Pawsitive Energy DogBlog

Sadness and frustration seem to be the mainstay of what's been happening here lately, and writing about it hasn't been the most appealing task on my "To Do" list.  There is some really good news, so, in the interest of glasses half full, I will start with that.  We have had five adoptions in the past few weeks, with another on the horizon.  Really good homes.  Any other time I'd be grinning from ear to ear - at least after I'd gotten over those bittersweet moments when the dogs jumped into their new families' cars and headed down the driveway - but not now.  I still can't really believe everything that's happened, but in two days last month we lost three of our sweet kids*, and a fourth is going through the late stages of Lymphoma.  It's all been sudden and gut wrenching and impossible, and I feel lost and empty and afraid of what's ahead.  I've never been through anything like this, but I have lost many beloved animals and had my heart broken many times in the past.  This is different.  I'm surprised that I feel worse rather than better as the days go by - maybe it's because it's still not over. 

*This probably needs some explanation: We lost a puppy to...

Something new and fun from snips @ Pawsitive Energy! 

If you're having trouble deciding which dog you'd like to sponsor, we have a solution:  Sponsor them all!

We're working out the details (like if we're going to offer a PayPal link and/or start taking credit cards), but we're ready to go otherwise - and right now we can accept cash and checks.

Memberships will be $15/month.  For your membership, we'll provide you with an ultra-top-secret-special-code to a private part of the website.  There, we'll show pictures and videos of the dog we're honoring.  We'll also tell you what we know about her, where she came from, how long she's been here, what her personality is like, who her friends are... We'll also tell you what we're able to do for her as a result of your membership.  And of course, you'll have an open invitation to come visit her whenever you'd like.

And, as soon as our non-profit status is approved, it will all be tax-deductible!

So, please send an email to snips@pawsitiveenergy.com or call us at 614-774-3472 to join.

We helped with a pretty big effort to get a bunch of great dogs out of a local kill shelter.  Eleven dogs, our one week record, of all shapes and sizes came through Pawsitive Energy on their way to other rescues - and our backs were up against the wall getting them out in time for the arrival of our Holiday B&B dogs, so it got a little exciting.  It was amazing how the transports and foster homes came through just in the nick of time to save us from having dogs kenneled in every room in our house.  That took a lot of hard work and planning which I take no credit for - I can describe to you in minute detail the worms and other ick we saw coming out of these guys for the first few days and can manage a bunch of pound-crazed unneutered boys and unspayed girls with one hand tied behind my back, but I can't tell you how to get to Lima.  We wound up with three who weren't healthy enough to travel on just yet, so I sent Dusty, one of the Lurchers who's been here for awhile and is in great shape and really ready for...

If you happen to be a big, black dog, male in particular, your chances of making it out a shelter alive are pretty slim.  You are invisible.  If you could only have a little something to set you apart, a little something to make people notice you, you might have a chance.  This sad commentary is sent to you courtesy of Candy, one of the rare few big black dogs who actually had people fighting for the chance to be her savior. 

What should have been a bad thing, a real tragedy, wound up being Candy's ticket out of the shelter system.  Candy was lucky enough to be found after she'd sustained a compound fracture to her left rear leg.  The dog warden, for whatever reason, opted to take her to the vet for treatment rather than just having her immediately euthanized.  Candy's leg was too infected to be saved, so it was amputated just below the stifle. 

From that moment on, Candy pretty much had her choice of rescue groups  - even the ones who wouldn't have had room for her if she had all four legs, even though Candy is one of the sweetest, most perfect dogs alive.

Don't get me wrong,...

Pit Bulls were never one of those breeds I felt all warm and fuzzy about. I was a sight hound person, so I was into long, graceful lines and speeeeed.

Forty years and about a thousand breeds later, though Whippets and Greyhounds are still the sentimental favorites, an Am Staff came along and changed all that.

So first there was Nottie, then Mr Jones. Then two weeks ago, Carter. Carter is a wee one, maybe six or seven weeks old. The plan was to get him into an APBT rescue, and that lasted about 27 seconds.

So we're raising our first baby Pit, and I get to practice what I've preached about the type of commitment it takes to bring one of these guys into your life. It's basic puppy stuff, only if you mess up with a Pit Bull it's a much bigger deal than messing up with a Lab or a Chihuahua.

Already, he's on the "Nothing in Life is Free" program, which is tough, because all you really want to do is hold him and play with him and indulge his every desire. Now it's small stuff, like petting ends when teeth touch flesh and treats only...

Yes, we've been incredibly busy, but there's more.  I had a pretty bad back injury this summer, but the good news is that all time I've been spending waiting to heal isn't being wasted.  We have now begun plans for Phase Two of Pawsitive Energy, and it is a really incredibly exciting project that will benefit not only our B&B, Day Camp and Sanctuary dogs, but dogs in rescue all around the area.  All groups who participate in the development of the project will have access to bring any dogs in their facility/foster programs to enjoy this multifaceted adventure.  There will be swimming, climbing, exploring, digging, and lots of mentally and physically stimulating challenges, as well as a safe and fun introduction to many different animals (in addition to the horses) - sheep, donkeys and maybe a dairy cow or two. 

Our first meeting will be Sunday, September 30th at 3:00 pm here at the farm.  We're also inviting people not affiliated with rescue to join us and earn a free lifetime membership to the "doggy theme park" for their own dogs, as well as dogs from any shelter where they volunteer.  Please email me at wewoof@pawsitiveenergy.com if you're interested in joining us!

We're working toward...

After a horrible adoption-gone-wrong experience, I've made a decision that's probably been in the back of my mind for a very long time, since it seems to be the way we've been evolving from the very beginning.   It's amazing how many people have become active in rescue over the past 15 years, when I took in my first. A lot of them seem to be focusing on the easy to place dogs - people are hesitant to take in dogs who have aggression issues or are otherwise not very adoptable.  I can understand that.  Some groups have the philosophy that we shouldn't waste resources on dogs who won't move quickly out of our care into permanent homes - that is of course how you're able to save more dogs.  Though many will take in and care for dogs with horrible injuries and illnesses, dogs with issues don't have a lot of options.  Let's face it, even if you think you've resolved the problem, the dog with aggressive tendencies may revert once he's in his new home.  Besides being a huge insurance liability, these dogs may come to a sad end if the new guardian chooses to deal with the issue on her own rather than returning the...

It's about 11:30 pm, and it's been a busy day.  The girls have all gone home, but I'm still out here in the barn.  We have a few first time pups who are a little nervous, and since there's thunder rumbling off in the distance, I'm staying with them to make sure no one gets scared.  So far, everyone is sound asleep (except a little Aussie girl laying here with her head on my feet), tired from a great day of playing.  A lot of the dogs got five turn outs, or at least four really long ones, and that makes all of us humans happy, too.  We have some soft cello music playing in this part of the barn, and special "canine lullabies" (complete with heartbeat) playing in the back.  Ah, somebody just realized there's still a human out here.  I better go ~ I'm being paged.

I shall wear diamonds
And a wide brimmed straw hat
With silver and leather on it
and I shall spend my social security
On white wine and carrots
And sit in the alley of my barn
And listen to my horses breathe.

I will sneak out
in the middle of a summer's night
And ride the chestnut mare
Across the moonstruck meadow.
If my old bones will allow.

When people come to call I will smile and nod
As I walk them past the gardens to the barn
And show, instead, the beauty growing there
In stalls fresh-lined with straw.

I will shovel and sweat and
Wear hay in my hair as if it
were a jewel.

And I will be an embarrassment to all
Who look down on me.
They've not yet found the peace in being free
To love a horse as a friend,
A friend who waits at midnight hour
With nuzzle and nicker and
patient eyes
For the kind of woman I will be
When I am Old.

Author Unknown