ADOPT 2011 CONTEST

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." - Roger Caras

When I decided the time was right for a dog, the only choice I considered was adoption, I wanted to be able to give a forever home to a dog in need. I found Baxter on PetFinder in 2002 when looking to adopt my first dog. He was listed as a sato from Puerto Rico with “special needs” - he was emaciated and had a noticeable neurological twitch that shook his tiny body. He was the only surviving puppy from his litter and was definitely a fighter. We battled this unknown illness for almost two years, and during that time he blossomed into a strong, energetic dog – his twitch slowly disappeared, he put on weight and even participating in recreational agility! He likes nothing better than a walk in the neighborhood, or a ride in the car with his muzzle out the window. It is the simple things in life that Baxter appreciates most, forcing the humans around him to stop and appreciate those things as well.

Baxter's adoption connected me with rescue group in Puerto Rico, and we became involved in helping them through fund raising and public relations. We were able to assist several hundred dogs on their journey to their forever homes through our work, spreading the joy and love that comes from adopting a dog. We eventually adopted his sister, MacKenzie from the same organization.

In November 2008 signs of a physical problem began to appear. During the next six months his condition deteriorated rapidly as his puppyhood illness seemed to reappear, limiting the strength in his hind quarters which affected his mobility. After dozens of tests, a diagnosis could not be found. On his 7th birthday he received his mobility cart from Eddie’s Wheels and he quickly regained the freedom he had lost. Daily we meet people that have never before seen a dog in a cart, and Baxter shows them that life does not stop because of a disability – we must still have our daily romp in the neighborhood, and his “wheels” help him do that with ease.

When I adopted Baxter I simply wanted a dog to share my days with, but I never expected the gift I received. Baxter’s unyielding energy, happiness and willingness to accept life’s challenges continue to inspire me to greet each day with love and patience. We have come a long way together, and I am so thankful to share my life with this brave little dog with a big heart.

"You can't change the world by adopting an animal, but you can change the whole world for that animal." - Author Unknown

Facebook Photo Contest!

We are hosting a photo contest on Facebook - a $5 donation to Save a Sato (the rescue Kenzie and I are from) will get you one entry. The prizes include gift packs from Planet Dog, Kong, Polka Dog Bakery, Bark Magazine, Modern Dog Magazine and some kitty prizes too!

Join us in the contest or to vote for your favorites!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=app_291512 0374#!/p ages/Save-a-Sato-Show-Some-Puppy-Love/257459915752

All of the proceeds will go directly to caring for the more than 100 dogs currently in our shelter.

Thank you!

Working like a dog!

We have had a great summer, I have met a lot of great people that have helped me on my journey as a "disabled" dog, and everyone has been so wonderful!

My "team" includes Dr. S and the wonderful techs at Woburn Animal Hospital, I go visit them once a week for acupuncture, and a few handfuls of cookies. I love them, even though they poke me with needles! Lois and Mary at Good Dog Aquatics take me for a swim every week, and make me walk over all sorts of crazy things, and make me balance on crazy balls and stuff. I get them back though, when I am in the pool I make sure to wag my tail the whole time, and splash anyone within 10 feet of the pool! Dr. Z still checks up on me and Mom and makes sure all my meds are working properly. Dr. T at Mass Vet Referral checks on my insides, via MRI and brain scans, you should see how perfect I look inside! The wonderful team at Eddie's Wheels have my cart fitted and working perfectly, and now I can run! They even invited us to their picnic, where I got to race around with other cart dogs!

You would think this would be enough for anydog, but no, not with my Mom. She went out and bought a pool, and my pal Lois gave her instructions on how to do my hydro therapy exercises at home. She made new agility equipment for me just like they have at physical therapy, and now I have to "work out" every single day! We rotate what we do in the yard so each day is different, but it is hard work for sure! My reward for all this hard work is free cart time, where I get to zoom around with no leash! I can go super fast without my leash on, and love my free play time the most.

Along our walks we get stopped quite a bit, I guess most people have never seen a dog in a cart before, and so I get lots of pats and attention, which makes me very happy! I am back to my old self again with the help of my cart, and that has made this my bestest summer ever!

POTP for our friend Romeo

Our new friend Romeo needs some POTP - he was minding his own business playing ball with his Mom when he tore some ligaments in his knee.

Can you stop by Romeo's page and show him some love ?!!?!! He is only 2 years old and had a very rough start in life and can use some Dogster love right now.

Love you my pals!

A special Gift

Sometimes, special people come in to your life when you least expect it. You are not even looking and all of a sudden there they are! We met a special family recently that we have come to love...a beautiful pack with the kindest, giving and most caring Mom.

We have met a lot of great Dogsters in the last few weeks while helping out our pal Meaty, but this family holds a very special place in our hearts. The beautiful page graphics you see here and on Kenzie's page where created by this family. Flicka, Lucas, and Angel Cleo's Mom lovingly made the graphics and my page especially for me. It made Mom cry and smile when she saw it because it captures the FireDawg that I once was, and am still trying to be even with my mobility issues.

We don't know how to thank them for their kindness and support over the last few weeks, their friendship has meant the world to us. A million thanks and big hugs Flicka, Lucas, Cleo and Auntie P!

Pup Date!

Well...the vets still do not know what is wrong with me, but Mom has taken many steps to find things to keep me strong.

I am on no medication right now (all it was doing was making me droop), and I have a bunch of activities to help me. I go to Dr. S for acupuncture once a week...I'm in love with her and she gives me lots of treats and kisses while I am there. I also go see Luis at Good Dog Aquatic once a week for hydrotherapy and I love it! I get to swim in a heated pool! It is very good exercise and gentle on my body. In a few weeks I have a consult with a doggie chiropractor too! Mom and me do gentle stretching exercises at home too...she calls it our yoga time!

For my birthday I got a new set of wheels! Mom talked to Sammy J's Mom and she gave her some good advice....don't wait too long. So we took a rode trip to Eddie's Wheels and I got fitted for my own wheels. We spent the day in the Berkshires and had lots of fun and my wheels came on my birthday! I don't need them all the time, but they do add stability fo me and now I can run again!!!!!! You should see me zooooom! Look out Kenzie, because I have no brakes! If you see a "blur of fur" running past you it is only me in my wheels!

Mom is going to keep trying to find ways to keep me mobile and I happily go along with anything she asks me to try, everything is a new adventure for me. Thanks to all my pals for their wonderful support through all this!

Update on my health

When I was a puppy, I had what is believed to be distemper. The foster home I was living in had a group of puppies come in that were very sick, and my siblings and I all got sick. I am the only surviving member of my litter.

When Mom took me home at 6 months old, I too was very sick. I was malnourished, had hind end weakness and would shake and twitch continuously. It took about two years of proper nutrition and excercise, but eventually I grew out of these symptoms and was living like a normal dog!

Toward the end of November, I began to display the hind end weakness again. Dr. Z started with some pain meds to see if that would help, and a series of x-rays was done but showed nothing. I continued to show some signs but was still getting along fine.

In early February I began to decline quickly - I could no longer make it up the stairs, get up on the bed, and had lost my "sparkle". I had an MRI, brain scan and multiple spinal taps to determine the cause of my problems - all of the tests came back normal, but I continue to get worse.

I am currently on two types of antibiotics, a steroid and a pain reliever, along with some special herbs prescribed by an Eastern Medicine Vet. I even have a special collar made of titanium, just like you see the MLB players wear that was made especially for me by a special friend. So far none of these things have helped me at all.

There is little known about the long term effects of distemper, as most dogs do not survive the initial onset of the virus. My team of vets seems to be in agreement that my current symptoms are a direct result of the distemper, and unfortunately there seems to be little they can do to help me other than the medications I have prescribed. The vets here have not seen a case of distemper in more then 10 years, and they have pretty much tried everything they know to help me.

It breaks Mom's heart to see me like this - I have stopped following her around the house, and generally look depressed most of the time. I cannot enjoy walking outside as I will fall every few steps. Mom built me some steps to get up on the bed but it is still too hard for me to get up there. My mind is active and I have the energy to do all the things that I love, my body will just not cooperate.

If anyone knows of a vet that we could consult with that has dealt with distemper we would love to hear about it. We cannot tell you how grateful we are for everyone's support, your thoughts and prayers mean the world to us.

Ice cream season has begun...and my adventure with Mom who- skipped work today!

Well, today was a busy and exciting day! Kenzie had to go to the vet for some minor surgery and dental procedure, so when Mom got home from dropping her off, I was pouting around the house....convinced that Kenzie was off at some exiting place while I was left behind. Hmmmpf!

Mom felt sad for me, watching me sniff around for my sister, and decided to invite Jill out for lunch and take me too! Woo Hoo, road trip and lunch? Sweet!They were just going to go to the local deli and grab a sandwich but Jill had the most delicious idea ever and suggested driving over to Dairy Joy to see if they had opened for the season yet. So off we went and I held my breath with anticipation as we rounded the bend right before my beloved Dairy Joy and....there were cars in the parking lot and a few daring people standing in the 50 degree weather licking cones. They're open! They soft serve gods were with me!

Before the humans could eat lunch, I got my ice cream....the first lick of dreamy, creamy vanilla goodness brought me right back to last summer, and all the summers before that....there have been so many ice cream adventures in my five and a half year life and they all flashed before my eyes with that first lick. I was so busy day dreaming that I didn't even notice when the bowl was empty (I know Little Bit was looking down from the bridge in approval).

Then I was supposed to sit and be patient while the humans consumed their lunch - but Jill got an incredible roast beef sandwich and golden french fries and she was compelled to share them with me. What a feast!

After lunch was over, Mom was supposed to go home and do some work while she waited for Kenzie to be ready to be picked up from the vet, but instead she decided we should take a ride to Pet Edge to do a little shopping...and I got to go too! I sniffed around at the toy selection and got to choose any toy I wanted! I met a cute little Yorkie girl that was shopping for a stroller, and Mom told me that is just what my pal Muffin looks like! After shopping for a while, the vet called and said Kenzie would be ready to come home in a little while so we all got in the car to go pick her up! Mom and Jill heard a bad sound coming from the car when we pulled out of our spot, and would you believe we had a flat tire! Oh no!

They got out and were going to attempt to change the tire (and they were not going to even let me help!) when a nice man that works at PetEdge came out and offered to help. He had that tire changed so fast I didn't even have time to bark at him! Mom was a little nervous because she knew she needed to get over to pick up my sister but we were off in just a few minutes (thanks to my new friend Jesus who changed my tire...you rock!!).

So then we went to the vet's office to pick up my sister, by thhis time I was so tired from this adventure that I needed a nap! Jill and I waited for Mom to bring Kenzie out, and after a good sniffing over by me, she settled in to Jill's lap for a comfy ride home. Mom made me promise not to tell her about all the fun things I did and yummy food I had today while she was having her procedure, and she promised me that as soon as Kenzie is feeling better she will take us both for ice cream! Feel better soon little sister, so we can both have another great adventure!

Please help end animal cruelty in Puerto Rico

I am sure many of you have heard about the horrible cruelty that took place in Puerto Rico last week when animal control workers, hired by the municipality, confiscated hundreds of pets from the homes of people living in a public housing project. In most cases, the animals were forcibly taken away in front the families. And, instead of the humane euthanasia that the city had requested, the workers took these poor things to a bridge and threw them off--100 feet onto the pavement below. A few survived and are fighting for their lives at a local veterinary clinic - there is Yolanda, one of two surviving dogs, she has suffered a broken pelvis and spine. An orthopedic specialist will examine her today to determine whether or not she can be saved...If you could possibly take a moment to express your horror over this to the governor of Puerto Rico at the email below and sign the petition, we would be so grateful...

Rescue organizations including Save A Sato, the rescue that both Baxter and MacKenzie came from are trying to turn this atrocity into a defining moment in the animal welfare movement on the island. The greater the public outrage, the greater the chance we have to do just that...

Here is a link to the story:
Pet killings spark outrage in Puerto Rico - CNN.com

Here is the governor's email:
http://www.fortaleza.gobierno.pr/anibal04.htm

You may also contact the government via phone or mail –
Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila
La Fortaleza
P.O.Box 9020082
San Juan, PR 00902
Phone 787-977-6317

And please sign this petition to voice your opinion –
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/puerto-rico-pet-massacre

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

The Big Four Oh!

No, my Mom did not turn FORTY!!!!! BOL!!!!

I have finally reached forty pounds!!!!!!!!! Since I was a pup, I have always been underweight, and a super fussy eater. At my weigh in today at the vet, I have finally reached my ideal weight of 40 pounds. Mom was very happy, and Dr. Z says this is the perfect weight for me!!!! There were times that Mom never thought I would be such a big boy....it has only taken 5 years!!

I had to go see Dr. Z today to have two bumps removed from my skin, and have my teeth cleaned....again! My last teeth cleaning was less than a year ago, but Mom and Dr. Z agree that keeping my teeth clean and healthy is key to my overall health. Since I have enamel dysplasia, Mom is looking for a specialist for me, because she is not happy with me having anesthesia so often. Mom is not too worried about my bumps, they will be sent for biopsy just in case but Dr. Z thinks they are B9 and nothing to worry about.