Owen's Story

On Thursday, Halloween evening RLRR was getting ready to leave for the Furry Tail Ball event in Minneapolis. Linda, David and Karen were busy at the shelter doing the chores when Polly pulled up with a dog and a tiny kitten to surrender to the shelter before she left.

It was just getting dark, and as we unloaded the little dog. Polly said the people who surrendered him said he was just beat up by a dog. Owen had blood coming from the mouth area, and his jaw looked rather deformed. It was soon apparent when his jaw would lock that it was clearly more than a dog attack. Owen had taken blunt force in the mouth and had a broken jaw.

Karen and Kevin left the next morning, after a conversation with Dr. Vicki regarding Owen and his fate. David and Linda took care of Owen for the next 2 days, and then gave him a ride to Dr. Vicki and ACT V on Sunday November 3rd. 

UDPATE FROM ACT V:

Owen is a 5 month old Shep/Rott mix. He came from Red Lake with a broken jaw. His break is right behind his lower canine teeth on both sides. This presents some challenges because the adult teeth are not all the way in. They have also been compromised by the fracture and he may lose them later. He’s so young and his jaw bone so soft, it can’t be wired either. We consulted other veterinarians who are specialists in dentistry and jaw fractures. They suggested we get creative and use a large long lasting suture to pull the jaw back in place and sew it back together. OWEN'S SURGERY Dr. Lehnert at South Hyland Pet Hospital did just that. We are hoping for a good result for Owen. If we can get him to not chew for several weeks and not get a bone infection, he should do quite well. Positive thoughts for the big guy tonight. He is resting comfortably with Dr. Schulz. UPDATE FROM FOSTER CARE: Baby Owen transitioned to foster care and now lives with a cat, a Bulldog and a really nice Dad. Poor pup, he is not allowed to chew on ANYTHING since his jaw is wired shut. (Not shut top to bottom obviously - just the lower portion). But as you can see, he's feeling pretty perky! Lucky Owen also has a fenced in yard.

While Karen was away...

David and I went up on Halloween to put plastic on the kennels for the winter and to look after things while Karen was in Minneapolis for MN SNAP and ACT V events.

LINDA & OWEN

Soon after we arrived Thursday afternoon Polly showed up with a rescued kitten and dog. We were in serious danger of acquiring a fifth cat, but little K.T. left with Karen the following morning, headed for a foster home. Good luck little K.T. You’re so incredibly cute I’m sure you’ll find a good home.

The dog Polly brought we named Owen. He had been kicked in the face. He was bleeding from the mouth and had an obvious lower jaw injury. I always fall in love with some dog when I visit and Owen became my special friend for the weekend. He lapped up soft food and was a cheerful little guy, in spite of his injury. Owen was so gentle and affectionate. His favorite place was my lap. While in town Karen made arrangements for him with ACT V, and when we went home Sunday night we took Owen with us. We dropped him with Dr. Vicki’s sister Sandi, and she got him down to the clinic. Thanks to Sandi for saving us some extra miles on the long trip home. I’m sure you’ll hear more about Owen’s progress. Send him positive thoughts as he recovers from some idiot’s senseless cruelty.

DAVE AT WORK

We got a real taste of the work Karen does every day, mostly single handed; feeding and medicating all the dogs, letting them out for exercise twice daily and getting them all tucked back in, keeping their kennels clean and supplied with fresh water, trying to spend time socializing the ferals, not to mention looking after all the feline goofballs in the cat house. The kitties all crave human attention. David would have gladly spent all day complying with their wishes, but we had work to do.

We got all of the sixteen kennels that hadn’t been tarped covered with plastic to keep out the cold winds and snow and let some sunlight in. David also covered the scary opening in the laundry room floor. For any of you who have spent time in the cathouse, you’ll appreciate not having to worry about cats getting down into the crawl space!

 

WOLFMAN WANTS ATTENTION, TOO

I have to say a word about Gabriel, the shepherd who was rescued from a life of agony, chained and wearing a spiked collar that had grown into his neck. Gabriel has a bad (but improving!) case of mange and has a pretty miserable coat. He’s not the world’s most attractive dog right now, but you’d never know it. The loving care that he is receiving at the shelter has him prancing and dancing, head and tail held high. He was joy to be around and a reminder that it really is what’s on the inside that counts.

GABRIEL & MORRIS PLAYING WITH ROPE TOY

Thanks to Karen for the chance to help out, and thanks to everyone who makes what she does possible. We hope to be back soon.

Linda and David

Do Yoga * Help RLRR

Lisa Plummer, a yoga teacher, is offering a free class in support of Red Lake Rosie's Rescue on Sunday, November 17, 2013!

Learn more on her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/578655248849315/

Sweet Mia

UPDATE FROM ADOPTER:

Attached are three pictures of my sweet Mia (formerly Lavina, rescued in January by Red Lake Rosie's Rescue, fostered by my daughter, Heather). 

 She is so happy on the farm and has other dogs and people to play with. Her "best bud" Baxter is shown in one of the pics - they are sharing a stick (because it is the ONLY stick on the farm, haha). Sometimes they even walk together, each carrying an end of a stick. It's quite amusing, as Mia is the biggest dog on the farm, and Baxter is the smallest (Bassett Hound mix)...but they are inseparable. 

I just wanted to give you an update. She is absolutely so wonderful - a total sweetheart, so gentle, and fantastic with little kids, too. I am so happy to have her in my life! When I step outside and see her bounding towards me in her happy stride, it starts my day off great! :) (She does enjoy coming inside occasionally, and makes herself perfectly comfortable on the bed.)

Thank you so much for all you do to find good homes for animals in need. 

BH

Give to the Max for Red Lake Rosie's Rescue!

Reunion with Milo!

What an exciting trip to the cities! One of the very special highlights was a reunion with Milo, the collie.

The last time Polly and Karen had seen Milo, then Milan, he was a real mess. He was rescued from being shot and placed in Polly’s holding pen in Red Lake. Polly then took him to the vet and Karen picked him up. Within a week Milo was enroute to the loving care of his foster mom Andi of Minnesota Wisconsin Collie Rescue. Search for his name on this blog and you will find many updates.

We were on pins and needles waiting in the Radisson Plaza Hotel lobby last Saturday, November 2nd as we were going to see the resurrected collie Milo. And what a wonderful reunion it was! Milo was so beautiful and such a nice friendly fellow. It was as if he remembered us from the past which to him was a whole lifetime ago.

We are excited to learn that tomorrow he will go herding again. Milo is living the good life now and we are so happy. These reunions make it all worthwhile.

Sincerely,

Karen & Polly

UPDATE FROM MILO's BLOG:

Milo had a pretty exciting weekend. On Saturday, we were able to make a journey to downtown Minneapolis to say hello to Karen Good and friends from Red Lake Rosie's Rescue. These are the folks who saved Milo on the Red Lake Indian Reservation all those many months ago. The reunion took place in the lobby of a hotel. It was an honor to meet Karen who works so tirelessly for the animals. She was in town being honored by MN-SNAP (MN Spay And Neuter Assistance Program). They had a busy day planned and we were thrilled that they made time to see us. Karen told me that Milo was one of the most physically broken and sick dogs that she has ever seen, so that made it even more wonderful to be able to share with them his transformation. He enjoyed the attention!

Of course we had to take some photos at some local landmarks! We had plenty of attention from the dudes who hang out downtown and "Lassie" seems to have made quite an impression on them. Never thought I would hang out at First Avenue with a collie!

Andi
Milo's foster mom

Big Boy

The final video of the evening at MN SNAP's fundraiser, the Furry Tail Ball, told the story of Big Boy, a black lab mix that has been through too much suffering, but despite that, or maybe because of it, he has found his happy ending.

You should read Big Boy's first post from two years ago when he came in with his throat cut open and infected from a wire around his neck that had been used as a collar. He stayed at Red Lake Rosie's Rescue for two months healing. He returned home and Karen followed up with him regularly.

Then at the June 2013 clinic with MN SNAP, Big Boy was brought in again. As we described it then:

"The most heart-wrenching intake was Big Boy, a dog well-known to Karen. He was brought in with his foot missing, about four inches of exposed leg bone, and a massive infection in his upper leg. Apparently caught in a leg hold trap, Big Boy had been missing for three weeks. We were all shocked that this dog could chew or break his foot out of the trap and make it home. He was dehydrated, emaciated, and very weak."

Big Boy

There was a post about his miracle rescue then and now we have this beautiful video from Pablo Jones telling Big Boy's whole story: https://vimeo.com/pablojones/review/78324675/02cfae71b3

The finale of the Furry Tail Ball was when a beautiful happy Big Boy was brought out on stage for Karen and Polly to greet him. Not a dry eye in the house at that point :-)

Thank you again to MN SNAP and their board of directors for honoring Karen & Polly at your fundraiser, for working with RLRR at our clinics, and for going above and beyond to get Big Boy the urgent help he needed. On that day, all the stars aligned so that he could be saved.