that give so very much of themselves simply to save a dog's life...  How many of us can say we have made a profound impact on a dog's life?... And what a great feeling it is inside!  We are so lucky to be able to do this!

Oh, what a difference a little TLC can do!

PandaBear was a ‘street dog’ and (apparently) had been for quite some time.  When found by a Good Sam at the beginning of June, 2012, she looked like this:

Allergic to fleas, she had been left medically untreated for probably years.   Biting at the fleas on her itchy butt, little by little the healthy tissue stopped re-growing back.  PandaBear developed a condition commonly called “walrusing” --- the skin tissue builds up almost like a callus and loses blood flow, causing it to become like shoe leather and dark grey to black in color.  Around her eyes, PandaBear had lost most of her coat, including her eyelashes.

Two months later, with the proper vet care and a lot of TLC, her eyelashes are growing back in and her coat has taken on a thick luscious feel to it.  

PandaBear has now been spayed.  She’s no longer mistrustful of strangers and looks forward to cuddles and attention!  She has learned to walk well on a leash and is potty trained – preferring to go grass hands down!

Ms. PandaBear is now looking for her new forever home.  Are you the one?