My Fire Hydrant

Some of you may remember that my sweet boy, Tyler, was found wandering the streets of Phoenix. Kaydee Lynne’s story, from RoseMarie, is very similar to Tyler’s.

I would like to relate my latest little rescue girls Small Paws Rescue story!! Small Paws does so many wonderful things to save all these great little dogs and I welcomed one of them into my life, last October 25th.

The day she arrived, she really needed grooming!

There was a tiny little lost, 3 month old puppy wandering the streets of busy Las Vegas, Nevada all alone, with no one to care for her and love her. No one knows how she got lost, but then someone found her and took her to a not so nice shelter, where she felt like she was put in “jail”. She had an injured eye and some nasty stuff in her ears, that made them all itchy and NO one came looking for her. The shelter couldn’t put her up for adoption because she had an eye problem and nasty ears, so they contacted some wonderful people, called SMALL PAWS. Someone came and met “Tanya”, as she was called and agreed that she was a sweet little girl and needed their help. Then poor little Tanya had to go into the hospital to have her eye fixed and her ears all cleaned out, but something else happened while she was there–she fell asleep and woke up with pains in her tummy and threads holding it together and they told her she had been spayed!!!

Tanya, soon-to-be Kaydee Lynne

Poor little Tanya didn’t think any human would ever love her and she spent more time in that hospital getting all better. Then someone from that Small Paws place came and took her to a real home and changed her name to “Simone.” She was starting to like humans better and was finally living with some nice humans and even some other nice doggies, but she kept hearing them say, that she wasn’t going to stay there and she was worried about having to leave and live by herself again.

Then all of a sudden, one day, another Small Paws lady took and put her in a plastic cage with a blankie and her favorite toy and told Simone that she was going to a far away place to find her forever home!! It was a scary experience, because at only 6 months of age, little Simone was flying across the country from Nevada to Massachusetts all by herself. And, her second plane had a BIG problem. The humans were all scared, cuz the plane was broken and it couldn’t land, so it circled for a long time and then finally they got it down and they put Simone and everybody else on a 3rd plane. Simone was scared and had been locked in that little plastic cage for almost 12 hours, when suddenly this nice lady and man went to her, took her out of that cage, hugged her and said: Welcome to your new forever home!!!

LilyRosebud, Abby Rose, Kristy KremePuff, Miss Mollyanne & Kaydee Lynne

That was October 25, 2012 and Simone came home to meet her 4 Bichon sisters. At first she was a little afraid, but then she found out they all liked her a lot and she really was in her forever home.

Good Golly Ms. Mollie! whozzat?

Her New Mom said she needed a new name and now her name is Kaydee Lynne. She has lots and lots of toys all her own, and bones to chew on and she gets to sleep with all of her sisters and her Mom and Dad on a great big BED.

Share? hmmmmm....not so much.

Kaydee Lynne feels like a Princess living a life she never thought she would live and being loved and spoiled and her new Mom sings her a song that says: I once was lost, but now am found!!! Her eye is all better and she runs, plays, jumps and is a very happy little girl thanks to some very special people called Small Paws.

Kaydee Lynne

Are you looking for a Fluffy new family member?

Small Paws saves dogs! You can help–donate some bucks, save some Fluffs!

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Lea Ann discovered Chucky through a chanced conversation at a gas station.

Chucky

Our little Chucky came into our lives almost 3 years ago. Here is Chucky’s story – We had been out running errands and stopped by the gas station before heading home. While my husband was inside there was a home healthcare nurse that had a puppy – my husband is a talker and loves dogs – he struck up a conversation with her and she told him about a client of hers that had passed away recently and the husband had not wanted to keep her dog & had given him to her. But… she has several cats and a Shar-pei. Her dog did not like Chucky. She would nip at him and was getting more and more aggressive towards him. This was the story that we were told. My husband told her to come out to our car and talk to me. We had lost one of our precious fur babies that past January – Kaci, a Siberian Husky mix – to renal failure. Anyway, she came out to the car and told me the same story.

Chucky, with a smile on his face!

My husband said why don’t we get him for mom, for her birthday. I told her that we’d take him and she brought him over the following morning. I fell in love with him the moment I saw him. He is such a sweetheart! She then told me that they had him on a joint supplement due to he had bad knees on his hind legs. He got along really well with our Sami – toy/miniature parti-poodle. He was in pretty bad shape though – he was infested with fleas and I found out that he had not had a rabie shot for over 2 years. I got him in to our vet and got him updated with all shots, exam and such. He also had several warts. But other than that he was healthy! He has been a wonderful addition to our family and even though he’s a senior (at 10 years old), he keeps up with our 5 year old Sami. He has a very loving forever home!

Are you looking for a Fluffy new family member?

Small Paws saves dogs! You can help–donate some bucks, save some Fluffs!

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Eileen, in Graham North Carolina, has a lovely story of how one little Small Paws Fluff changed her from a Big Dog Mama to a Small Dog Mom!

Well, well…It’s a difficult mental journey to find the plot after adopting ‘Trace’ from Sulfur, Louisiana and the awesome experience with Last Chance Transport Company to get him to NC (via Virginia)!

You see, I’m a Labrador person, or slave. A black and a brown lab dominate our lives and schedules — they are Genius and Bean, with REAL interesting naming stories…but then came Trace, who feigned the helpless, shy recently neutered 5 year old 18 months ago.

Here's our boy, watching Animal Planet ...as he does every day with us... This was at our daughters home with our two grandsons' toys about.

So after day one with us, he began to teach the two full size male labs who was ‘boss’! He walked (and continues several times a day) to our alpha black lab, Genius and began to give him a facial, a dental exam and cleaning, and an otic cleaning! Genius LOVES it, and Trace moves into a TRANCE in doing so. Hilarious. Friends and family can NOT believe this behavior. It’s like he’s a nursing female cleaning his ‘pups’! Too strange, but darling nonetheless.

He is first to go for a ‘ride’ in the ‘truck’ or ‘car’… has a vocabulary recognition just a bit more extensive than my nephew, haha… Eats the dry dogfood that my big boys eat. Plays tug or war with them AND WINS everytime. Bosses the other dogs at the dog park endlessly and has to be restrained…really! Can’t put him in with the little dogs, because he feels he doesn’t ‘fit’…. and carries on until he’s with his big boys across the path in their playground. Ew, boy.

Excuse the language, but it’s literal… when I take the big guys to the barnyard to attend to the mini donkeys twice daily, the little guy remains in the house in cold weather but gets ‘pissed off’ against the base of my main bath toilet! Never has accidents unless I leave him alone. He has become a first class traveler and goes everyplace on day trips with my husband and I, and on errands, and to dr. appointments, walks, etc. A wonderful traveler, really!!

Trace Small Paws

The first week we had Trace, we let all the boys out into the backyard for their morning constitutional, and doesn’t Trace grab a morning dove right out of the air!!! Winged it, shook it’s head and flew off. He just wanted to show off his prowess apparently.

I am searching for another Coton now .. in the similar age group with no issues, and perhaps a female this time to keep him more humble He’s the cutest thing on legs! Thanks to Small Paws Rescue for enriching our lives with this entertaining fluffball with attitude!

 
Are you looking for a Fluffy new family member?

Small Paws saves dogs! You can help–donate some bucks, save some Fluffs!

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From Susan in Houston.

Where do I begin to tell you a story about love…anyone of us with a Bichon or other beloved breed/mixed, rescue could sing the words from our hearts.

My cousin, Ilene, had a Bichon, Chelsee, many many years ago. I said that is what I want, a dog that is small and mighty. That is how I learned about the breed.

Long story longer, our Bichon, Maui, we got through the newspaper in 1993, from a private party–we thought. We were aware of pet stores and did not know that puppy mill pups were being sold other ways.

My husband said call and ask about the pups. I did, they had two males left. My husband took the phone, got directions and told me it wasn’t far. We drove for an hour and a half to a home in La Port, Texas. She went to get the two boys and I noticed a group of puppy Daschunds. I naively asked about them.
She wasn’t as sweet and said we came to see the Bichons. They were six weeks old and we chose our Maui. We got the AKC paperwork filled out. Weeks later we got the paperwork that our boy came from Oklahoma! Shocked, stunned. Didn’t matter, he was our boy.

We had Maui for a few years, when I was learning the internet and found Small Paws Rescue. As they say, the rest is history. That is really where I learned about puppy mills. I started reading about them on Small Paws’s web site and learned a lot. Small Paws Rescue has been my teacher, support group and is full of wonderful people I have become friends with online.

Maui had cataract surgery in 2002, which gave him back his sight. His natural instincts has gone south so seeing really helped him get his groove back. He passed and took part of our hearts, on July 19, 2008, at the age of 15 1/2.

Keiki

“It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life, gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are.” –Author Unknown.

Lilikoi

As I write this, a little mixed breed Shih Tzu/Maltese(?) is sitting on my lap, Keiki, that I found running on lawns next to a very busy street heading towards a freeway on January 5, this year. No collar, no microchip. We are in Southern California right now. She did great for her first plane trip–carry on, of course! Our Bichon, Lilikoi was also a rescue. Lilikoi is 5 yrs. old and is “adjusting”  to another dog that follows her like a baby sister. We travel a lot, so my husband, said “NO” to another dog. Carrying 2 on a plane is not easy! You should see them both vie for his love! Very cute! My husband is from Hawaii, hence the Hawaiian names.

 
Are you looking for a Fluffy new family member?

Small Paws saves dogs! You can help–donate some bucks, save some Fluffs!

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I shared Rusty’s story last year. Since that time, Rusty has gained two siblings.  Here’s the update:

Sunshine, Rusty, and Lucky

Here is an update on Rusty from Small Paws Rescue. Last year, Rusty lost his grandmother to cancer and gained a new brother and sister.

Grandma watched him every day while mom was at work since his anxiety keeps him from being left at home alone for too long. He has now adjusted to being home alone with his brother, Lucky and sister, Sunshine. This is due in part that he is still living in Grandma’s house with a doggy door and big backyard instead of mom’s little condo. Mom moved in and he never noticed a change. He has adjusted much better in the last year with his anxiety. I think having new siblings to learn from and follow their daily routine was a big improvement.

Rusty and his Grandma

Rusty would lay on the hospice bed with his grandma–he would climb up on the bed whenever the nurse wasn’t looking. He was a big protector of his grandma. He learned that she didn’t like her face washed even though he is a big kisser and he adapted to giving her arm one fast lick which pleased her to no end.

 
Are you looking for a Fluffy new family member?

Small Paws saves dogs! You can help–donate some bucks, save some Fluffs!

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This story, from Tammy, made me smile.

Morgan, who believes there's safety in numbers

My Morgan , now 10 ½ years old has always been skittish around new people. She hides behind me or under furniture when someone new comes to visit.

When Morgan was about 2 years old, a neighbor stopped by to visit. Morgan was nowhere to be found. We searched all over for her but she was missing. All of a sudden out of the corner of my eye, I saw something move. Morgan was sitting in the box of her stuffed toys. She was there all along and blended in as if she was one of them. I guess she thought there was safety in numbers!

Piper, who offers comfort with her kisses

 

My Piper definitely has personality! She will be 4 years old in May and still acts like a puppy. Piper was never a real “kissy “ type of dog. She’d only lick me to wake me up in the morning.

Last year, I lost my Zoe (she was 15yrs and 9mos) which effected all of us.

A week after Zoe’s passing, I received her ashes in the bichon urn I ordered. I placed the urn on the fireplace hearth. Piper would go lay next to it, then climb up on me and lick me. It was almost as if she was trying to comfort me.

Ever since then, Piper licks me all the time. It’s like she is trying to take Zoe’s place because Zoe was the “kissy” one of the group. No one can ever tell me that dogs don’t understand.

 
Are you looking for a Fluffy new family member?

Small Paws saves dogs! You can help–donate some bucks, save some Fluffs!

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This little girl was rescued from a commercial puppy mill so she needs help learning how to be a pet–she can only go to a home with a socialized dog already living there. The children in the home must be over the age of 10.

Prissy has spent her whole life in a small cage in a commercial kennel. Prissy was born 03/17/02 and weighs 14 pounds. Prissy is learning to run (she can now beat me in a race back to the house), play, go up and down steps and be part of a family. She does fine with cats and other dogs. She LOVES breakfast and loves to get up early to eat. She’s learning that dirty socks and toys are good things to play with. She’s learned how to jump onto, and off of, the couch, and has the leg strength to do it now!!

Prissy Small Paws

She’s a very gentle poochie. Even the girls at the groomer’s said so. Humans still make her a tad nervous, but she WILL seek out human contact. She’s still working on the concept of “house training”, she’s no longer afraid of the outdoors, but doesn’t quite get the concept that she should ask to go out to go potty.

Sweet Fluffs are available from Small Paws Rescue!

Small Paws saves dogs! You can help–donate some bucks, save some Fluffs!

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Hansel and Gretel live with Anne Marie and her other Fluff, Cottonball.

I adopted Hansel and Gretel from Small Paws Rescue in November and they came by plane from Texas to New York.

You can save on a home security system when you have guard fluffs!

They are the sweetest dogs you could possibly imagine.

Fluffs are loved by people of all ages!

They joined my other fluff Cottonball who I adopted two years ago this summer. He also came from SPR and was from Texas.

Two's Company. Three's a party! (Hansel, Gretal, and Cottonball)

My first ‘fluff connection” goes back to my adoption of a bonded pair Missy and Roxy who were nine years old when I adopted them from Small Paws Rescue. They were beautiful gentle spirits who showed me how wonderful these dogs could truly be. Roxy died just before her 15th birthday and Missy made it to 16.

I missed them terribly but have always felt that the best way to honor a pet is to open your door to someone new who needs you.

We are ready for our closeup!

So far, Hansel, Gretel and Cottonball are getting along well. At least once a day they do the Bichon blitz and race around. My neighbors love to watch the wave when I take the garbage out.

Snow is no problem for Bichons from Texas!

They are great travelers in the car and when they get messy I just put them in the kitchen sink.

Another day in paradise!

Small Paws Rescue does a wonderful job of placing these dogs and caring for them.

Small Paws saves dogs! You can help–donate some bucks, save some Fluffs!

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Because this is a bonded pair, Sparkles and Cuddles must be adopted together.

Cuddles and Sparkles Small Paws

Sparkles and Cuddles are a bonded pair of bichons who must be adopted together for one Senior Dog Adoption Fee of $75.00 Sparkles was born in 2000 and weighs 18 pounds. She is a female bichon. Cuddles, a male bichon/poodle mix, was born in 2003 and weighs 10 pounds This pair of bichons love to run and blitz together. They enjoy sleeping on the big bed with the family cats. Sparkles and Cuddles are house trained, however, Sparkles needs to be take outside more frequently to do her business. They will need a home with a fenced yard. Sparkles has cataracts due to her age but does well with her limited vision. Children in your home should be aged 10 and over as we have not observed them with children.

Sweet Fluffs are available from Small Paws Rescue!

Small Paws saves dogs! You can help–donate some bucks, save some Fluffs!

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Seriously, how can you resist this sweet treat?

Candy Cane Small Paws

This Bichon was rescued from a commercial puppy mill and can only be placed in a home with a socialized dog already living there. The children in the home must be over the age of 10. Candy Cane has spent her whole life in a small cage in a commercial kennel. Candy was born in 2003. She is so sweet all you want to do is hold her and cuddle with her. Her favorite times are cuddle time and meal time. It took only 2 weeks to get her on a potty schedule and she is now housebroken. They love her at the beauty salon / groomer’s where she goes once a month for her beauty treatment. I bathe and comb her in between and she just lays there like a lump of sugar and so easy to care for. Candy shows no interest in playing, but enjoys sniffing around the fenced yard.

Sweet Fluffs are available from Small Paws Rescue!

Small Paws saves dogs! You can help–donate some bucks, save some Fluffs!

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