Puppy Days & Puppy Nights

     Now that the Sanctuary is open, we decided to modify one run and make it our "Puppy Run." Work had begun when we came across a post: 6 puppies, four weeks old, urgent, need out of boarding ASAP! Well, we're not quite ready, and we weren't expecting such young puppies, but... OK, we'll do this!

     Too young to be outdoors, even with a heated dog house, we quickly set up a temporary puppy pen in Hissy House. Hissy House, right now, offers shelter from the elements, but is not insulated, and the temperature inside is not much warmer than outside. But, along with their mom, 6 puppies came to Southern Friends. With help from several, invaluable volunteers, we made it work.

     Then, Frisky, the momma, decided she was ready to wean and kept getting out of the pen. Then, extreme cold and inclement weather visited the South. No choice but to go ahead and separate mom and pups and move pups to my house. So, at a little over five weeks old, 6 puppies came to the Murphys.

     This is my first experience with multiple, very young puppies. And wow! So fun, so interesting, so cute, and SO much work! Southern Friends has taken in puppies before, but normally they come in ones, or twos, and a bit older than four weeks old! I've nursed a very young, very sick little puppy before, but it was only ONE! This is totally different! Mainly the poop... lots of poop!

     I'll spare you the poop details, and just talk about the fun stuff. Watching these little guys grow and change, in just one week, is fascinating! Their personalities are already emerging, and their dynamics as a group is mesmerizing.

     Lorien, the only fuzzy furred baby out of the six, is about as cute as cute can be. Her little body is short and compact, but she's surprising light when you pick her up. She's always the first to come running, looks right at you, and her body language says, "Me, me, me! Pick me up!"

     Pippin, the only solid white one out of the bunch, is also friendly. He's usually the second one out. But his demeanor is calm and gentle. He walks up, not demanding like Lorien, but more just expecting. He's so cute he just knows you'll pick him up!

     Gracie & Gertie, the two brown pups, are such little ladies. Both have gorgeous eyes, not sure what color they are going to be, but they're definitely not brown. Gertie is more solid brown with just a little white, and Gracie has white on her nose. They are both a little more serious than the rest, the first ones to look you directly in the eyes. Do I see some wisdom staring back? And their play is much calmer than the others.

     Kylie! Oh my goodness! We thought she was going to be a true terror! She started out as the bossiest, the meanest, the biggest trouble maker! This went on for the first several days she was with us. She was constantly making the other puppies cry, and wouldn't stop, even when they were squealing at the top of their lungs.

     Then, one day I heard a racket and went to see what was going on. Four pups had Kylie down. All four were standing over her, not hurting her, but they were definitely having a serious talk with their bossy sister! Kylie was on her back, not moving a muscle. How interesting! Kylie has been a different little girl ever since! She stays out of trouble and she has become more the observer. She still plays with everyone, but she minds her manners, and she's the one you'll catch studying you, studying the others, studying her surroundings... I think we have a very intelligent one with Kylie.

     And now, for the last, but definitely not least! Rudy! Rudy is now the largest of the six. He weighs, by a long shot, quite a bit more than his siblings. Pick them all up and you'll immediately notice the difference in his solid little body. The biggest, but also the sweetest, the gentlest, the cuddliest... He sometimes acts lost. He'll just stand in the middle of the pen whining. I've learned to just pick him up and give him a little reassurance and he stops. He sleeps the most and you'll never see him sleeping alone. He's always cuddled up to a sibling or two.

     At first, I worried that something might be wrong with Rudy. I watched him carefully. He eats well, plays well, fur and skin looks healthy, hears and sees well, no problem with bodily functions... I'm still watching him carefully, but I think he's just a little gentle giant. He enjoys being held and cuddled. What a snug bug! I think it'll be a lucky family that gets this little love.

     So even though these pups are a lot of stinky, messy work, I'm enjoying them immensely! What a privilege to watch them grow and change, and to bond with their sweet little personalities at such a young age!

     Frisky, you did well!

Tara

"They are so hopeful" four little, but very powerful, words

     Wow! What a weekend. Our Valentine's Day adoption event was so fun! Wonderful volunteers, awesome adoptable pets, and surprise visits from past adopters! It was so heartwarming to see several of our former pets who found loving, furever homes.

     There is a thing called, "Rescue Burnout." And anyone having been in rescue for very long understands this. It's not that you don't love what you do, or that you don't care anymore. Instead, it's from the frustration of having to turn down animals in need every single day. It's the overwhelming sadness of hearing, seeing and experiencing, every single day, the hurt and sadness of animal neglect and abuse. It's the loving, and the letting go. It's draining, physically, mentally and emotionally.

     Then we have a day like yesterday when we see our former pups so happy, healthy and loved! We experience the support of awesome volunteers. We see how our hard work has come together to pull off a fun, successful event.

      And this weekend was even sweeter! One of our former adopters brought their pup, Copper, in for a visit and a Valentine picture. While there, they saw and fell in love with Boomer, and decided to make him a part of their family!

     So if you've followed my blog, or my FB posts, you'll know how attached I've become to Boomer. This little boy stole my heart from the first time I saw him in the Shelter. He's lived in my home and become a part of my family... And now he's gone... So bittersweet, and draining.

     And on this very same day, when I'm feeling every inch of that thing called, "Rescue Burnout," this pops up on our FB page, "Nikki Lane Parrish 5 star They are so hopeful and their heart is definitely in the right place!"

      Wow! These four little words, "They are so hopeful." Thank you Nikki Lane Parrish! For reminding me why I am in animal rescue. It's because we (our awesome team of caring people) ARE so hopeful! We're doing everything we physically, mentally and emotionally can to make this world a better place for animals. And it's groups like ours, all over the world, that ARE making a difference.

     So, to pay it forward, and to borrow Nikki's words... I want to thank our Board, our volunteers, our fosters, our adopters, and our supporters! "YOU are so hopeful, and your heart is definitely in the right place!"

     And now, to go take care of our newest pups: Six little babies. Staying at my house until this cold weather breaks. Feed, water, pick up poop, love on babies, pick up poop, feed, love on babies, pick up more poop. Oh, it's time to feed again! But first... love!
 
     Nite nite Boomer. I love you little boy!
     Tara

Copper



Lizzy



Allie, formerly Brycie

Puppies!

   What a beautiful, fun and exciting day at the Sanctuary! Hoping for more days like this in February... daffodils coming up, sunshine, warm temperatures!

   Boomer and Ellie have been spending some time at the Sanctuary during the day, and then coming home with me at night. I like to take my fosters for day visits just to get them used to the sights and sounds, before leaving them for overnight. So tonight is their big night, staying over for the first time. I know I will get little sleep. I always feel like I've abandoned them, even though I'll see them first thing in the morning!

   I have gotten so attached to little (getting bigger) Boomer. On the way over this morning, he jumped into my lap (driving) and I kissed his sweet head. Now I'm all teary just thinking about that moment caught in time. I really do love this little guy, and I hope only for the best home for him.

   My husband said, "It sure is quiet here tonight." I said, "I know, it's nice huh. But I'm missing my little Boom Boom." He said, "I was just thinking the same thing." Bless my husband. He not only puts up with all that goes along with being in Animal Rescue and fostering, but he also supports me in doing this. He even called from work the morning of Ellie's vet appointment, just to make sure she was OK. Love my hubby!

   So, today... Beautiful weather, volunteers, happy dogs playing and walking, and don't forget the treats!

   And... Puppies! Yes, our adorable 4-wk-old puppies, along with their mom, arrived today. It will be so fun to watch them grow these next few weeks.

   Come watch them grow with us!

Tara

   Here's a sneak preview!

Why Reduced Fee Adoptions

   Back in June of last year, three of our board members, and three volunteers travelled to Kanab, Utah, to visit Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Best Friends is world renowned, perhaps you've seen the "Dog Town" series on National Geographic.

   I first saw this series in 2009. I was so impressed with what they were doing, and with the scenery, that I planned my next vacation around a visit to this small western town. It was well worth it! I spent two days volunteering at the Sanctuary and two days, before and after, visiting Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon.

   Since then, I have made four more trips to Best Friends, including the one in June of last year. One trip was with Terri Esther, where we attended a week long workshop on "How to Start Your Own Sanctuary." The other two visits were to attend the first two parts of a three-part dog training program. I go back this Fall to attend the third part. Can't wait!

   Terri and I learned so much at the workshop, and Best Friends has been phenomenal in steering us in all the right directions with our own Sanctuary. One of the things they recommend is having reduced fee adoption events for select pets. Many have asked us, "Why reduced fees?"

   I can say right off, offering reduced fees on select pets is not our way of trying to unload a less desirable pet! In most cases, it is the opposite! Like our upcoming special reduced fees for Valentine's Day. We are promoting our beloved Beagles in this promotion. And when I say beloved, I mean, they are our dearest pups! Ike and Annie are a senior, bonded pair, and they have been with us since we first opened the doors of the Sanctuary. Spend two minutes, or less, with these two, and you can't help but smile! Their love for each other is contagious, and they are the sweetest, gentlest, most adorable couple you can imagine.

   So why reduced fees? Studies show that the long term care and love of adopted pets is not affected by the amount of the adoption fee. Reduced fees draw attention to a pet, who might otherwise be overlooked, because of its age, breed, special needs, or even because of its color (black dogs and cats are continuously overlooked in Shelters and Rescues).

   Best Friends, and Southern Friends, offer these reduced fees to highlight these special pets.

   So this month, we'd like for you to take a second look at these wonderful pets:

      All cats over 6 months of age, $10 adoption fee, Feb. 13-16 only
      Ike & Annie, our beloved Beagles, $10 adoption fee, Feb. 13-16 only
      Trail, the misunderstood breed of Staffordshire Terrier, $10 adoption fee, Feb. 13-16 only
      And Charlie, our little feral pup who has come so far, $10 adoption fee, Feb. 13-16 only

   These, and several of our other adoptable pets, will be at Hollywood Feed, Olive Branch, Feb. 14th, 10am-1pm, for a special Valentine's Day Adoption Event. Stop by and say hi, and bring your pet for a Valentine's Picture!

   Be a part of these special pets' Rescue Story. Rescue - Foster - Adopt!

Tara