Category Archives: Animal Welfare

Shih Tzu Day 22: The Spare Dog

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What Are We Doing With Three Shih Tzus and a Spare Dog?

Our first night with Shiloh went okay. The terrier seemed to go to sleep shortly after lying down on our bed and I didn’t feel him stirring in the night.

Flower demonstrates the ability to fit the whole chicken jerky in her mouthWhen the girls rushed up the stairs to get me this morning, I stayed in bed for a while, so they came back down. When I came downstairs, Shiloh couldn’t control himself when they started dancing. He decided to join the fray, but his frantic carrying on was a little different. His nails are sharper, so I told him to get down because he was scratching my legs. I’m sure he didn’t know what that meant.

I decided to feed all four dogs outside, but I kept Shiloh to one side of the porch and the shih tzus to the other. From where I sat, it appeared that Shiloh gulped his breakfast mix down in one gulp and then decided to try one of the other dogs’ food. I stopped him, though. I made another mental note about the differences between boy and girl dogs, or terriers and shih tzus. I wasn’t sure what made the difference.

I had an appointment with the Apple Store to talk about issues with my MacBook, so I put Shiloh in his kennel, not wanting to take any chances. When I got back, I called John and told him all the reasons I thought I should tell Delores we just couldn’t keep him here. He agreed it would be best if someone else fostered him until BFF Rescue could find him a permanent home.

Later, Delores called to ask how it was going between Shiloh and the girls. I told her I had some concerns regarding him and Flower. I also told her I wasn’t used to boy dogs and he had a little more energy than I was used to, etc., etc. She said she hoped that someone would be able to take him in as a foster dog soon, and that if they had to, they could take him back to the clinic. Although I had decided to ask her if I could give him back, instead I told her we would try a little longer and I would let her know if we had any problems and had to have her find another solution.

Shiloh ended up spending much of the day in his kennel, however, on his own accord. I felt guilty for thinking he was a problem. I knew it was going to be hectic over the weekend, because my niece and her boyfriend were coming to spend the weekend, but I thought about the sacrifices other people constantly make, and I decided we could at least put up with one extra small dog for a few more days.

Shih Tzu Day 21: The Terrier Makes Himself at Home

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Shiloh, the Terrier: There’s a Strange Dog Following Me

Back to our Terrier guest, Shiloh. Once he had sniffed out his surroundings, he followed me all over the house. I hate to say this, but I wasn’t crazy about the idea of this dog following me everywhere. I admit it. Partially, I felt disloyal. After all, Dottie, Flower and Candy don’t yet feel that secure, so usually only Dottie follows me. Very quietly. Very slowly.

Having three shih tzus sitting in their safe zone in the corner all day, to emerge for brief periods of time, is much different than having an energized dog following you. I was getting a little nervous. I envisioned him needed lots of attention — more than I could give. My vision was he could pal around with John, since the shih tzus won’t.

Shiloh took it upon himself to take John’s seat on the couch and also to sit on Flower’s couch. Flower must not have wanted to fight him over it. She jumped on the couch next to me and Dottie.

Shiloh Enjoys a Brief Walk and Invades Our Bed

When John got home, Shiloh ran up to the door and greeted him enthusiastically, wagging her tail and putting her paws up on his leg. John was surprised. Although Joey, our Yorkie, was his darling, lately, he’s used to mainly having three sets of shih tzu eyes stare at him from afar when he comes in.

John took one look at him and said, “That’s not a Boston terrier.” Okay, this is an honest blog, so I have to tell you that John thought Shiloh was kind of peculiar looking. He determined that he might be a terrier/chihuahua mix. I guess I have to look at pictures on line to see what other dogs look like him.

John hasn’t walked a dog since months before elderly Joey died, so he considered putting the leash on him and taking him out. I told him that the doctor at Clear Creek Animal Hospital said he loved to walk.

Shiloh eagerly accepted the offer and followed him out the door. He said Shiloh did wonderful on his ten-minute walk and that it was obvious that he was used to someone taking him for walks.

Once they got back, the shih tzus mainly ignored him, except Flower. Unless you can keep a constant watch, it’s hard to see who is causing trouble, but a few times, I heard Flower growling at Shiloh and saw them circle each other, and a few times, leap towards each other, mouths open. I put myself in alert mode, hoping I didn’t have to pull them apart. They backed away. Maybe Flower was trying to size him up, or maybe to tell him that she was the pack leader, and he’d better not try to take that role.

Shiloh goes into his kennel easily, so he must be used to it. He crawled in there before bed, so I thought he would be fine, but then he started whining. As soon as I let him out, he ran upstairs and jumped onto the end of our bed. I gave in and decided I would let him stay there. After all, he probably hasn’t slept on a bed for a while. I do admit, though, that I didn’t like it. My girls don’t even sleep on the bed, so I really hated a “stranger” coming in and taking that position.

Shih Tzu Day 21 Highlight: Forever Home!

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Dottie, Candy and Flower Freeze Have a Forever Home

Candy is oblivious that she was just adoptedI have known for a week that Delores and I would be discussing something very important today: adoption. She brought over the paperwork for me to sign after the visit to the vet.

Although it was a very momentous occasion to me, and the shih tzus — ! — things were a little too hectic at the house when I signed the papers to be able to pause and celebrate the moment.

Shiloh Explores While Candy and Flower Bathe

Dottie would be happy to know she has found a forever homeFirst, when we got home, we let Shiloh out of the kennel, and she started roaming around the house. While she explored, Delores and I took Candy and Flower into the kitchen to give them a bath, blocking their exit with a baby gate. I couldn’t catch Flower right away, so we bathed Candy first. She was nervous, but she, like Dottie, she did fine. I was surprised that Flower did too. Both were very docile while wrapped in the towel for drying.

As soon as I let Candy go, she took the first opportunity to go and roll in the dirt in the garden.

Did I hear someone say I've been adopted?Although Dottie and Candy mainly acted as if Shiloh wasn’t there, Flower looked at the intrusion differently. I was concerned when it looked fisticuffs was inevitable, but Delores thought they were just playing. I’m still not sure about that.

In the meantime, Peek-a-boo found a way to get up on the table, and decided to lounge there. Miss Muffett made herself at home on the couch. With so many canines in the house, I feebly asked her to get down, but then gave up.

Adoption Day

When Delores asked if I was ready to sign the papers, transferring the shih tzus from BFF Rescue to us, I realized that I was. It was a big step — a lot bigger than being foster parents — but it was a step I was ready to take. I love these little ewok princesses!

As I looked over the paperwork she had brought with her, I noted their names: Dottie Rose Ann, sired by Ringo Boy Stein, and the dam, Kiyanne Rose Stein, on 9/17/2005; Frosty Iris Candy, also sired by Ringo Boy Stein, with dam Saki Grace Stein, on 4/30/2009; and Golden Flower, sired by Ringo Boy Stein (busy, busy boy!) and dam Sasa Nicole Stein.

I was happy! I was now the Forever Mom of three precious, although slightly dysfunctional, little girls!

Shih Tzu Day 21: A Temporary Dog Guest

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A Dog Named Shiloh Visits the Shih Tzu Sisters

When we first arrived at the veterinary clinic,  a small black and white dog named Shiloh came up to greet Delores. I asked who Shiloh belonged to. Delores told me a sad story, like so many sad pet stories.

We came back from the vet with an extra dog.

Shiloh had been the only dog of a family for many years. However, when a new dog entered the home, an incident between the two dogs and a bagel led to a tussle over the food and Shiloh accidentally biting a child. Shiloh’s people decided they didn’t want him anymore, and he ended up at the veterinary clinic.

Out of the goodness of her heart, Doctor Anna decided to look after Shiloh until they could find him a home. Shiloh hung out at the clinic, greeting people and pets when they came in. He had been hanging out there for about a month.

I also met a foster dog named Pumpkin. While we were waiting for Muffie to get a chip, I talked to the cocker spaniel’s foster mom in the lobby. She told me that she fostered Pumpkin through a local cocker spaniel rescue. She had fostered 64 dogs in the last two years — !! — even fostering seven at one time. I asked her how she did it, without getting too attached to them. She told me that it happened the first few times, but it got easier, and she was always happy when they went to good homes.

As I talked to her, I thought of Shiloh. I didn’t know how Dottie, Flower and Candy would take it, but I thought maybe we could bring Shiloh home just until BFF Rescue found him a home. I mentioned it to Delores, and she was very happy with the idea.

My mother has a terrier that she adores. John has mentioned liking Boston terriers before, and this dog was a Boston terrier mixed with something else. I called John and asked him if Shiloh could come home with us — definitely just as a foster dog, until BFF Rescue found him a home. He hesitated, thinking I’d gone over the bend, but he said if I thought it was a good idea, he was fine with it.

Delores said if Shiloh didn’t get along with the shih tzus, or if there was any other problem, she’d take him back off our hands. Shiloh eagerly got in his kennel, and we loaded all five dogs into Delores’ SUV. I wasn’t sure if I was making a mistake, but we’d give it a try!

Shih Tzu Day 21: Bath and Vet Time

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Dottie gets a bath

I made the momentous decision this morning to give Dottie a bath. Don’t ask me why I waited this long.

Dottie wet after bath

shih tzu after a bath

The eldest shih tzu did okay with a little grooming when Barbara, her former foster mother, was here, but I was still concerned that she would be afraid of a bath.

I was going to bathe her in the bathtub, but John thought the sink might work better.

 

She did better than I thought she would, although the blow dryer scared her. She kept gasping for breath and blowing bubbles out of her nose, which she does when she is afraid, so I finally decided to let her air dry.

Flower & Candy Visit the Vet

Delores from BFF Rescue emailed me today that she would pick up me, Flower and Dottie at one o’clock to go to the vet. Oops. I had my days off. I thought vet day was tomorrow.

We talked last week about concerns I had regarding Flower and Candy that I wanted to discuss with the vet. Candy never seems to have the energy her sisters have, plus she seems to tire easily. When her sisters come inside, she likes to stay outside and lie on the paving stones or in the dirt in the garden. I’m always afraid she’ll get too much heat. When I see her, looking so quiet and a little frail, I think of the youngest sister on Little Women who became sick and died. I can’t help it!

In the morning, although she often runs up the stairs with Dottie and Flower now, and although she romps playfully with them, biting at my hand, she backs away before the other two and goes back to her safe area. Delores said that when she was rescued from the puppy mill, the veterinary clinic in Kansas noted that she had an umbilical hernia. I was afraid it was something that was bothering her. We have been seriously talking about the pet adoption process, so Delores wanted the vet to check the shih tzus while they were still foster dogs, so that Best Friends Forever Rescue would take care of any vet charges.

Another thing I wanted to ask the vet about was Flower’s left eye. It seems a little bigger and darker to me than her right eye, and sometimes when I look at her, it has a “glass eye” look. It’s fine if it’s cosmetic — she is such a cutie, with those Maybelline lashes — but I want to ask the vet if it is anything serious.

shih tzu waiting for adoption

Delores brought the shih tzus some canine visitors: Peekaboo, the Pekingese I had met at Barbara’s while visiting the girls, and a poodle named Miss Muffet, who was going to get a chip implanted by the vet. They were wearing very cute “Adopt Me” harnesses for their vet visit. They wandered in and made themselves at home instantly. Peekaboo quickly figured out how to get up on the dining room table, climbing onto a chair that was pushed out and then jumping onto the table, where she promptly lay down. Miss Muffet started to follow her lead, but I was afraid our little ewoks would get an idea, so I got them down and pushed in the chair.

Peekaboo, a Pekingese, wearing her adopt me harness

Flower and Candy rode in a kennel on the way to the vet, Clear Creek Animal Hospital. Flower got so frightened on the way to the clinic that she pooped in the kennel. Once we got to the vet, I talked to the shih tzus in their kennel in the lobby to try to soothe them. When we went into the assigned room, Miss Muffet and Peekaboo wandered around, examining everything, while my little shih tzu princesses huddled, frightened, in their kennel.

Candy was the first one out of the kennel when we opened the door, so Dr. Lindsey examined her first. Although Candy was frightened, she let the vet weigh her (11.5 pounds) and then examine her. The vet said that the hernia had healed over (I can’t remember the medical term!). She didn’t find anything else wrong with her, so her temperament must just be different than the other two shih tzus.

Flower did okay at first. She sat in the scale (13.5 pounds) and let Dr. Anna look at her eyes. The vet assured us that she didn’t see anything wrong, but that it was good to watch their eyes. However, when the vet touched Flower with the stethoscope, the shih tzu freaked out and tried to jump off the table. I caught her — barely. That was the end of Flower’s vet examination.