Another busy week, and more to come

This week started with the monster storms that swept through. Friday night we started watching the news very closely. By Saturday morning it looked like the worst of the storm would be sweeping over Murfreesboro at the height of the adoption event. For the safety of the dogs we decided to cancel for the day. I always hate doing that. They lose an important day that could be the day they find their forever home. But I took some solace in the knowledge that few people are out shopping while tornadoes are blowing around.

So much went on it's hard for me to remember the exact day of everything! So we'll just go as best as memory serves!

The sad news is we lost a very important member of the rescue this week. On Monday night my daughter came to my room to get me. She said our 14 year old cat, Fatboy, had been sleeping on her bed. He stood up real fast and fell over onto the floor and wasn't moving. By the time I got there he was unresponsive. My husband, a former paramedic, said he thinks he had a heart attack. He was gone before we knew it.

Fatboy was a free to good home kitty in a grocery store parking lot many years ago. He was the tiniest of the kittens there, even though he was by far the furriest. Solid long thick black fur on this tiny little boy. Had to have easily been 20 kittens in the dog crate. I chose him but later decided he needed a friend. I went back and picked a short haired black and white boy.

Kitten seemed to not grow for the first year. Spot was massive compared to him. But around his first birthday he all the sudden had a crazy growth spurt. He gained weight like crazy. No medical reason. Nothing we did got the weight off him. Then we moved to TN 4 years ago. Some time on the farm, running outside with us as we went back and forth from the garden to the other areas he started to drop the weight. He finally was down to where he should be. We were thrilled.

Over the years we've used him as our 'tester' cat. Shortly after bringing him home we brought home a mastiff puppy that wound up being 182 pounds. After being raised with her, there just weren't many dogs he was afraid of. Because of his calm nature he was ideal at seeing how dogs would react to cats. His passing leaves a void in the rescue, but an even bigger one in our heart.

Jack went to his new home. We were thrilled. They adored him and were taking pictures as soon as they met him.

We got an e-mail about a sweet 3 year old pure bred tri-color Saint Bernard. We agreed to take her in but found out she was riddled with heartworms. Luckily through donations from the local Humane Society and local people and other rescues, she has begun treatment. She's at a foster home now and will go for her initial treatment at the vet on Monday. They'll release her to us on Friday and will start her recovery in our home. It's going to be a longer, slower treatment because she is so infested. Poor girl. We've got our fingers crossed and prayers have gone up.

We're picking up Ebony today, a Patterdale terrier mix puppy. She'll be going to her foster home and stay with her foster brother, Alvin.

Alvin has two families coming to meet him on Saturday, so we're beyond thrilled!!

Tomorrow we've got Kahlua (calling her Kallie) coming to us. She was pulled from a shelter in west TN. She's a precious little Keeshond mix puppy, around 9 months of age. If all goes well and Alvin is adopted she'll be taking his place.

We got a call yesterday from Rosco's adopters. The husband was at his wits end. Rosco has begun having accidents in the house, barking non-stop, chewing things up, chasing the cat and is not kenneling well at all. He was ready to throw in the towel as it's caused so much chaos in their household. His wife however has talked him into giving him a couple weeks and training. We're praying Rosco picks up the training fast and turns back into the sweet baby boy we know he is. They're wonderful people and do love him very much and I hope he knows that and re-pays them with more appropriate behavior.

We got a call today that Jack's adoptive home wasn't working either. The adopter's sheltie just does not like him. They said he's been to their mother's house and was wonderful and loving with their shih tsu, so they know it's the sheltie and not Jack. After a long family discussion they've decided the best thing for Jack is to return him. Luckily for Jack we did have a second approved adopter and they are still interested. They'll be arranging his transport hopefully this week. Jack will now have a Newfie sister to play with. We're broken hearted for his first family as they were wonderful people and we know how hard it is to be forced to part with a family member, even if it's in their best interest.

Adoptions have finalized for both Lucky the doxie and Goober the chihuahua. They'll be leaving for their new homes on Thursday, May 6th. On the transport up there we will be picking up another dog for a rescue we work with and helping to transport her to her new home as well. We also have a confirmation for Randy, the pitbull puppy. He is being adopted by one of our foster mom's daughters and her children. The youngest daughter has been in love with Randy from day one and we've got photos of her on the floor giving him hugs and him giving her kisses. It was just a match that was meant to be and we couldn't be happier!

I think that's about it for now! We've got our big adoption event this weekend (Saturday) at our Petco in Murfreesboro at the Avenue shopping plaza. In attendance will be:

Trixie, a 3 year old boxer mix girl

Gracie, an 8 year old female husky / golden mix

Murphy, a 2-1/2 year old purebred gorgeous golden retreiver boy

Ebony, a 9 month old Patterdale terrier mix girl

Kallie, an 8 month old adorable Keeshond mix girl

Alvin, an 18 month old beagle / cattle dog mix boy

Gomer, a 7 year old male long hair chihuahua

Andy, an 8 year old male short hair chihuahua

Buffy (pending), a 10-12 year old purebred poodle girl that still acts like a puppy


We may also have some puppies along with us as well. Stop in and say hi!