The Angelvest

A member of the BT rescue posted this website several weeks ago on the list. I looked at it and slowly realized what an absolutely beautiful thing it was!!! I quickly measured Tink and ordered one for her.

This vest will act like a cane for her. The halo will hit the wall or chair leg or whatever else instead of her little nose. It should increase her overall independence both inside and out as well as her confidence once she becomes accustomed to the halo and how it works for her.

Currently there is a 4 week wait. We ordered it 2 weeks ago, hopefully she'll have it before the end of October. Shari is the kind woman who makes these vests. She is very nice to work with and responds fairly quickly via email. These vests are so affordable too! If you or someone you know has a dog with a visual impairment, I strongly recommend at least considering an angelvest!

I'm quite excited about this for Tink. She does get around the house very well as a whole, but if she becomes turned around or is slightly confused, her poor noggin takes such a beating. This theoretically will help to elimate her head trauma on a daily basis.

We'll post and update about the vest when she receives it!

Tink Makes Me So Happy

Tink has been doing so well lately. Aside from her ulcer/gum issue, she has been wonderful. She is full of more energy, she looks good, is acting well, she doesn't seem to be as stiff or sore as often.

She's been cracking me up on walks lately. She walks well and keeps up (after she sniffs to her little heart's desire) but as soon as we get back to the apartment area, she boogies soo fast that it is everything we can do to keep up. It's like she goes into turbo overdrive or something. Sometimes she gets too far ahead that I can't control her and then I bring her back into a heel. But otherwise I get so much enjoyment from watching her fly down the walkway!

Tink and Penny relaxing on what used to be Larry's bed--
good thing it's not his anymore or someone would be paying
with their head for having *2* dogs on the bed
(ahem, that would be me!)

Tink relaxing on the couch--
so often all she wants is a soft blanket to nest on then sleep on--
really how could we deprive her of a soft blanket???

So yeah, that's my story lately. The weather has been absolutely gorgeous for walking and Tink and I have been making the most of every evening (and morning when she decides she will walk). There is something very soothing about walking in the cool evening air with my little one. Hopefully this weather will hang around for a while longer so we can enjoy our extended walks that much longer without freezing!

Things to Consider Before You Breed

Here is an interesting article on breeding your dog.
Reprinted with permission from the author.
Kelle Arvay is a show breeder of AKC Champion Pugs.

http://www.journeyw ithpugs.blogspot .com

Thing to Consider Before You Breed

Lately you've given some thought to breeding your dog. She is of course an ideal candidate in your opinion. After all, everyone who comes in contact with her thinks she's adorable and many family and friends have said they would love to have a puppy from her if you decide to breed her.

Perhaps you bought your female from a nice couple that live on a farm and breed a few litters a year. You found their ad in your local paper, called and visited the puppies. Granted the environment left a bit to be desired but the puppies were so cute. One in particular pulled on your heartstrings and you felt this overwhelming need to rescue her. So you brought your new bundle of joy home the same day, even though she wasn't yet 8 weeks old. The breeder told you she was eating on her own so she could go to her new home. You took her to the Vet for a check up and shots and the Vet informs you that she has a hernia, but it's not a bad one and if you like they can repair it when she is spayed. He also notices she has mites and sends you home with medication.

Fast forward to a year and a half old. You decided not to have her spayed because you are still debating on letting her have just one litter. Her hernia hasn't gotten any worse so you figure it really isn't that bad. You decide you'd like to breed her on her next season, so you start doing some research on possible stud dogs for her. You find some gorgeous looking stud dogs after browsing some show breeders websites. You call a few and they ask you questions about your female: What is her pedigree? You can't answer that because you don't have her pedigree. They ask what health tests you have had done on her? You answer none. They ask if she has been shown or is a finished champion? You answer no. They go on to ask a few more questions and by this time your thoroughly discouraged at the prospect of being able to use one of their stud dogs. Actually, you decide your rather offended by the questions... Sheesh, you just want to breed your dog!

So you then contact some non-show breeders about their studs. Granted their studs don't look nearly as nice as the show breeders studs and these breeders don't ask you any questions except for when did she come in season and then proceed to tell you they have a stud and what the stud fee is. So you make arrangements to take your female to the non-show breeder to be bred. You think you have the timing correct, but you aren't positive because you didn't do any progesterone tests as you feel they are too expensive. You get there and pay the $800 stud fee. The stud breeds your girl but she fights and screams, so you and the stud owner hold her so she can be bred. Once finished you put her back in the car to head home. She appears traumatized by the whole ordeal but you figure she'll get over it.

Two months later your female goes into labor around 8 o'clock at night. All appears to be normal until a couple hours go by with her straining and not producing a puppy. So you call the Vet only to find a recording telling you to call the emergency Vet office after hours. So you call them and tell them what's going on and that your female now has green fluid and some blood coming out of her. They tell you to get her to the clinic ASAP. Once there the Vet tells you that she needs a emergency C-section. At this point you are a nervous wreck and pace back and forth in the waiting room waiting for news.

Finally, one of the techs comes out to tell you that the first two puppies were born dead. They believe that there are 3 more and will come back out with more information when they are done. After another hour the Vet brings you into a room to deliver the devastating news that your female died on the operating table due to a ruptured uterus. He says they were able to save 3 of the 6 puppies. The third one born had a cleft palate and had to be put down. You are hysterical at this point. Not only did you lose your beloved female but half of her litter. The Vet tries to console you and get you calmed down. He then explains that you'll need to tube feed the puppies every two hours around the clock and shows you how to do it. It simply terrifies you to put a tube down their throat and pump puppy milk into their tummies. But you know it has to be done so you pay the $1,500 Vet bill, take the puppies and instructions and head home.

The following days are a living nightmare. Besides having virtually no sleep yourself, one puppy died after two days and your not sure why. Seems it got cold and wasn't thriving. Of the remaining two, you are pretty sure one of them has pneumonia as it sounds raspy and acts listless. You take them to the Vet who confirms the one has pneumonia and gives you some antibiotics to start him on. You pay the bill and head home. Another week later the raspy male died and his remaining only sibling also appears to have pneumonia. Back to the Vet you go and again he confirms the pneumonia and gives you more medication. You pay the bill and head home. You try everything you can to save that one remaining puppy but to no avail.

In retrospect, what seemed like a innocent endeavor to breed your female just one time in order to have puppies for friends and family has cost you greatly. Not only did you have a huge financial burden, but an emotional one as well. You lost your female and all of her puppies.

This story is purely fictional, but it happens so often and the scenario is very familiar in most cases. It's important to thoroughly research before you breed and breed for the right reasons. Your beloved pet wasn't meant to be bred, she was meant to be a pet. Don't risk her life by breeding her!! Unless you are willing to thoroughly education yourself on breeding, do all the required health testing, show your dog to determine if she is conformationally a good candidate, and willing to take the risk that things will and do go wrong, then it's best to leave the breeding to the professionals. Instead enjoy your female as a loving companion and have her spayed.

Kelle Arvay is a show breeder of AKC Champion Pugs.
http://www.journeyw ithpugs.blogspot .com

© Copyright 2008 ArvayPugs.com

Puppymill Awareness Day

Yesterday was Lancaster's Puppymill Awareness Day at the Intercourse Community Park. It was a PERFECT day for an outside event--clear blue skies, cool with a light breeze and the beautiful sun shining down on the day. Nick, Tink, and I went to help with the NEBTR table which Amy and Mike from the Rescue headed up. It was wonderful to finally meet them and Gracie and Amanda and Tom as well as their Starla and Rascal. A few other members stopped by including Tiff and Janice and some others who i can't recall by name.

Gracie and Rascal

Amy created paws forever kits that create a permanent clay impression of your pups foot. I believe they will be available on the NEBTR website at some point. Tink and I did some baking (ok, i baked and Tinker taste tested.) Peanutbutter treats, banana biscuits, and dehydrated sweet potatoes were on the list. We also had some cooling collars that another member, Victoria makes.
creating a paws forever print : )

There was quite the turnout to the event with lots of rescues present including the Frenchie rescue network, coast to coast daschunds, 2 boxers groups, bassets, a transport crew, the Lancaster Humane League, a Schiztu rescue among others. Whole foods provided a free organic and vegan lunch that was quite tasty.

Gracie giving love to Tinker

Part of the awareness day was a march through intercourse protesting and raising awareness about the cruelty and reality of puppymills. There are so many Amish run mills in the area. People need to become aware of the fact that if you buy a dog from a petstore you are supporting a mill and all the atrocities associated with a mill. There is legislation that is in the house and senate right now trying to change rules and regulations concerning the overall housing conditions of the dogs, but nothing is going to change unless people voice their concern and do something about it. Animals are not a crop and should not be treated as a product.

Anyways, it was a great day for networking, meeting some neat people, hearing amazing stories of great dogs, enjoying the beautiful weather, working to raise awareness of the mills, and taking steps to stop the ways mills currently function. I certainly learned a bit through the entire day and am very greatful that we were able to attend.

Tink would have slept all day on my lap if we let her! She was a great sleepy spokesdog for the Boston Terrier! She actually did fantastic yesterday (no surpise there.) I would also like to point out that I have an amazing husband. Not only did he come along, but he worked hard at the table selling the available items and he enjoyed it. Hopefully there will be a time when we won't need a day like yesterday, but until then we will plan on attending and helping out in any capacity we can.

Here is the link to the awareness day for those of you who would like more information.

Vet Visit

So Sunday afternoon Tink was given a star to chew on and she did so very happily and willingly. However, later that evening, i noticed she was sore on the left side of her mouth. It proceeded to become more sore monday and tuesday and we called to make a vet visit for thursday morning. It was so bad that Tink wouldn't let me near her mouth without putting up quite a fuss. And as you know, Tink doesn't show when she's in pain very often. So if she's squirming and causing a fuss it's gotta hurt something fierce! Well wouldn't you know, wednesday evening as I'm examining her mouth for the umteenth time, I see some gunk coming up from her enflamed gum line. I grab the squirty thing that we used when we had our wisdom teeth removed and managed to clear her gums with some warm salt water. Of course, 9pm the day before the morning appointment.

We take her in this morning just to be sure since we are heading up to MA first thing tomorrow morning. Dr. Haver takes a look at her with a smile on his face-she's wearing her little red riding hood outfit. He looks in her mouth as I explain what we did the night before and he says "yup, that would do it. Looks good now." He showed me that her gum line is receeding and will probably have a tendency to get stuff stuck in it (and consequently be quite painful.) Apparently the salt water or hydrogen peroxide is a good thing to help flush it out and seemed to be something that we can take care of at home (amazing!)

While we were there though, he took the time to look her over, check her spine and neck, and of course comment on how great she looks: "she could be a poster child for curves" he said. Just under 15lbs the same perfect weight she's been at for about 2 years now.

I also showed him 2 bumps on her belly and unfortunately they are mammary tumors---the same ones she had before. A purist would remove them immediately, but being practical, he told me to keep an eye on them like we did with the others and if they change to get her in right away. I asked about her heart murmur and he said it was a grade 2. I believe last year it was a grade 1, but a grade 2 still does not clinically affect her health in any way-- no fluid in the lungs, no coughing or anything like that.

It always feels good to hear the vet say how great Tink's coat looks and how great she looks overall both inside and out. I mean, we know she's wonderful, but it's always nice to hear the professional's opinion.

So while we cleared Tink's mouth up last night, it was still a very information and worthwhile visit and now we can head up to MA without any concerns!

Bath Time!

Penny spent monday night here with Nick, Tink and Me while her mommy and daddy had a night at a local B & B. Tink needed a bath, so I decided giving Penny one would be a good idea too. The brightest part was putting them in the tub together : )

Every things ok so far... no one's wet!

Oh please help us!

maybe a treat or two?

They were both so sad and pathetic looking when wet! Fortunately they both survived and are clear and happy girls! We loved having Penny around and I think Tink was searching for her after she left on tuesday!

Penny comes to town : )

Mom, Dad, Larry, Katie, & Penny came down to visit and spent Labor Day weekend with the Rowe family at the cabin! It was a wonderful time with everyone (and I forgot my camera!) We came back and Penny enjoyed Tink's toy box. Here are some pics of Penny enjoying a bully and an old marrow bone!