Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue

Jude and I were chatting the other morning about the continuing frustration of  not finding a source to transport donated dog food.  Unfortunately,second hand  we are no furthur ahead than before so we agreed we would direct our energies in some other capacity.  There really isn’t a choice but for Stan to haul the food himself.  To do that, he needs a sturdier, bigger vehicle.  The small van is perfect for the shorter road trips up north but is just not built to haul such heavy loads. 

So, to address this, we would like to organize a fundraiser - a ticket raffle.  We need all TG supporters and alumni to get involved - we need to get prizes and donations in place.  Without these, there can be no raffle!  I would love to see an exciting grand prize, somethign in terms of a trip (Las Vegas would be nice).  Keep in mind that people all over the province may be selling and buying tickets so all prizes should be shipping friendly - no breakable, fragile or heavy bulky items please.  Plus it can’t be too geographically specific.  A gift certificate to Sally’s Spa in Vancouver won’t mean much to someone out of town.  But the best part of all is that Yvette, Stan and Kelsey will come down to draw the prizes!  A Turtle Gardens reunions will happen on Sunday, Aug31st at Spanish Banks.  And quoting Yvette, "How cool is that!" 

Everything is still in the very early stages of planning, but I ‘ll need some feedback.  This will only be successful if we have donations and prizes.  The proceeds would go towards a purchase of a used but reliable one-ton truck for TG.  We don’t want Stan to make several back to back trips hauling dog food, and burning himself out (and getting sick)   We don’t want the Labattes to worry about whether a new litter of pups will or will not get the preminum puppy food they desperately need.  A bigger truck would mean one trip a month for Stan. 

Sara (Siggy Sue and Teague’s mom) is drafting a letter that we can all use when we approcach businesses for help.  Thank-you so much!  Sara has a wealth of ideas and suggestions too. 

 This is the approximate time frame I’m looking at:

now to to end of June - collect prizes, donations etc.  I’ll have to list them all of the BC Gaming application form before I can apply for a Class B  license.  This has to be done BEFORE we can sell tickets

early July to mid August -  sell lots of tickets

Aug.31 - Draw for prizes at TG reunion

Please email me at cyndasgot3@gmail.com

I need your ideas and support and I’m looking forward to hear from you. 

And P.S.   A big thank-you to Laurie who’s offered to pick up donated food from Anipet, and to Steve to pick up food from VAS and transport to  TG storage shed.

©Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Society. Have your pet spayed or neutered today.

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First - the floodwatch. With the warm weather forecasted for Friday and the weekend the fears for a flash flood are all over the radio waves! We have 30% snow still left on the lowlands with no snow melting on the mountains yet. The fear is fast melting and all the creeks and tributaries of our major rivers overflowing the banks in flash flooding. The prediction for the river cresting is Sunday. So no adoption trip this weekend for the TG Bus. We are gathering supplies for a quick move just in case - the consensus is we would have just a few hours notice. We wouldn’t have to go far - just across the road to the top of the hill. Luckily we found  a few kennel panels at the landfill and we have fencing to make runs for the dogs. We have a plan in place - one we devised last year with the threat of flooding. And we have fewer dogs than last year as well. We will keep you posted.

Just today we received a package all the way from Las Vegas Nevada! Inside was 8 collar and matching leash sets. Thank you so very very much. The adopted guys will look very spiffy going to their new homes next weekend!

And an Update from Puff Dog - I am so happy for my little guy:::

Just to let you know that after a little shyness in the parking lot at Walmart, Puff Dog’s adjustment to us, our household, and our routine has just been amazing.  It’s as though he’s lived here for months, not hours.  He and our girl are accepting each other, he loves our backyard, and he’s met the neighbour’s border collie with good result.  We had our first meal together (Puff wanted to eat his kibble from John’s hand rather than from a bowl), and once he saw our girl enjoying the occasional shrimp from our plates, he decided he liked them as well.  After dinner, he settled down for a nice relaxing chew with a rawhide twist.  He recognizes his name when we call him, nuzzles our legs, arches his back for a scratch, or lifts his face for a rub.  We already love this little Puff and can’t imagine why or how anyone would/could abuse such a sweet fur face.

And now Rover:

Rover or as my grand daughter Kelsey says Grover is doing much better. He can now walk without  pain and he is going up and down the stairs with ease. I have been brushing his coat for a few minutes several times a day and he is looking much better. He has much more pride in himself. he does have a tendency to be cranky with the teenager dogs but is quite patient with the puppies. He is taking glucosamine supplements and salmon oil and vitamins as well as premium dog food. He is looking younger by the day!. He is basically healthy and just needs proper nutrition and comfort to regain his health and vitality. He is calm and well behaved indoors. He likes a corner of the kitchen where he can watch activities without being in the way. He has just started to come over to solicit affection. He is a stately old gentleman.

©Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Society. Have your pet spayed or neutered today.

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Sometimes even the best need a respite from dogs. So it is that Dave and Bear (his sister)  have taken two dogs to Prince George and are visiting Bear’s daughter our niece overnight. We are very happy to say that Puff Dog will meet his new mom and dad today. He will have a shiba mix sister to play with and lots of fun times. He is such a loveable little soul and I will miss him - he is a follow me everywhere little guy! I wonder who will be my next favorite?

My favorite picture of Puff Dog - running for the sheer joy of it - to me!! Be good Puff Dog.

And our little staffie has been transferred to Bullie Buddies. Thank you Sam - you find the bestest homes for these oh so wonderful companions. Bear really likes this little girl too. She will whisper our phone # in her ear so she can call home if she needs to.

Our beautiful Baby! You should have seen her grin when she realized she was going for a ride! Good luck baby - you are very special!

Dave will come back refreshed and ready for the next round of clean up and repairs. And there is a lot to do on a project like Turtle Gardens.

©Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Society. Have your pet spayed or neutered today.

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It is that time of year again. Floodwatch time. Time to watch the river rising and praying for cool nights and little rain so the mountain snows melt slowly.

The river is already high but the snows on the mountains haven’t started melting yet. In fact there is still snow and ice on the north side of our property.

It is still two feet from the top.

This is from the back room window!

The dogs are doing well. Our routine has changed as the pups wake up early to potty. They are very good at asking for the door - ok screaming at the door. It is hard to sleep past that racket! But worth it to much less mess to clean up in the morning.  Coffee brewing while the floors are mopped and then enjoying that first cup at the table to plan the day’s activities. Now that it is daylight so much longer - a lot more gets done. The yardwork is slowly coming together. Where does all that junk come from under the snow? Where did the dogs get all the stuffies to chew apart or is that fluff from bedding? And all that plastic? And mess? The snow hid a lot of dog stuff - stuff they chewed, played with or dragged outside. And then lost under the snow. Until now that it has melted.

Two old dog enjoying a patch of sunshine. Lily is 19 years old.

Juliette figures chairs are for her!

Tuxedo has come back - he is too shy and just didn’t fit in.

And an update on a Happy Ending!! Sheba:

Derek writes  - Do ya think she’s liking her new home? J

©Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Society. Have your pet spayed or neutered today.

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We were gone for awhile , the blog that is - I don’t know why but son #2 has fixed the problem. Than you Dave.

It was a beautiful day yesterday - the sun was shining it was warm and a lot got done outside.

Those piles of dirt have to be manually shoveled and raked free of stones to level what used to be lawn!!

Marlowe and sleeping Juliette, Zoey and Chinook under the picnic table - again this used to grass!.

This is one of our major projects this year as well as fencing upgrade and an adoption center built onto the house. We also have cabins to build for guests wanting to visit. Another very busy year building for the comfort of the dogs!

And here is a cute series of pictures that should have been a video. Jazz has encountered a  strange object on the floor in the common room.

Jazz spots it and touches to see if it moves.

He circles it.

He approaches it again.

He stalks it.

Got It! By the way Jazz is still looking for his family. The girls all have prospective homes but neither of the boys do!! They will have their second vaccinations on Tuesday and will be ready for families on the following weekend.

Now let sleeping dogs lie:

Bella checking out her spot.

Bella going to her spot.

Bella in her spot, Grover and Jessie in the front.

My favorite window in the kitchen

My birthday begonias from Hubby Dave.

©Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Society. Have your pet spayed or neutered today.

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I love quiet days with decent weather - yesterday we had a snow flurry! Where is spring? Mind you the snow is melting SLOWLY which means less flooding. There are pools behind the greenhouse - a pond actually and mini pools in the Blue House yard. They haven’t gotten any bigger for two days and that is a big relief. But the crawl space under the house had 4 feet of water in it!! Just in two days without checking. That was a mistake. The sump is now running 24 hours a day and it is down to about a foot. At least it isn’t rising.  Yet.

Stan felt well enough today to give me a virtual tour of our new web site. WOW is what I say!It will be so easy for searchers to find what they are looking for in a pet. Is it good with kids? Is good with cats other dogs? How big? What kind of hair? Activity level - easy or  olympic material? It is all there and so easy to access - a computer illiterate could do it with ease! What you are looking for in a family pet instead of breed. A lot of our dogs are not breed specific - it is really hard to tell what it is other than it is a dog. It is easy with dogs like Puff and Sam who are purebreds but the Bella Coola 4 have multiple breeds in them. I can see collie, retriever, husky, and maybe shepherd but what is giving King his bright colour? But their character and temperament are already shining through. They will be excellent family companions. And really isn’t that what it is all about? The new site looks great - thank you so much Dave and Stan! I can hardly wait to launch it so the whole world can see and more lives will be saved. Way to go Guys!!

And now an update from Crackers!
Hey Guys-
Just a little note to tell you both that Crackers is settling into her new home.  Every morning she goes running in the park behind my house and in the evening we  have been going to a huge park for a good walk.  She has been playing with her new friend Bailey - running around and getting filthy dirty with the summer thaw.  I didn’t realize how shy Crackers was untill I brought her to work and she was very shy and timid.  I’m sure that more exposure will build confidence.  She is very quiet in the house and rarely barks.  She has been getting lots of attention and belly rubs.  She loves the cookies from the local pet bakery, they have ruined her taste for "regular" dog cookies.   Take good care.
Tanya Tagmann- Prince George BC

©Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Society. Have your pet spayed or neutered today.

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The picture uploader has been fixed - Thank you son #2!! So without further adieu the pictures that should have been on recent blogs are now here!

The Bella Coola 4 have found indoor living isn’t so bad!

Allie goes out to meet the Bella Coola 4! She is the most curious and looks very husky.

Bella has found a soft bed! She is slowly getting more colour in her coat - she will be blonde with a dark saddle!

Spring has found real comfort - complete with a pillow! They are almost always together. But today Bella went outside to potty on her own - the boys stayed inside. Their confidence is slowly building!

Lexie and Bizzy sleeping on Poncho!

Allie playing with gentle Sam!

Sam with his favorite toy - the head squeaks. Juliette and Sumosusie are behind him.

Turtle Gardens welcomes "Suss" which means Bear in carrier. He was a stray wandering on the highway in Palling. Christine rescued him, fostered him for a few days and brought him in to our vets for a neuter and vaccinations. Thank you Christine for sponsoring Suss and naming him too! The pup meeting Suss is Allie the confident one!!

Turtle Gardens welcomes "Baby". Baby was abandoned in an apartment for over 3 weeks without food. She was sent to a small rescue in Smithers and then brought here. Thank you Scott for sponsoring Baby. She is a wonderful ambassadog for her bullie breed! She loves to play and is excellent with kids, cats and all other dogs. She is very good with the young pups. She is supposedly timid around men but slept with Dave on the bed! She noticed that if he has one bullie (Harley) - then he must be safe! We love bullie breeds here especially exceptional ones like Baby.

©Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Society. Have your pet spayed or neutered today.

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Yesterday was my doctor day! The last time I left the yard was well over 6 months ago (I went to the walk in Clinic for a cellulitis) And the last time I saw Burns Lake was almost two years ago when I visited my family doctor (basically I am healthy!). He is very good but oh so slow - a whole day is used up going to  his office. Suffice to say I am a homebody - I stay inside the fence because it is my choice so don’t feel sorry for me. My problem is my asthma again (no I am not allergic to animals!!) - it is out of control again - menopause does that to you sometimes. I had a pulmonary function test and a treatment then another test. I have a new improved puffer and another appointment in two weeks. Another day lost then. Stan has plans for me to travel down to Vancouver. I said if they have a dinner/silent auction fundraiser - well maybe then I will travel. I am not a good traveler - I hate highways and stupid drivers. I really like staying home with my crew. And my flowers. And my family. And my computer. I really do have a full life just surrounded by a fort knox fence.

The Bella Coola 4 are adapting well to inside life. They are such friendly and nice dogs too. How could so many people see them, hear about them, have been emailed about them and do NOTHING! They are such nice companions and will be somebodies’ treasured family members. I promised them that.

The puppies are also doing very well - they ask for the door all the time now. They are growing very well and are very social with dogs and people. They come to us now for petting and playing. What smart little guys they are too.  
 The pound guys finally have names. I named them so if you don’t like the names it’s your fault for not coming up with better. Meet Juliette and Gabriel!

And now Updates from adopters:

Hello Yvette (and very helpful husband & granddaughter who's names I didn't

catch)

 

I’m Tania Cunningham, the one who took Sheba home last Sunday on a trial

bases. Let me tell you… she’s a blessing!!! We love her and she is helping

mend our broken hearts from Carmen. Sheba slept beside the couch last night

and ate only a small meal. We took her for a walk before supper to see the

neighborhood. She already has such good manners and loves to be involved in

everything we do. The horses are still a little spooky for her but with her

smarts it won’t take long. Because I work all week, my husband Johnnie will

come out Wednesday or Thursday to sort out paper work and such.

 

Again, thank you for your good eye at matching families with great dogs!

 

And the other Sheba: 

She’s pretty timid, but doing well. She’s been sleeping in the bed for extra comfort:) I gave her a bath yesterday and softened up that coat.

 Holy hair… It’s good because I don’t have a ‘normal job’, so she pretty much doesn’t leave my side. Such a sweetheart.

 I’ll send you some pics sometime.

Thanks Yvette… 


Update on Buck. He is the welcome committee for all the dogs in the area.

 He started out so sad and quiet but now does a little bounce like a little 

lamb when he sees his doggie friends coming. He is totally ADORED by everybody 

around him and his mom – she is totally over the moon. “The finest dog I have

 ever had the privilege of living with” How’s that for good news? 
 



 

©Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Society. Have your pet spayed or neutered today.

Technorati Tags: dog, cat, pet