Lucky Lorna lovin' life

Lorna was a frightened little stray dog found in Red Lake.I must admit that I was concerned when I saw this first photo of Lorna down on her belly in fear with her ears down and her tail tucked under, but what a recovery she has made in just a few days in foster care. I am amazed at the many faces of Lorna. She seems to like the camera...

Her foster mom sent these photos and says: Lorna had her first vet appointment today. They think she's about 7-8 months old and weighs 25 lbs. She's doing great!

LOVES HER BEDSEDUCTRESS POSEBASKING IN SUNLIGHT WITH TOYSPLAYTIMELORNA AND FRIENDSNERVOUS AT THE VETPORTRAITLORNA'S FIRST SNOWCUPCAKE SWEATER

Second chance for Sweet Pea

FROM ANIMAL ARK BLOG:

Many people have been following the story of Sweet Pea, a gentle little husky rescued from the Red Lake Reservation during a recent large-scale spay/neuter effort there. She was first brought to Animal Ark's Neuter Commuter by some good samaritans who had found her laying in a ditch. She had been hit by a car and could not stand or walk. Based on her condition, veterinarians believed she had been left there for 2-3 days without food or water.

Photo: Sweet Pea in her kennel in Animal Ark's Neuter Commuter while en route to our shelter in Hastings

Because her injuries were too severe to be addressed during our short stay in Red Lake, our team decided we had to bring Sweet Pea back to the Animal Ark shelter in Hastings. Once in Hastings, the wonderful staff at Akin Hills Vet Hospital offered to donate services to help with her care, including surgeries and other veterinary care, with assistance from our vet and staff.

It turned out that Sweet Pea was in pretty sad shape. Her left shoulder was dislocated. Even worse all of the long bones in her right front leg were broken, the radius, ulna and the humerus.

Needless-to-say, the prognosis for this poor girl was not all that positive. While dogs can live with an amputated leg, the loss of 2 legs would not be acceptable. Our team decided that we HAD to do everything possible to save both legs. In the event that something didn't work, she may be able to keep at least one of them.

Her first surgery helped to repair the dislocated shoulder. Later, a series of pins were added to the right leg and attached to an external fixture that actually holds the humerus in place. In the photo below, the pink bandage is covering up this external fixture.

Staff and volunteers at Animal Ark have been holding our breath to see how she would progress. . .

We always want every animal that comes to Animal Ark to have the best possible outcome. Always. However, in all honesty, some of the "kids" that come through touch our hearts in extra-special ways. Sweet Pea is one of those. Even before her surgeries, when she must have been suffering from severe pain, she would greet each new person she met with gentle kisses and an enthusiastic wag of her tail. No one can avoid falling in love with Sweet Pea, even if they wanted to.

For all of these reasons, we have been anxious to see how her healing would go.

Well, the this picture will give you a clue how it is going:

Just in time for the holidays, Sweet Pea has been given the gift of the use of her legs. We are hopeful that no complications will develop and that her pins and support device will be removed in a few weeks. Then, she will be ready to start the new year with a new life.

Urgent transport last weekend

We received a call late Sunday night on November 29 from a person who had gotten the head of their chihuahua WaWa in the car door and the eyeball was hanging out. They had no money for vet care so we made arrangements for the after hour vet to take the animal. We asked in exchange for a surrender.

CAPTAINWaWa, now Captain, had his left eye removed and spent the next 4 days in foster care with Lexy, the vet tech. Captain was also suffering malnutrition.

Well, as usual, Act V responded quickly. Connie and her daughter Cindy made a road trip to RLRR shelter on Saturday December 5 and took out Captain, Elbert, Lorna, Johnny, Candy, and 5 kittens.

CAPTAINAs it turned out Shirley, sho had adopted Gracie, a RLRR small dog last year decided she may want to adopt poor little Captain, so she is going to provide him foster care to see how he and Gracie get along.

Also Elbert was reunited with Anne who is fostering him.

LORNAMary, foster mom from All Dog is caring for Lorna, a little shy stray found in Red Lake. Candy, a female chihuahua, is either going to All Dog or to RLRR Petfinder foster home.

JOHNNY & CHEETAH STROLLINGJohnny who has been at the shelter since the November clinic finally got out to a foster home.

Four kittens are bound for Lauren and Mikes foster care, and Libby's lone black kitten went with Connie and is adjusting there.

As traumatic as the loss of poor little Captain's eye was, it may have saved his life, because in his physical condition he would have died if not for intervention.

Thank you all for saving these little creatures.

Karen

Cinderelbert

Elbert is feeling like Cinderella and Anne is his fairy godmother.

Elbert is a little terrier mix with thinning hair and mange who was found at the garbage dumpster. When Anne came for a visit last week, she and Elbert immediately bonded and she spent time with Elbert holding him, bathing him, and talking to him. He loved it and became very attached to Anne.

ELBERT LOVES ANNEWell, the visit was soon over, and Anne had a hard time leaving Elbert behind. It was not long though- that we got an email telling us that her landlord had approved of her fostering Elbert!!

So- Elbert will be enroute to the metro this Saturday to spend the next few weeks in Anne's care until he is adopted.

Just thinking of Elbert standing out there at the garbage dumpster, and how blessed we were to get him, now the blessing moves on.

We thank the fosters, rescue groups, and all those people who make it possible for Elbert, and others like Elbert to be loved and give love in a life with dignity and kindness.

Sincerely, Karen RLRR

UPDATE FROM ANNE:
This one is the best I could do for now. He is quite hard to capture since he is so busy! (I had to put him on the chair to get him to sit still)

He weighs 10.3 pounds. No accidents so far! I am able to come home from work at 10am. 1pm, and then I'm off at 4:30 so he's not in the kennel for long BUT last night he slept from 9:30 to 6:30 straight through. He is very friendly with all of the new people he has met. I love him sooo much!!

: ) Anne

The dogs of Red Lake Rosie's Rescue

Here are more photos from Laura's visit:

GRANDPA, DAISY, MAMA, GINGERDarling shep mix pups grow into gorgeous shep mix dogs!

MOUSERMouser is Karen's dog and a favorite of visitors.

DOGS ON A WALKHazel, Kia, Daisy, Shilo and Ginger are trustworthy without leashes; Jaycee, Karma, and Della are still learning their limits.

SIMON BUMBLE BEESimon is seriously proud of his Bumble Bee sweater, but it makes me smile ;-)

ROOM TO ROAMThe long mild fall has been a blessing in the north country.

Time to tarp the kennels

LAURA & ANNI am sending pics of our great tarp teams who came up 2 weekends in November to tarp up all the kennels at the shelter to help keep the doggies warm during the cold Minnesota winter.

PAT & ALEXOur tarp teams are Dee Dee & Kristen, Laura & Ann, and Pat & Alex. We just have to get some heavy duty clear plastic and do touch up on the doors- otherwise --mission is acoomplished.

DEE DEE & KRISTENGreat job!!Thank you to all.

Sincerely, Karen and RLRR

TARPING WITH GRANDPA'S HELP

Ahnung continues work with at-risk youth

NOTE FROM MARILOU OF PET HAVEN:
Hi Karen,

here are a few shots of Ahnung from her volunteer work with at-risk youth at The Lab (www.thelabspps.com) today ... she is doing such amazing work with them! It's absolutely incredible to see them come out of their shells.

There's this one kid who has really bonded with her and when he was taking her for a short walk you could just feel the bond between them ... and i loved the moment the kid looked over at Ahnung who had her eyes fixated on him and he said, "Ahnung, you okay??"

Ahnung will be a registered therapy dog in early December ...
i am so proud of her! :)

Thanks again for rescuing her and for letting her come home with me
;-)

love,
Marilou & Ahnung