Update on dear old Ladybug

Ladybug has a ten-year history with Red Lake Rosie's Rescue. We met her first at a clinic in 2007 when she came in for spay surgery. She was only about four years old, but already looked sad and tired.

LADYBUG 2007

In 2012, she was surrendered to RLRR in shocking condition -- starving and almost hairless from mange.

LADYBUG IN 2012

With Karen's loving care, she was a different dog in just three months -- one of our most remarkable transformations.

AFTER 3 MONTHS AT RLRR

She became the alpha female at RLRR along with her alpha male partner Wolfman.

ALPHA QUEEN AT RLRR

By the spring of 2016, Ladybug was 13 and it was becoming too difficult for her to live outdoors at the shelter. We asked Grey Face Rescue & Retirement if they had a place for her and they agreed to take her in.

LADYBUG'S FINAL WEEK AT RLRR 2016

Due to her age, she was placed in a hospice foster home to live out her days. She has loved every minute of it for over a year now and we were so pleased to get this note:

LADYBUG TODAY: HAPPY IN HOSPICE

UPDATE FROM FOSTER FAMILY:

"Hi- my name is Ali and for the last year Ms. Ladybug has been living with my family in Avon, MN through Grey Face Hospice. 

"When we first got her, she was a little timid and scared. I know she was used to sleeping outside in the huts, but our dog Shadow sleeps inside. When we were able to persuade her to come inside, the first place she went was Shadow's raised dog bed. She was in heaven! We had to get her her own bed as she never wanted to let Shadow have a turn! 

"She got her day at the puppy salon and, when she came back home, she just pranced and bunny hopped around. It was like she was a young puppy again.  

 

"I started walking her around our yard and she gradually worked up to walking our walking trail, which is about 1-mile round trip. She looked forward to going each day. She also liked to do the bunny hop run to keep up with Shadow. She always wants to be by him and see what he is doing. She will even nip at him to lets him know she is the boss. Very entertaining!! 

"Recently, her back legs have been getting weaker and she is having a hard time walking very far. We use a lift to help her walk or just carry her. If she manages to get too far in the yard, she gets a ride back in the wagon! 

"Her favorite thing to do is lay in the grass and watch the world go by! She has such a cute little face we can't imagine her not being part of our family. 

"Ladybug is 14 years old now. She is basically blind in her one eye, her hearing is almost gone. too, and she does sleep a better part of day, but she still has a sharp mind. And, she is always ready for hugs and kisses, which she gets lots of!! 

" I just wanted you to know that she is loved!"

Ali and family (www.greyfacerescue.org)

Ladybug's Story Part III: Forever Home

UPDATE ON LADYBUG FROM Grey Face Rescue & Retirement:

We welcomed Ladybug into the rescue this weekend.  Ladybug came in as a transfer from another rescue. 

We thought she was beautiful by her pics but nothing is compared to her beauty in person.

This little lady has had quite the rough road but now she will live out her remaining years with her hospice family that plans to spoil her rotten.

ABOUT GREY FACE RESCUE & RETIREMENT:
Grey Face Rescue & Retirement offers a special hospice program for seniors given minimal life expectancies. We pride ourselves in pulling dogs from humane euthanasia lists because of no fault of their own. Unfortunately, they land on this list due to old age and/or because they've been diagnosed with an illness. For some, this may be a downfall, but Grey Face Rescue & Retirement looks at this as an opportunity to give massive amounts of love, attention and care for the remaining days, weeks, months or years these senior dogs have left before crossing the rainbow bridge.

Our Hospice Program gives these senior dogs quality medical care. We provide top-of-the-line necessities such as the most comfortable bed, warmest blankets, tastiest treats and even a couple of trips to their favorite fast-food joint! It's about making them the happiest of dogs and giving them the opportunity to feel comfortable when it's time to say goodbye. With your help, we can make the last few weeks and months of our Hospice dogs' lives the best weeks ever.

We are accepting donations of fast-food restaurant certificates, orthopedic or just REALLY comfortable beds, warm blankets, yummy treats and anything else you think would make these old pups so happy.

http://www.greyfacerescue.org/hospice-program/

Ladybug's Story Part II: Last week at RLRR

The Sawdey family was at the shelter spending a week of volunteer work and it happened to be Ladybug's last week at Red Lake Rosie's Rescue.

Aaron captured Ladybug on camera as she walked about the shelter doing some of her favorite things. She loved to stroll in the wooded area surrounding the shelter. Many days were spent sunning on the porch of the cattery or ambling down the shelter road.

 

We are so thankful to have the many memories of Ladybug at the shelter and are happy that she has moved on to more comfortable digs, especially for the winter months.

We miss Ladybug but are happy for her also-- she will never be forgotten as she was the "rescue of the decade".

Until we meet again!

Sincerely, Karen and RLRR

DENISE SAYS::
If you are feeling a little teary-eyed now, well, me, too, but I'll have more with Ladybug in her new home next!

Ladybug's Story, Part I

LADYBUG IN 2007

Red Lake Rosie's Rescue first met Ladybug in the summer of 2007 when she was spayed and vaccinated at one of our community clinics. Ladybug, even at that time looked very unhappy and appeared to be about 4 years old-- 4 hard years.

LADYBUG IN 2012

Then, in June 2012, we met again when a resident came to another clinic and said she wanted to surrender a dog called Ladybug.What we saw was appalling. She was basically hairless from mange and was starving almost to death! By far the most pitiful dog we have rescued in 10 years! The owner claimed she would not eat, but Ladybug ate 8 small meals throughout the first day.

LADYBUG AT INTAKE BY RLRR IN 2012

What a strong dog she was! Gradually through the summer and into the fall of 2012, Ladybug regained hair growth and put on weight.

LADYBUG AFTER 3 MONTHS AT RLRR

Ladybug remained at the Red Lake Rosie’s shelter, and became the alpha female, well respected with her counterpart Wolfman as the alpha male.

LADYBUG WINTER 2013

In 2016, Ladybug, once the queen of the shelter, could no longer roam freely and safely here and living in an outdoor kennel was increasingly difficult in her old age. We sadly decided that we had to let her go, but were so happy to find the perfect placement with Grey Face Rescue in hospice care for the remainder of her life.

We'll share more of Ladybug's story in the upcoming days.

Dogs of Red Lake Rosie's Rescue Dec. 2013

Dr. Vicki got some great photos of the dogs currently in the pack at Red Lake Rosie's Rescue. I asked Karen for names and info:

LADYBUG

Ladybug came to Red Lake Rosie's Rescue in June 2012 from Ponemah. She was starving and had no hair. She is now a permanent resident at RLRR and the alpha female.

COOPER

Cooper came to RLRR on December 26, 2012 from Ponemah. He is also a permanent resident and the alpha male of the pack.

MORRIS, JACK FROST, WOLFMAN JACK

Morris, the tan pup, is semi feral with demodex and we are trying to find him a home to work with him so he does not become a permanent resident. The white pup laying down is Jack Frost; we are trying to place him. The Husky in the pic is Wolfman Jack, a permanent resident since August 2013. More photos of him tomorrow!

SHEILA

Sheila came to RLRR in June 2012 and is a permanent resident.

Lovely pics and lovely dogs each one!

Karen

John transports food up and animals down

On December 7th, John drove up a trailer and truckload of food that he picked up from Eric of The Shed and also from DeeDee courtesy of Chuck & Don's Pet Food Outlet to Red Lake Rosie's Rescue.

The load was about 3000 lbs according to John's estimate.

It was so great that John found time the previous day to collect the food, mostly dog kibble and drive all the way to RLRR the very next day with the load of needed food.

We had the help of Kevin and Riley to unload and put in the storage barn.

On the way back to the metro John had 3 dogs with broken legs, puppies and kittens. A total of 13 were sqeezed in the cab of hs pickup!

Dr. Vickie of Act IV took 2 broken legs including Cardew and Shyla, and Mn Pitbull Rescue took Blue with a broken foot.

Zoey rode shotgun with John and Cisco.

Red Lake animals appreciate the food donations. The Shed and Chuck and Don's donate most of the food which supplies the animals at the shelter as well as many community animals through clinics and the food shelf.

Thank you John for the persistance in getting the food and delivering as well as getting the many needy animals on to rescues. And, Thank you Kevin for your help in unloading and stacking the food.

Karen

3-month check-up on Ladybug

It has been 3 months since Mike and Heather rescued Ladybug in Ponemah.

Remember how she looked then??

I snapped a few photos of her the other day- She is fat and sassy now- playing, showing her alpha nature, very sweet!! She runs, plays and no longer walks with the tired stride she came in with!

She still has work to do, like a heartworm check, and the eye that is blind, but I tell you she is SO happy to have her kennel with a nice mattress I put in with blankets. She is free roaming all day and sleeps on her bed at night.

I would like to find her some real comfy digs for the winter BUT do not want her crated. She is totally toilet trained and can hold her bladder and bowels for up to 12 hours with no accidents.

THANK YOU FOR THE DONATIONS OF FOOD that make transformations like these possible---Many animals are hungry here on the reservation and good quality food makes the difference!!

Karen RLRR