December 2015 - Helping PAWS Pet Rescue, Inc.

HPPR_February_2014_Newsletter.doc
HPPR Newsletter, December 2015 Volume 3, Issue 12
The Amazing Grace of a Collie .......... 1
Doing His Own Thing ......................... 2
Something to Remember ................... 3
Find Us on Facebook ......................... 4
‘Tis the Season to Goodshop ............ 4
Cattitude .............................................. 5
Remember Our Merchant Partners ... 5
Somewhere Over the Rainbow Bridge....... 6
So You Wanna Be in Pictures? .................. 7
Armani Figurine & Auction Results ........... 8
Wooftrax ....................................................... 9
Thank you Buechel Stone Corp! ................ 9
Our Wishlist ................................................. 9
Send Us Your Newsletter Submissions..... 9
The Amazing Grace of a Deaf Blue-Headed Merle Collie
By Mary Hickerson
In November 2007, a deaf blue-headed white double merle smooth Collie came
into a shelter in South Dakota, in need of a new home. Originally named Casper,
he was about 7 years old and typically, not much information about his history was
known or available. He was taken in by Minnesota Wisconsin Collie Rescue and
fostered in Watertown SD by a couple who have a soft spot for dogs with
disabilities such as deafness or blindness. Fortunately for Casper, his foster parents
soon became "foster flunkies" (not a pejorative term!) and decided to adopt him.
They renamed him Boromir, after a warrior character in The Lord of the Rings.
Double merles like Boromir come from breeding one blue merle to another and
may be accidents of breeding. Breeders typically avoid breeding merles to one
another because double merles with certain genetics are often born deaf or with
eye defects or both. They are usually white, like Boromir, with patches of blue
merle coloring because their genetic makeup prevents the typical merle color
from appearing and replaces it with white.
Boromir and Mom
Boromir has proven himself a real survivor. In 2009 he suffered a severe reaction to vaccinations and nearly died. He is
now about 14 years old, and he still plays with the younger dogs who live with him and his people. His human mom
says he is a wonderful, loving Collie who enjoys life to the fullest and remains undaunted by being unable to hear or to
see well.
This summer, Boromir was honored at The Gathering, an annual dog show and meeting of Collie lovers, owners, and
breeders, held at Sunnybank in Pompton Lakes NJ. The Gathering is a fund raiser for the Collie Health Foundation as
well as an AKC-sanctioned dog show and annual-get together. Sunnybank is the home and estate of Albert Payson
Terhune, who wrote many novels and stories about Collies and popularized the Collie breed. The estate is maintained
by the Terhune Sunnybank Memorial.
(Cont’d on page 2)
Helping PAWS Pet Rescue, Inc.
939 W. Bayfield St.
Washburn, WI 54891
715-373-2222
ourhelpingpaws.com
helpingpaws@ncis.net
1
Helping PAWS Pet Rescue December 2015
The Amazing Grace of a Deaf Blue-Headed Merle Collie (Cont’d from Page 1)
This year, Collie Rescue of Northern New Jersey sponsored a Rescue Parade as part of The
Gathering. Rescued Collies and their owners presented brief summaries of their stories,
"stories of situations that placed them in rescue, how their lives . . . changed since finding
[homes], and their accomplishments" (quote taken from The Lookout, Fall/Winter 2015,
published by Terhune Sunnybank Memorial). Dogs and people paraded to the sounds of
"Amazing Grace" played by a bagpiper. Each rescued dog received an award, a medal, and a
certificate. While Boromir and his people could not attend the 2015 Gathering, his story and
photo were presented during the event, and he received the medal he wears in the photo
accompanying this story.
Boromir and the other rescued dogs honored at The Gathering embody the spirit of the
dedicated rescue groups who devote time, money, and talent to finding new homes and new
lives for dogs in need.
Doing His Own Thing
By Debbie Franks
Reno lived his life on his own schedule and had his own way of doing
things. In our house, if you didn’t have a seat in the living room by
nine o’clock, you weren’t going to get one. Each of our six Collies
picked a spot to snooze. Some of them only stayed there until Rich
and I went to bed but, others were settled in for the night. Reno was one of the latter. Every night he made his way
over to “his” corner of the couch, stepped up to “his” spot and settled in for the night.
One particular night, we had a friend visiting for a few days. She was curled with a book on Mr. Reno’s corner of the
couch. At nine o’clock, like an alarm had gone off, Reno walked over to where our friend, Wendy, was sitting, and just
stood there staring at her. Finally, my friend asked me why my dog was just standing there staring at her. I smiled and
told her that she was sitting in “his” spot. Then I said: “Reno, ask Aunt Wendy if she could move over so you can go to
bed.” Wendy slid over and Reno quietly proceeded to step up into “his” spot, curled up in a tight ball and went to sleep
for the night. Doesn’t this almost sound like Sheldon in the “Big Bang Theory” claiming “That’s my spot!”? But Reno
passed away several years before that show aired.
Six o’clock was the dog’s dinner time. When I worked at home, it was not uncommon to be on a conference call at six.
But that made no difference to Reno. As I typed notes into my laptop, he would come over to my desk chair, sit down
and plant his paw firmly on my arm so that I could no longer type. There was no way I was ever going to forget to feed
him.
Another example of Reno’s timing was every Thursday around noontime. Thursdays were my late day at work and I
didn’t have to be in until 2 o’clock. Before I left for work, I would brush my teeth and then let the dogs out for a last run
before I left the house. When I was done brushing my teeth, I would rinse and spit. Every Thursday (and Thursdays
only), as soon as I spit, Reno would let go with his excited bark that told everyone it was time to go out and do their
business. Even though Reno is no longer with us, every time I brush my teeth I smile, think of him and remember how
silly and cute he was.
Helping PAWS Pet Rescue, Inc.
939 W. Bayfield St.
Washburn, WI 54891
715-373-2222
ourhelpingpaws.com
helpingpaws@ncis.net
2
Helping PAWS Pet Rescue December 2015
Something To Remember
By Cris Stetler, French Lake Equestrian, LLC, www.frenchlakeequestrian.com
It was Spring 2014 and a friend (Mahlon Bauman) contacted me regarding two
miniature horses that were in a rescue in Wisconsin that needed to move
them on to permanent homes. One was a solid mini and the other was a
Pinto. I said I would take the Miniature Pinto and foster him until we could
find him a permanent home.
With that, the Pinto miniature was dropped off at our farm on July 5, 2014.
He was a cute little guy and a little skittish. My teenage daughter loved him
and started to work with him. He was afraid of just about everything we take
for granted in a show barn but slowly, he became accustomed to his new life.
Naming was kind of a group, barn effort, led by my daughter. We named him “FLE Something To Remember” or Remmi
for short. And while he is short, I call him our XL Mini because he is actually a small pony, too big for Miniature
registration.
In the fall of 2014, we had someone interested in Remmi, which meant he would leave our
barn. When I told my daughter the good news, well, let’s just say it didn’t go over very well.
She had fallen in love with him and was convinced we had to keep him. I tried several times
to talk her into letting him go, but to no avail. Remmi is still with us.
Over the winter his training began in earnest and he was trained in
halter and started driving. Driving turned out to be a little scary for
him but my daughter soon discovered that Remmi liked jumping and
even the trail-in-hand (pictured at left). The little horse who was
afraid of most everything loved those classes with a whole bunch of
scary things in the ring.
We hauled him to all of our Minnesota Pinto shows in 2014 where he had a lot of “firsts” and
did a great job at being a show horse. After a fun season of showing a “little dude”, he
accomplished several impressive awards.
He took home the following titles from the Minnesota Pinto Horse Association in 2014:
Reserve High Point Youth Pony/Mini
4th Open Overall High Pony
English Showmanship
Individual Class awards:
5th High Point Youth Pony Halter
3rd High Point Open Pony Halter
5th High Point Open Pony Hunter in Hand
4th High Point Youth Pony/Mini Jumping
3rd High Point Open Pony/Mini Trail In Hand
2nd High Point Youth Pony/Mini Trail In Hand
3rd High Point Youth Pony/Mini English Showmanship
2nd High Point Youth Pony/Mini Western Showmanship
Remmi in Halter Competition
Helping PAWS Pet Rescue, Inc.
939 W. Bayfield St.
Washburn, WI 54891
715-373-2222
ourhelpingpaws.com
helpingpaws@ncis.net
3
(Cont’d on page 4
Helping PAWS Pet Rescue December 2015
Something To Remember (Cont’d from Page 3)
Remmi has a cute, fancy little trot and he’ll be working on driving over the winter so he
can strut his stuff in the show ring next summer.
For now, Remmi spends his days in a paddock with his miniature buddy, Lucky and my
daughter’s very large National Show Horse, Jace. They are a little, well-loved menagerie.
Left: Remmi with Mini Lucky
Right: Remmi with his Halter Ribbons
Find Us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Helping-PAWS-Pet-Rescue-Inc/136862926387348
'Tis The Season...To Shop 'Til You Drop
When doing your holiday shopping online, remember to shop through Goodshop and select Helping PAWS as your
charity of choice. Thousands of retailers (including Amazon, Target, Apple, Macys and more) will be posting their best
coupons and deals on GoodShop and a percentage of virtually every purchase will be donated to our cause at no
additional cost! If you don't already have the Goodshop add-on installed on your computer, go to
http://www.goodsearch.com/goodto-go/plugin and download the Goodshop Browser Add-on. This is a non-intrusive
way to learn if your purchase will benefit the rescue. When you shop at an online store, you can also view the available
coupons, if any, for that merchant, and be sure that while you are Helping PAWS, you are also helping yourself! A
banner, such as the one pictured here will be displayed at the top of your browser window, showing you which charity
you are supporting, how much your purchase will benefit the rescue, and if there are coupons to benefit you. Make
sure you select Helping PAWS as your rescue to support.
What a great way to get donation reminders AND coupon alerts whenever you shop online.
Helping PAWS Pet Rescue, Inc.
939 W. Bayfield St.
Washburn, WI 54891
715-373-2222
ourhelpingpaws.com
helpingpaws@ncis.net
4
Helping PAWS Pet Rescue December 2015
Cattitude
Marley (FKA Jade) and Nicky are having a
Fluffy Tail Contest! We could call it “A Tail
of Two Kitties” or “A Tale of Two Tails”.
Rocky, FKA Snapdragon, is the
brother of Twiga (right) and
Daffodil (left) who is still available
(complete with her adorable, curly
tail that is just FULL of cattitude!)
Twiga, FKA Sunflower, has
found the purrrfect spot to
take his afternoon nap!
Remember Our Merchant Partners While You Shop
This Holiday Season...
With the Black Friday weekend approaching, you have an opportunity
to increase your AmazonSmile donations. Remember to shop at
http://smile.amazon.com/ch/20-4390081. Only purchases made at
smile.amazon.com will result in donations.
Daffodil, above, demands the right to join
the TAIL competition! She is still available,
and is the littermate of Twiga & Rocky.
Many other merchants who partner with us can be found on our
Merchant Partners page:
http://www.ourhelpingpaws.com/partners.html. These include
Walmart, Petsmart, US Bones, Helping Udders, and a variety of other human and pet gift outlets. Also, don’t forget to
shop at our online Yankee Candle store to find that special gift:
https://www.yankeecandlefundraising.com/scripts/ycfwcgi.exe?_V4=Process&_Func=enterWebsiteGroupEmail&frComp=ycf&cusId=990074736
Helping PAWS Pet Rescue, Inc.
939 W. Bayfield St.
Washburn, WI 54891
715-373-2222
ourhelpingpaws.com
helpingpaws@ncis.net
5
Helping PAWS Pet Rescue December 2015
Somewhere Over the Rainbow Bridge: Farewell Sweet Lily
By Judy McCalla
Female silver Persians are widely known as the Divas of the cat world, and if
knowing what you want when you want it makes one a Diva, then that’s what Lily
was. She was also known around our house as the Princess, a name that she also
embraced.
She came to us as a kitten with her littermate, Hastings. My husband didn’t want
two cats, but I finally talked him into it by saying that having a buddy, particularly
one that you have grown up with, would make for a happier, healthier kitty.
Since I am considered the cat expert in our house, I finally prevailed, and we got
two kittens: Lily and her brother. For most of the next year, my cat expertise
went unchallenged, as Lily and Hastings slept together, played together, ate
together, and generally lived in filial harmony.
Lily, left, with brother Hastings
At about one year things changed and I will never know why. Whenever Hastings wasn’t sleeping or eating, his time
was spent stalking, biting and making life miserable for his sibling. Lily’s life changed forever and my reputation as the
“cat whisperer” was gone for good. Anytime we left the house we had to make sure that the cats were locked in
separate rooms, and this situation continued for sixteen years. Even when we were home to referee, it was a constant
challenge to make sure that Hastings kept his distance.
In addition to her problems with her brother, Lily had a lifetime of recurrent health problems that began fairly early in
life. At age seven she developed hypercalcemia, a condition that should have taken her life within a year, but with an
experimental treatment from her vet and an indomitable spirit, she lived another nine years. She was a wisp of a girl,
never weighing more than five and a half pounds and eventually falling to only four. She battled eye infections,
urinary tract infections and upper respiratory infections her whole life, but she always fought back, refusing to give in
to anything as trivial as illness. She didn’t look it, but she was one tough little cookie.
At age 16 she finally encountered an illness that she couldn’t defeat. She developed weakness in her back legs that
may have been caused by a stroke-like event. She had trouble jumping onto beds or chairs, so her staff (that would be
me) either lifted her or set up
small steps that she could
navigate. Her vet couldn’t find
the cause of this weakness and
said that her heart and kidneys
continued to be strong. He
thought perhaps she would beat
back this illness the way she had
all of the others, but on October
15th, she began to go downhill
very quickly and by late that
night she couldn’t stand at all.
She let me hold her, closed her
eyes and just went to sleep. She
decided this was what she
wanted and when she wanted it.
As always, she called the shots.
Goodbye my little Diva;
6
goodbye my Princess.
Helping PAWS Pet Rescue December 2015
So You Wanna Be In Pictures?
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Want to capture that Kodak moment of your cat or dog, AND support Helping PAWS in the process?
Have you been amazed by the pictures taken by our incredible Volunteer Photographer, Ursula?
Then come to the Helping PAWS Pet Rescue Holiday Photo Shoot!
Cost: $10 per pet
You will receive up to 3 digital files to make your own prints
4x6” prints can also be purchased for $1 each
When: Sunday Dec. 6th and Wednesday Dec. 9th
Time: 11 am to 3 pm
Call 715-373-2222 to book a time slot (about 15 minutes per pet)
Walk-ins will be served as time allows
All proceeds benefit Helping PAWS Pet Rescue
Where: 939 W. Bayfield St., Washburn, WI
Shown here are a few of the holiday pictures Ursula took of in 2014
Helping PAWS Pet Rescue, Inc.
939 W. Bayfield St.
Washburn, WI 54891
715-373-2222
ourhelpingpaws.com
helpingpaws@ncis.net
7
Helping PAWS Pet Rescue December 2015
The Helping PAWS Auction...
We made $723 from our online auction, so many thanks to all who participated! There is still one item that is
available. It is the Armani
collectible figurine pictured here.
Photos don’t begin to do justice
to this glorious, graceful
Giuseppe Armani Figurine,
produced by the Florence
Sculture d’Arte.
Titled simply “Mare and Foal”
this edition is numbered # 0169S.
The website the
collectionshop.com has it valued
at $525.
The piece is of medium size, with
a base that measures 7 ¾” X 6 ¼”.
It comes in the original box with
original molded packing.
We do accept Paypal and
shipping / insurance on this item
will be quoted by zip code.
Call or email us if you wish to
make an offer on this item. It
would make an unforgettable
gift for any animal or horse
lover.
Call 715-373-2222 or email
helpingpaws@ncis.net to make
an offer on this lovely
collector’s item.
Helping PAWS Pet Rescue, Inc.
939 W. Bayfield St.
Washburn, WI 54891
715-373-2222
ourhelpingpaws.com
helpingpaws@ncis.net
8
Helping PAWS Pet Rescue December 2015
Have YOU Programmed Your Cell Phone Yet? Make Money for HPPR Every Time You
Walk Your Dog or Just Go For A Walk!
Go to http://www.wooftrax.com/get-the-app/ to get the app. The Wooftrax app can be
installed on both Android and iPhone devices, and as long as your phone is on while you
walk with it, it will track your mileage and support our rescue with periodic payments. Be
sure to select Helping Paws Pet Rescue, Inc in Washburn, WI as your supported rescue.
After you download the app onto your smartphone, take the phone with you when you walk
your pet(s) or simply when you go for a walk. Simply press the “Start Walking for …”
button and the app will keep track of your walk. When your walk is stopped it is credited to your selected shelter or
rescue. The more people walking for that organization, the more we earn, so please spread the word.
Thank you Buechel Stone Corp!
Once again Buechel Stone Corp has generously donated to Helping PAWS, this time during their First Take a Step, Give
a Hand Challenge! Three participants selected our cause as their cause and earned “steps” during the month of
August. Thank you again to these very generous donors!
http://www.buechelstone.com
Our Wishlist
Pet Updates, Newsletter Submissions, and Photos Welcome!
Do you have a pet update, pet-related article you have written, or some other item of interest that should be included
in a future Newsletter? (It does NOT have to be a pet adopted through Helping PAWS!) If so, please send your
submissions to webmaster@ourhelpingpaws.com. Please note that we reserve the right to edit as needed. Pictures to
accompany your submission are also very welcome. This is a chance for you and/or your pets to be "published"! We
would be particularly interested in hearing from some of those Veterans out there who have taken advantage of our
Free Cats for Vets program (which will be ending shortly until such time as our cat inventory increases).
Helping PAWS Pet Rescue, Inc.
939 W. Bayfield St.
Washburn, WI 54891
715-373-2222
ourhelpingpaws.com
helpingpaws@ncis.net
9