Somehow the "colored" dogs always seem to find homes first.  Chili, Louie's brown brother, went home on Wednesday, so cream-colored Louie is left waiting.  He is a really sweet guy.  He will be a good companion.  I am always sad to leave him at the kennel. He is very patient.  He believes, as do I, that there is someone out there for him.

These guys are doing very well. They are really nice dogs and are not a bit of trouble.  I decided to change the one guy's name from "Lumpy," to something a bit more pleasing, so he will now be known as "Louie."  The weather in Maryland was unseasonably warm when we went for our daily walk today. As we walked behind the kennel, the members of the local firestation were all outside enjoying the sunshine.  Both boys got lots of love and pats from the men and women there. Everyone enjoyed the visit.  I was proud of the boys; they were excellent goodwill ambassadors.

I heard about Milkshake by email sometime before the Christmas holidays.  The shelter that had him described him as a sweet little dog with a physical problem that would prevent him from being adopted out by their facility. He had some kind of weird solid growth on the top of his skull. The shelter wanted to know if MAPR could take him and see to his problem, as they "did not have the funds" to take care of him.  I thought to myself, as if a small breed rescue would have more funds than a municipal shelter?  After some discussions back and forth, the shelter agreed to hold Milkshake until after the holidays and I would go and pick him up after the first of the year.  As agreed, I went and collected the little dog on January 2.  Most of the staff was so happy that the sweet little dog would be given a chance, but one woman was busy with paperwork and not quite meeting my eye when we were looking over the discharge paperwork.  He eats, she told me, I don't think that is tumor in his jaw, he may just need a dental...oh, and his heartbeat is really strong, I don't think he has a murmur.  Jaw problems and heart murmurs in this dog had never been mentioned prior to this very moment.  Here we go, I thought as I popped the little dog into the crate in my car.  I had a feeling that this little dog was going to cost me both financially and emotionally.  When we got to the vet, he would not permit them to examine his mouth and after listening to the dog's chest, the vet looked at me and asked what was my plan for the little dog.   I had to admit that I did not have one other than to see if anything could be done to make the dog adoptable; he really was very sweet.  We agreed on blood work and anesthesia the next day to examine his mouth.  I arrived in time to snuggle the little dog before anesthesia. Once sedated, they took an x-ray of his lower jaw and discovered that he had no bone on either side; it had all been eaten away by tumor.  After a discussion with the vet about various treatment options, I agreed to let Milkshake pass without regaining consciousness from anesthesia.  Tears came down in spite of knowing that I had done the right thing for the dog.  This was a hard but important lesson. 

One of my New Year's resolutions is to begin a blog for this rescue organization.  I hope to use it to keep potential adopters updated on Poodles coming into the program and also to share some of my experiences.  The blog will be interactive so people can comment and share ideas, concerns and comments.  I am new to "blogging," and busy with my local rescue and the national organization, so please bear with me as I begin.  Cindy