A note from Hope's former mom

Today, I sent my heart dog to her new furever home just outside of Seattle, Washington where she will have a wonderful home, a big fenced in yard, a four-legged playmate and the loving family she so deserves.

I cannot say that I am not sad because I am. Hope's been so much a part of me for 2 years that I feel like I've given away one of my children. I am selfishly heartbroken, but I know it was the right thing to do.

Thank you all so much for making the journey with us. It's been one helluva ride, pups. You've been there every step of the way, and I could not have done this without you. I hope that the lesson we all take from this is that persistence pays off. There is still good in a world that is often cruel and always scary. And most importantly, we can make a difference saving one dog at a time.

Much love and many hugs,
Sandi, Hope and the hairballs

One more time...

Hello old friends. I have some good news for you.

Hope has been re-captured, and is living in a foster home with new foster parents and other pets. The dartman from the local university once again rescued our favorite feral girl. It was a very scary, arduous and exhausting capture, but Hope has recovered nicely once again. Dartman told me that he will not dart Hope again. He is a busy man who works mainly with wild animals such as tigers, and I must respect that decision. He worked many hours with me, taking time away from his work and his family and he even worked on holidays. It took several weeks and attempts to successfully dart and capture Hope once again.

After much discussion and many tears, my husband and I agree that it is not in Hope’s best interest to bring her to our home ever again. She attracted the ire of many people who wished to do great harm to her. Threats of shooting and poisoning were common from several people in the neighborhood where she was finally captured. Additionally, someone felt the need to terrorize her causing her escape on Halloween. It would simply be cruel and unfair to Hope to bring her to my home again where she would once again draw negative attention. There are many behind the scenes events that I will not disclose here for legal reasons. Suffice it to say that Hope would not be safe in my yard. Those legal reasons are why I have not posted this information before now.

When Hope was captured the second time after such a hard fight and a long difficult chase, I didn't have the guts to put her down. I had actually considered it because of the threats and unkind actions by many, but it seems a shame to snuff out such a bright light considering how hard Hope fights to survive. This was not a casual passing thought on my part. For several months I anguished over Hope’s ultimate fate, and what I would do when the time came. While she lay there limp on my vet’s floor just after capture, I cried like a baby and made the decision to place her in foster care. I have fought long and hard for this dog. I don't want to fail her on the grandest scale now, but she must have a permanent home as soon as possible.

Hope is currently in a temporary foster home with two other large dogs in another county 80 miles from my neighborhood. She plays with the dogs at the home, but spends most of her day in an 8 x 14 kennel. I wish to find a permanent home for Hope, to give her a chance at life. I do love her enough to let her go although it tears at my heart. Her foster family works with her as much as possible, but they work alot and time is an issue. Hope interacts well with the other dogs. She still tolerates petting although I'm not sure she understands it. The foster parents have on a couple of occasions looped a leash around her neck and let her walk around with it in an attempt to allow her to become used to a tether for walks. So Hope is making progress and could blossom with the right owners.

After calling many sanctuaries across the country including Best Friends, The Elephant Sanctuary in TN, dozens of rescue groups and Cesar Millan, I haven’t been able to make any headway on my own. I just don’t have the right connections. All these places are big on promises and advice, but short on action. They all say things like they would take her, but they can’t afford to “simply warehouse” a feral animal and that she should be “socialized.” When I say I will pay for her care everyone quickly back peddles and refuses to accept her. She is a feral dog that humanity has failed on many levels. I know about socialization. I have more knowledge of feral dogs than most people would acknowledge, given that I do not have DVM following my name. I realize that many people lie about their attempts at socializing a dog, I am not lying. I’ve been working with rescue dogs for more than 30 years. Usually I can help, but this time I’m asking for help.

That being said, I don’t fault these sanctuaries for their stand. I cannot criticize them for their decision that allows for the greater good. I realize they have a hard job to do and an expensive one at that. Still, Hope’s fate hangs in the balance. I love this dog. If I cannot find a place where she can be allowed to be her lovable feral self or to be socialized as a companion pet, then I must make the horribly sad decision to euthanize her. She doesn’t deserve what society has leveled upon her. I don't want to fail her again, yet a permanent life in a small kennel with visits from other dogs is not a quality life.

Hope is available for adoption by the right family or person. She requires much time, knowledge and patience. The ideal home would be one where someone has much time to work with her, perhaps someone who does not work outside the home. She is not a pet for an inexperienced person. She needs the companionship of other dogs, and a very secure fenced area in which to play. References would be required, and I personally would transport Hope to a new permanent home. If you are interested you may send me a pmail, and we can discuss the possibilities.

Thanks for your loving support. I hope you understand I am in a hard place and must do something soon to place my Hopie in a permanent home.

Slide Show Tribute

Thanks to my friends, The Taboo Crew Max Bindi & Jes I have posted a beautiful slide show on Hopie's page. It was very hard for me to watch, but it is a fitting tribute and we hope you enjoy it. It works best if you turn the music off on Hope's page before you launch the slide show.

Get your Kleenex ready.

We love you Max, Bindi and Jes.

Hope is missing

Dear Dogster friends,

KM here. It is with a heavy heart that I report to you Hope went missing on Halloween day between 10:30 am and noon. No one was home during that short period of time. None of our neighbors who could have seen her were home during that time.

I got the call at work around noon from my husband, "I don't know how to tell you this, but Hope is gone."

Part of my spirit died right then.

Her fortress was tampered with, and she is gone. The chain link wire was severely bent at the back of the kennel, but this is not where she escaped. It looks as if something pulled strongly against the kennel (from the inside) to bend it in such a way in that spot. Cedar chips were strewn all over the inside of the kennel, all over the concrete areas and in her bowls and water bucket. Normally her kennel is neat and clean, and I have always kept the cedar chips swept off the concrete areas.

There is a hole in the chain link at the bottom of the kennel in the front corner. The wire has been "unraveled" (for lack of a better word) making a hole large enough for a dog twice her size to fit through. My husband and I both have deliberately tried to bend the kennel with our hands in similar fashion as what we found. The two of us together are not strong enough to do so.

Since we can find no other exit point, we must assume Hope then jumped or otherwise scaled the chain link fence of the dog lot after escaping the fortress. The big dog lot is lined with large rocks at the base of the fence. She did not dig out anywhere along the fence line. There are no holes in the ground. All of the gates were padlocked.

As best we know, Hope is at large.

Several hours after her disappearance, my husband and I saw Hope running fearfully less than a mile from home in a direction away from our neighborhood. Her head was down, her tail was tucked and her body reflected a fearful posture. She glanced at us and ran away as I called her name. That is the last time we saw Hope. We continue to search for her.

We put her food outside where she can get to it. We are keeping her schedule. The food has been untouched. The kennel and the dog lot are opened and unlocked when Cinnamon isn't in the fence so that should Hope wish to come home, her fortress is waiting. Her bed is fluffed and her dog house remains cozy, but empty.

Being that you all have an emotional (and some financial) stake in Hope, I felt compelled to share with you this sad news. I want you to know that I still love her with all of my heart. I am crushed. Cinnamon is depressed. My husband is speechless. The hole in that galvanized chain link cannot match the hole in my heart.

We will never give up on her. God willing, I will feel those precious snout whiskers again someday. Please pray for us once again.

Love always,
KM, KD, Cini Mini and our precious Hope

More to love everyday!

I am a happy dog for the most part. I do still get rather fidgety and nervous in certain situations. Currently, I am quite peeved at the acorns falling from the trees. Stupid squirrels and blue jays pluck them off the trees and fling them like little nut missiles at my fortress. Like Cini my sister, I hate when they fall, but I love hoovering them up. I actually peel them before I snack on them.

My mom and I are getting closer everyday. I am loved and petted. I have begun to really like being petted although no one except Mom is able to accomplish that on a regular basis. ;-) Dad and 2 other angels are allowed to come into my fortress. I like to give them little Hope kissies, and I allow some petting.

Today we shared a major milestone. Mom was sitting on her bottom in the fortress. We were talking. I was eating. We'd been sort of snuggly with some lounging and ear scratches when I did something I'd never done before. Are you ready for this? I plopped down next to Mom, turned my back to her and laid down with her. Mom is elated that I have shown her this amount of trust. This was just HUGE for both of us!

It's pretty good being a real pet.

Finding HAPPINESS

I am making wonderful progress. Everyday brings something new, and I sense that my people are thrilled with my new experiences. I am finding happiness in my home now.

Mom and Dad have made extra sure that I am comfortable and happy in the stupid fortress. I did hate my baby pool, and since I stalked it Mom took it away. When it is super duper hot like it is most days I get cool wet towels that I like to lay on, cold cold water and Frosty Paws treats. My fortress is covered with sunscreen material to keep it cooler and to keep nibby nosers from bothering me.

Doc and the folks conspired to keep me drugged the entire weekend of the 4th. I was pretty calm throughout the entire noisy weekend. I DO love my dog house now. It is my quiet refuge, and I know that I am safe there.

To help me continue along my path of progress, my peeps have strictly limited visits by anyone but them. That way I know exactly what to expect and pretty much when to expect it. Their plan seems to be working.

I wag my tail now when my humans are with me. I occasionally bark to let them know that I know they are in the yard, but need to be with me. I am not afraid of the lawnmower when Dad is working outside anymore. Everyday, Dad hand feeds me little snacky poos. I give the peeps hand and toe kissies just cause I like seeing them smile sooooo much.

AND THE BEST NEWS OF ALL.....I am being petted!!!!! Not alot just yet, but a few strokes on the old chest and back can make my people smile for DAYS!!! I am loved, and I thought I should let them know I love them, too. =D

I'm a good grrrl

Okie Dokie, here's a little pupdate. Kenyon typed this fur me. Thanks sis!

Little Miss Hope hated her wading pool. It has been evicted from the fortress! BOL! She spent many hours circling it and growling at it until Mom just took the offensive thing outta there.

She is much calmer these days. Thank dog for Rescue Remedy. It took the edge off her fear just enough for humama and hudad to interact with her and gain her trust.

She now eats from Daddy's hand as well as Mom's. The folks and Cini spend time with her every day. She looks forward to seeing them. She greets them at the fortress gate with ears up, and her head cocked curiously. The tail doesn't really wag, but it isn't tucked either. She lays close to the peeps. She has even rested her head on Mom's feet. She has kissed Mom's toes. Still no real petting is allowed, but they do make progress daily.

Hope now finds comfort and refuge in her dog house. She is still skittish of her blankets, but is no longer terrified of them. She is tolerating wind and storms better. Loud noises like a car backfiring or fireworks still make her fearful, but not as bad as before. She just goes into her house and curls up.

She is a smidgey spoiled and much loved.

Good news and bad news

Mom doped me up today. Yesterday we had some nasty storms so I got the happy meds with breakfast this morning. When Mom came home, I was so calm. I wagged my furry tail and walked calmly to Mom. Oh, Mom's heart soared! This was such a positive step. So I ate supper, and as is our routine, Mom came and laid in the stupid fortress with me. We sang together for a little while.

Then Mom went inside to take a shower. While she was in the house, sister Cini was outside in the big dog lot. Mom heard multiple gunshots. First we thought it might be fireworks, but as it turns out it was rapid gunfire in a neighboring subdivision. We found that out later from the police. Anyhoo, Cini Mini isn't afraid of loud noises and even she was terrified. Mom brought her in the house with Dad.

Then Mom came back outside with me. I had jumped so very high that my bad leg was caught in the wire fencing that covers the top of my fortress, and I was just hanging there. Mom shouted my name and so then I jerked and wiggled and fell to the ground before Mom could get to the fortress. She was afraid to come inside immediately so she sat on the ground right outside the kennel. My leg seems to be OK. I ran to Mom.

I was totally freaked out and so was Mom. Then Mom yelled at the neighbor idiots and called the police. We've never met them before and have a feeling they never want to meet us again. It wasn't pretty. Mom lost her cool.

Anyway, after I calmed down some Mom came inside the fortress with me. I laid my head on her feet and got as close to her as possible. Then Mom fixed herself a nice little bed and laid in there with me for a long long time. I was calm with her. I laid next to her and sniffed her butt and feet. But, when the mosquitoes began dining on Mom's blood, she went back inside the house for a while.

As if I weren't freaked out enough, some other idiot starts with the firecrackers. I was terrified. Mom came back outside and sat with me for a long long time again. I am inside my house. I can't look at Mom right now, but I will later. I am crying a little. Just tiny little whimpers. I do feel safe with my Mom, and even though she hurts for me, she is happy that I love her and trust her.

Loud noises suck rotten eggs.

That hospital bill is PAID!!!

Original diary entry: "**HQ APPROVED** A note from KM: Dogster approved our fundraising help offset the initial expenses for Hope's surgery and weeklong hospital stay as well as the costs for building Fort Knox to contain her. (TY Lori, you are the best!) However, after much thought we set the goal to cover only Hope's vet bill. I am not part of an organized non-profit rescue group. It's just me, KM. My Dogster friends are generous, loving and loyal. We sent Hope's puppies on a trip to NY that we could have never done without Dogster. I am positive that we can pool our resources to offset the large initial costs of hospitalizing Hope. Her fortress is financed at a nasty and unfair interest rate thanks to MasterCard, but a mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do. Hope WILL live inside our home soon to live a life of a spoiled rotten, extremely intelligent pet. (I promise to NEVER let her have my car keys.)

Click Here for the Fundable page or copy and paste: http://www.fundable.com/groupactions/groupaction.2008-04-20. 6552034750/groupaction_view
(remove the space between 04-20. and 655... for link to work)"

Well Dogsters, never underestimate the POWER OF THE PAW! We did it again! One more time my pals came through quite generously, and now we can call that hospital bill PAID IN FULL!!!

WWWWWOOOOOOFFFFF!!!!

Thanks to each and everyone of you. You are beautiful, wonderful, loving pups. Your people ain't so bad either =). We could never have come this far without your generosity and loving support. There just aren't words to say how much we appreciate you. Thanks seems like such a shallow response considering what you have done. We love you all.

Wiggles, wags, slurpy kisses and a couple of puppy poots to all our friends from Hope, the Hopettes, Cinnamon, Kenyon, KM, KD and Angels.

My thoughts on owning stuff

I never owned stuff before. Now, I own a squeaky duck. Not a hand me down or a toy from the vet. It's my very own squeaky duck. I love duckie-poo. Sister Cini has a squeaky squirrel (say that fast 10 times why don't ya). I watched intently while Mom and Sis played with the squirrel. Then I grabbed duckie and held on tight while I walked around the stupid fortress with him. I think duckie likes going walkies with me. He didn't complain not once at all.

I have a fluffy star, too. I got fluffy star while I was in the hospital. Mom thought that I didn't love fluffy star and picked her up off the wet ground the other night. She stuck her in a hole in the stupid fortress. Poor fluffy star. I got her outta the hole and brought her to bed with me.

Oh, I have a bed! It's really just only two pillows with a rug underneath and my purple blankie on the top. I love my soft bed. I have a dog house too, but I hate it. I ain't goin' in there. Thhhhbbbbtttt...

Oh, and I have a stupid fortress too. Mom says it's for "my own good." I don't know who MYOWNGOOD is, but I wish she'd hurry and take this stupid fortress away. I wanna run around like a heathen again, but Mom says, "Nopey Hopey."

I say, "Whatev...here's an airplane ear for you."