Exciting news!

We have some very exciting news about our little friend Ms. Spirit. Spirit has found her forever home!!!! We transitioned her to her new home over the past couple of weeks and she is doing very, very well. Her new family owns a pet bakery (www.pawpleasers.com) and Spirit gets to go to work with "Mom" everyday and be an official taste tester. They even have onsite puppy socialization classes and obedience. So Spirit has started school too! Pretty cool huh? Best of all? She really looks happy, and so does her family. Perfect! We have much more to write very soon.

California girl

Well our baby rabbit has moved from "tiny" to "small". She came to us at just over 6 lbs and is now tipping the scales at just over 11lbs! She's also started to lose her baby teeth. Her pneumonia is nearly resolved and we almost have a complete picture of her titer situation. So she's very close to medical clearance for adoption.... hooray!

On that note, we have received some very qualified applications and are very excited for Spirit. Our rescue board is carefully reviewing the applications and will consult with the county powers-that-be to come to a decision on a home for her. Every applicant can provide an excellent home for a dog, but Spirit has some special needs that we want to be sure are met. This will require some effort on the part of her new owners.

Spirit has had a behavioral evaluation by an expert, so we know exactly what her few issues are and we are working on them. Other progress? She has made real progress on her swimming, leash walking, car rides, and relaxing at the vet. Once her restrictions are lifted, we (or her new family) will start exposing her more to the outside world. I think she will do very well if she trusts her people and they encourage her. She's a very brave puppy.

I almost forgot to explain the reason for today's diary title. Spirit discovered oranges this morning. We have an orange tree that has dropped a few ripe small oranges, and she just thinks they are delicious and fun to play with. She's a hoot.

Doo dee doo: Life of a diva

Spirit made it through her little procedure with flying colors and is doing great. She had her first PT appointment the next day, and we've set her for the next couple of weeks with water therapy and hands on physical therapy. Tomorrow is her first water therapy day. Today she had a couple of visitors including the amazing Tess who did her nails for her here at home. Wow! Now that is someone who has a way with animals. Spirit was practically falling asleep by the time she was done. She swears that she could do Jelly's nails no problem, so we are going to make an appointment ASAP. She used many different techniques to soothe Spirit before she began including aromatherapy, T-touch, wrapping, and offerings of cream cheese. Afterwards, Spirit cuddled her and gave her kisses so she didn't seemed too stressed out by the experience. What a life. It makes me smile every time I stand back to watch her enjoying it.

Losing the hardware this week

Spirit's next big day is Friday when she will return to VSH to have her leg hardware removed. Dr. Pike is also planning to conduct some manipulation of her leg while she is under anesthesia to help increase her range of motion. We are a little nervous about her being anesthetized, but know that she is in very good hands. She will then meet with a highly regarded specialist in physical therapy to get her as close to 100% as possible. It has been very exciting to watch her progress!

Spirit now knows how to relax on a mat and will give you "5". Sitting is a little awkward with her leg since it sticks out straight to the side, but she does her best. Housetraining is also going very well, and most of her mistakes (not very many really) have been when we aren't paying attention. She and Jelly are good buddies now and do everything together, which is a funny sight since Jelly is much bigger than Spirit!

Well, think good thoughts for our little buddy on Friday!

Visit to the V-E-T today

Spirit had her 5 day recheck today with Drs. Arnell, Blake and Pike at VSH. The girl's got an army of top notch veterinarians looking after her. She initially acted unhappy to be there, but she spent some time playing with the staff (who were all very happy to see her). She's a bit of an actress, and is loving her celebrity status. She's gained over a pound since last week, and the doctors were very happy with her progress. We are still waiting to hear an update on her leg (they took more xrays today), but she has been using it more and is putting some muscle back on it. So overall it has been a pretty good day!

*UPDATE: Spirit's leg fractures have healed! She will start aggressive PT ASAP and have the external hardware removed next week. Puppies sure heal quickly!*

Really? Wow!!!!!!

Rachael Ray going to the dogs with new pet food
By J.M. HIRSCH – 2 days ago
Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press.

In the latest expansion of her culinary empire, celebrity chef Rachael Ray has launched a charity-driven line of dog foods based on recipes she has created for her pit bull, Isaboo.

Ray, who came to fame with her "30 Minute Meals" Food Network show, said all of her proceeds from sales of Rachael Ray Nutrish pet foods will go to Rachael's Rescue, which she founded to help at-risk animals. The outspoken dog lover regularly features recipes for pet food in her magazine, Every Day With Rachael Ray.

"It seemed like not a lot of extra time to donate to something that could potentially raise millions of dollars for championing these little creatures that can't speak for themselves," Ray said. A line for cats also is planned.

Ray's pet charity group recently selected its first beneficiary, a terrier mix named Spirit that made national news earlier this month after a man was caught on videotape savagely beating it at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The dog suffered multiple fractures. Rachael's Rescue has offered to cover all medical costs for the dog's recovery.

Food Network is part of Scripps Networks Interactive Inc.

Definitely a puppy

What a turn around! Spirit came home on Friday night, and she is like a totally different little dog. She is feeling so much better. She's a voracious little eater and loves to play. She's very lovable and smart as a whip too! That first night back we were afraid she'd never tire herself out. We were exhausted!

We were also able to properly introduce her to Maggie and Jelly since she doesn't have anything contagious (And they are properly vaccinated). That has gone very well, and there is alot of love (and tolerance) on all sides. Spirit watches them like a hawk, and is learning some manners like sitting to wait for meals and treats. She learns quickly.

She's also decided that her favorite place to hang out is Maggie's downstairs bed, which is 10x too big for her. It is the right size, however, if you are a toy hoarding little puppy. I'll try to get a picture posted of her and all of the balls, stuffed animals and blankies that she's dragged in with her to the bed. She's really cute and definitely a puppy.

A good day... and we are hoping for many more!

Today was a very good day for Spirit. She is feeling much better, and has been moved out from the isolation unit. Her attending veterinarians are very optimistic that she might be sent home as soon as tomorrow. I stopped by and visited with her briefly with a dog-loving co-worker. She looked really good! She was walking around, wagging her tail, and generally seeming like a puppy. That's a pretty big improvement from 2 days ago!

Once she is discharged from the hospital, we will continue to monitor her at home very carefully and make sure that she gets lots of love and rest. She will also resume her at-home rehab exercises for her leg (not so fun, but really necessary). The other crucial job for the foster parents is to (re)socialize their puppy or dog with other animals and people. Our pups are very used to our fosters and provide good role models for appropriate social interactions (Maggie is an excellent mama dog, and Jelly is super gentle). We'll also spend time introducing her to nice guys to help her with any residual fear she may harbor towards men (thanks to one particularly poor excuse for a human being.. .more about that later).

And people hope for her!

"Beaten puppy recovering at volunteer's home"
By Pauline Repard
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
July 19, 2008

SAN DIEGO – While Spirit, a puppy savagely beaten near the San Ysidro border crossing, continues to recover at the home of a dog-rescue volunteer, the reward is growing for the arrest of the man who left her for dead.

The reward fund has hit $6,900, and additional donations have come in to help pay Spirit's medical bills, said Lt. Dan DeSousa with county animal services.

“Money for the reward has come in from Massachusetts, Michigan, Arizona – all over the country,” DeSousa said.

He said Spirit, a terrier mix thought to be about 10 weeks old, has a brace on her right hind leg to hold it in place after surgery to repair the shattered bone. She also suffered rib and spinal fractures.

“She is on bed rest, antibiotics and painkillers,” DeSousa said.

He said a local volunteer with Coonhound Rescue and Friends is caring for Spirit until the dog recovers. Spirit left the veterinary hospital after surgery earlier in the week.

“She may need prolonged care,” DeSousa said. “It depends on how the leg bone heals. If it doesn't grow, it would have to be broken and stretched, then let it heal and maybe break it again, to get it to the same length as her left leg.”

He said the county would pay for such surgery even after Spirit is adopted.

The reward fund has grown with pledges of $2,500 from the Humane Society of the United States and $1,000 each from San Diego Animal Advocates and the San Diego-based Animal Rescue and Protection League. Individual donations total another $2,000, and students in the Border Patrol Explorer Program donated about $400.

The money would be paid for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a man shown on a U.S. Border Patrol videotape punching, choking and slamming the puppy against a fence July 2. By the time agents arrived at the spot about a half-mile east of the San Ysidro port of entry, the man had scaled the fence and escaped into Mexico.

Donations to help cover costs of care can be sent to the Department of Animal Services, 5480 Gaines St., San Diego, CA 92110. They can also be made on the county Web site at sddac.com/donations.asp.

And people got angry..... and people took action!

"Donor Doubles Beaten-Puppy Reward"

POSTED: 4:17 pm PDT July 9, 2008
UPDATED: 5:46 pm PDT July 9, 2008
(from: NBC San Diego http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/16837096/detail.html)

SAN DIEGO -- An anonymous donor puts up thousands more dollars for a reward after a puppy was beaten earlier this week near the U.S.-Mexico border, according to an officials at the county department of animal services.

Lt. Dan DeSousa of the county department of animal services said that a woman had contacted him on Tuesday and offered to add $2,000 to the already existing $2,000 reward being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the man seen on video.

Cameras were rolling when the 10-week-old Terrier mix was thrown over the border fence and viciously beaten last Wednesday, officials said. The tape shows an unidentified man throwing the puppy into the U.S. from Mexico, then jumping the fence and beating and trying to suffocate the animal.

Border Patrol officials think the man left the puppy to die at that point. An agent saw that the animal was still alive, however, and rescued the puppy, feeding it food and giving it water.

The County Department of Animal Services said the animal is suffering from multiple fractures to her right hind leg.

"Despite the abuse and pain that was inflicted, the puppy, named 'Spirit' by the staff, is very loving and affectionate," said Dawn Danielson, director of County Department of Animal Services.

Anyone with information about the man seen in the video is asked to call authorities at 619-767-2624. He faces felony animal abuse charges. Two private groups, San Diego Animal Advocates and Animal Rescue and Protection League have teamed up to offer the reward.

Donations to help pay for Spirit's veterinary care are being accepted. They can be sent to the Department of Animal Services at 5480 Gaines St., San Diego, CA 92110. Donations can also be made by visiting the County's Web site.

The puppy is not yet available for adoption, officials said.