Samson returns to Red Lake

Here is an update from Samson's adopter's following their visit to RLRR.January 25, 2009:
A couple years back, Karen Good found a gentle giant of a dog named Samson. He was being terribly mistreated, and was starved nearly to death. She took him from what would have been a sure death in a short time, brought him to Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue, and slowly nursed him back to recovery. His survival, for a while at least, was uncertain. But, with tender care, and love from Karen, it looked as though Samson would slowly make a recovery. Once he was able, he was transported to the Animal Ark in Hastings to continue his care, and hopefully find a home.

Soon, we found Samson at the Animal Ark, and knew we had to have him. We adopted him, and immediately, Samson found himself in a good home. He had gone from a starving dog, with many problems, to a 108 pound, loved, spoiled family member who now has two little sisters, also adopted from the Animal Ark. Seeing as how it was humans that mistreated him, Samson would have an excuse for being mean toward humans. But, he is the most loving, gentle creature one could ever imagine, be it toward humans, or other animals.

Fast forward a couple years. We started e-mailing Karen, giving her updates on Samson, and soon decided that along with the pictures we’ve sent, perhaps Karen would like to see Samson in person. So, a date was arranged, and on January 10th, we, along with Samson, and our foster dog, Reilly, embarked on a road trip to see Karen. Prior to our trip, we had asked Karen if there was anything she would like us to bring. Karen had said that there was about 1,000 pounds of dog and cat food at the Animal Ark in Hastings that could come up if we had a vehicle that could do it. So, on the Thursday before the trip, we went to the Animal Ark, and loaded up our small pickup with about half of the dog and cat food. That night, I had asked my boss at work if there was any way I could use the company van for such a purpose, and as soon as she heard what the nature of the trip was, she was more than happy to let us take the van. So, Friday night after work, we headed back to the Ark, and loaded up the rest of the pet food.

Bright and early the next morning, we, along with Samson, and Reilly started our trip. It was about 3:00 in the afternoon when we reached Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue. After visiting for a while, the pet food was unloaded, and there was more visiting, until dark. Then, we headed back to our hotel in Bemidji, only to return the next morning, to transport three adult dogs, and five newborn puppies back to the Animal Ark.

We found the trip uplifting for many reasons. First, we got to meet Karen, who saved our dog’s life. Then, Karen got to see Samson, and immediately saw first hand that her tireless efforts are not in vain. Karen told us that after the dogs (or cats) leave her care, she never sees them again, and only occasionally will get an e-mail with any kind of update. I think Karen getting to hang out with Samson did her spirit good too. It was also very rewarding for us being able to help out by delivering food, and transporting dogs back to the Animal Ark. We look at it as a way of giving something back to someone who has given us so much by saving Samson when he needed it most.

We are positive that this trip back to Red Lake was the start of a good friendship, and surely not our last trip to Red Lake. God bless you, Karen!
-D & M, and Samson

Pet Haven adoptions of Red Lake dogs!

Pet Haven had several adoptions on Monday, January 5, 2009 including three Red Lake dogs. Here are the highlights from the Pet Haven dog blog:

Rae Ann, a hound mix, has found her new home with a Min Pin sibling and two boys of her very own. Everyone who met Rae Ann fell in love with this gentle girl and we are very excited for her. Congratulations, Rae Ann!

Ahnung was adopted this weekend by Marilou, President of Pet Haven. We have all enjoyed ribbing Marilou for "foster failing" (adopting your own foster dog) for the third time (she has only "fostered" three dogs). Ahnung is a lucky girl and we are glad that she is "staying in the Pet Haven family" and we will all get to see a lot more of her.

Gale, a female mixed breed from Rosie's Red Lake Rescue, never even made it onto our website. While out walking with her foster mom last week she met some neighbors who fell in love with this little girl. She now has a Boxer brother and a mom who works from home. She has come a long way from being abandoned in northern Minnesota with a litter of puppies!

Update on Morris & his big best buddy

How great is this friendship!

Denise:

The cat in this photo is Morris from Red Lake Rosie's. My brother adopted him last Fall. Morris has befriended a Mastiff-St. Bernard neighbor's dog and they absolutely adore one another. (My husband Tom recently took this photo.) Thanks....

Nancy and Tom

Update on Foxie Moxie

Dear Denise,
(Pix are Mox in pool, Mox w/ her Fox in Sox toy & Moxie as my bath matt :)
It's not safe to encourage me to share stories about Moxie! :)
Let's see...this little girl that I didn't even know such a short time ago follows me around so closely she is always stepping on the back of my shoe or slipper. She loves practicing lessons from class. Sometimes I just use gestures. Moxie loves her squeaky toys! Usually all I have to do is say "squeaky squeak" and she will find one & start squeaking. Sometimes we carry on a squeak conversation back & forth. Perhaps in copying her Elkhound sister Sydneys' rooo-roooo noise, Moxie has started making a soft little roo sound, we praise her & she is doing it more & more often. We practice "bring this to mommy" "bring this to daddy" with an item and she is getting pretty good at it. Got her a pool to see if she would like it and she sure does! The hose though, is even better! She also thinks her new ball that squirts out water when she bites it is really cool too.
I keep adding new games to keep her mentally stimulated. A new one she likes is I creep my hand slowly toward her as she is biting on a toy.
She will stop biting it in eager anticipation of who can grab it quicker.
You can see the excitement in her eyes as she is trying to guess when I will pounce!
The fun Moxie & her sister Sydney have daily is hilarious! Sydney has gained confidence having Moxie here and also classes helped them both a lot.
Since Syd is right handed & Moxie a leftie, they will sit next to each other for a treat & when I say shake they each put their paw in my hand at the same time. Sydney had to learn it's ok for another dog to touch her, so this is a much bigger feat than it may sound! Sydney always liked to play, but the shelties in our home never cuddled w/ her etc, so she was foreign to someone like Moxie who has no comprehension that maybe everyone does not want to be sat on , or leaned on, or laid on top of!!
Yes, we have had some holes chewed in blankets, Some of my under garments have been devoured nearly completely, a shoe or two has some teeth marks on it, there are holes in the back yard just recently because there is some type of bug she is in pursuit of, several stuffed toys have met untimely deaths.........though I remind her those things are not good things to do, I smile inside, delighting that she is happy now, but I think not nearly as happy as she makes me.
D~ Moxie's mom :)

Spice Girl

Spice Girl was surrendered at a home in Red Lake. She and her litter of 5 which were born in the winter had a very hard life. We ended up getting 2 pups and Spice Girl after mange, ear infection, hip injury and hunger had taken its toll. Spice Girl was crippled, deaf and a very broken dog on arrival. She had a very special personality in spite of all her challenges. She was a very dedicated mom to her pups and even as they got older, she spent her days in a kennel with them. She would not have it any other way.
We do not know what happened to the other 3 pups in the litter. The two puppies did get out to a foster home in the metro.
They all spent about 6 weeks at the RLRR shelter. As time went on, I began to see what a wonderful gem she was. Pet Haven took her and so her journey with Pet Haven began. It has been a wonderful journey with a very happy ending.
Karen Good, RLRR

Spice was recovering nicely when she was transported to Pet Haven, but her back leg was still a problem. X-rays revealed her hip was completely fractured and the vet recommended amputation of her rear leg.

After surgery, she settled in a foster home and recently she went to her forever home with a family that has a big backyard and a golden retriever as a playmate.

Spice made quite an impression on everyone she met at Pet Haven:

She is without a doubt one of the sweetest girls I have ever met ... we at Pet Haven learned so much and feel blessed that Karen chose us to place Spice Girl into her forever home.

and,
All of our dogs are special... but yes, there are some, who are extra
special in my eyes, and who capture the hearts of so many of us, teach us so much, and leave paw prints forever etched in our soul ---
Spice Girl is one of those special souls who touched us all.
Karen -- thank you for trusting Pet Haven with this gentle spirit.
She is truly one of a kind.
A - thank you for opening up your heart and your home and for fostering her, loving her, and letting her go today ... i know Spice Girl is in great hands with J and her family. It is obvious they will shower her will love.

and,

Spice girl found an awesome home- not before she touched ALL of our hearts.She is such a special dog and she went to just the right home- I believe they know what they have and I think they will share her with others so her story will only get better ! :) Her foster Anne did an amazing job of caring for Spice Girl all the way through her amputation and beyond. She stepped up to take care of her right away. She loved her and I know it was difficult to part with her but the best fosters like her manage to get through and do it all over again. I will see that you get a recent picture because she has really blossomed and is soo beautiful.I remember all of my questions to you about her and I most remember your last email that said " You will not regret it " You were right. Thank- You for giving her to Pet Haven.

And, finally a note from the foster caregiver: Spice Girl fit in perfectly at her new home. She and the retriever Charlie got along well. They checked each other out and then each did their own thing. Charlie is high energy but he is more interested in running around retrieving his ball than playing with Spice. The husband fell in love instantly and talked about how much he can't wait to have her on the couch with him while he watches movies. They have a great backyard that Spice Girl is going enjoy for a long time. They live in a nice quiet neighborhood and I feel this is a great fit for her.

It's really weird/ quiet around the house right now without her. Hope and my cat Puddy have been looking for her too... I am grateful that Spice has found such a great home. I am looking forward to getting updates and seeing how Spice blossoms. I am very happy to hear she will be able to be with kids with disabilities and be able to be a sort of therapy dog. I will be sure to share the updates on her with you all.

Thank you guys for everything and for helping me through the surgery that Spice had. It was great to be there for Spice and to watch her heal and become a truly happy dog. She taught me a lot and I am a much better person for having been able to foster her. Thanks so much for asking me to be her foster, it was an experience I will never forget.

Tamari finds a new friend and a home.

Once upon a time (about a year ago) this lovely cat named Tamari was living on Red Lake Indian Reservation. He and some other cats were transported to the Twin Cities into foster care with Pet Haven until they found new homes.

Tamari's Red Lake friend Kylie was very friendly and outgoing and she went to a new home soon, but Tamari was afraid at adoption events, so he wasn't chosen.

Eventually he met Ian, who was a young orange cat who was very outgoing and busy, and they became best friends. An adopter came to meet them at the foster home and the boys were adopted together so they can live happily every after!

Here is the latest update from their new home:

She said both cats are out and about all the time, making
full use of the house. She said they race through the house playing,
and are always tagging along with her and her husband where-ever they
are. The boys sleep on the human bed for half the night (Tamari is
already slinking under the covers to snuggle) and then they move to
their kitty bed where they curl up together for the rest of the night.
Karen said that anytime she and husband sit down, they have a cat on
them -- not on their laps but wrapped around their necks like a stole!