Talking Dogs at For Love of a Dog: #mutt

Showing posts with label #mutt. Show all posts

Monday, February 1, 2016

Adopt Ebony a #Lab Mix #BlackDog @WaysideWaifs in #KCMO

This adorable girl is Ebony. She's a 1 year Labrador Retriever mix. Ebony still has lots of puppy energy and is looking for a best friend who can work with her obedience training.

Here's Ebony's adoption message:

Hey, I'm Ebony! I was transferred to Wayside Waifs when my last shelter ran out of space for me. It's okay, though! I've been having so much fun with my fellow Waifs, and I know my family will be here for me any day now.

I'll do great in a home with children or other furry friends, but I'd like to meet them before heading home to get an idea of how we all get along. I'm a 47-pound ball of energy, so staying active is important! I'll do best in an active home where I'll get plenty of play time. I love to get out on walks and explore the world, but I'll benefit from using a harness so I can learn to stick right by your side instead of pulling ahead.

I'll need some basic obedience training so I can learn exactly what you expect from me, but I'll learn the ropes in no time! I already know the command Sit, and I'm eager to learn even more, especially when I'm motivated by praise or yummy treats!

I'm a goofy, playful girl looking for a family to give all my love to. If you think that might be you, please stop by and say hi!

For more information about Ebony,

contact Wayside Waifs at 816-761-8151.

Ebony's adoption ID number is 30544224.

Wayside Waifs is Kansas City’s largest no-kill animal shelter. They are an independent, 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit humane society and animal welfare organization established in 1944. Wayside Waifs is committed to finding homes for all adoptable pets. Wayside is the largest pet adoption center in Kansas City, placing over 5,400 animals each year in loving forever homes. Wayside does not euthanize adoptable animals, and there are no time limits for animals in our care. Only animals suffering from significant medical issues or those that pose a danger are humanely euthanized. Wayside Waifs is proud to be a part of Kansas City's no-kill community.

Talking Dogs blog is participating in the Tuesday's Tails blog hop hosted by Dogs N Pawz and Talking Dogs. This is the blog hop that features shelter pets. Find a pet at your local animal shelter or rescue and join us!

Tuesday's Tails blog hop participants can post any day of the week and link up with a fresh blog hop linky every Tuesday. Though targeted at adoptable pets, we also welcome blog posts regarding pet adoption, rescue organizations and adoption events. Fetch the Tuesday's Tails Facebook page and give us a like and if you're participating in the blog hop, post your featured pets! Please help spread the word about these beautiful animals via social media and let's find them forever homes!

Sunday, January 3, 2016

Say Yes to These Ears and Adopt Starr a #Pitbull Mix Dog @WaysideWaifs in #KCMO

She had me at the ears. Seriously. I am seriously in love with this girl's ears! Starr is a pitbull mixed breed dog who is looking for a forever home.

Starr's 4 years old and about 50 pounds of love. She is a bit picky about who she spends time with (I can't blame her since I am, too), so she's really like to be the solo queen of her new castle. She's treat motivated and eager to learn some basic obedience.

Here's Starr's adoption message:

Hey there, I'm Starr! I'm a 52-pound girl with so much love to give. I was transferred here when my last shelter ran out of space for me. I don't mind because I know I've been given the best chance at finding my new family! I've had so much fun as a Waif and I know I'll have even more fun in my fur-ever home. I'm recommended to go to a home with children over the age of 5 because I can be picky about who I feel comfortable around. For the same reason I may do best as the queen of my castle instead of sharing a home with other furry friends.

Exercise is important in any dog's life so I'd love a home where I'll get plenty of it. I like to explore the world on walks but all the new sites and sounds easily excite me so I'll benefit from using a harness to teach me not to pull ahead. I'll need some basic obedience in my new home but I'm a smart girl and I know I'll catch on quick! I already know the command "come" and I'm eager to learn even more from you, especially when yummy treats are involved. Whether we're getting active or lounging around the house I'll be happy as long as I'm by your side. If you're looking for a girl like me to give lots of love and affection, please come meet me soon at Wayside Waifs! Tail wags for stopping by.

For more information about Starr,

contact Wayside Waifs at 816-761-8151.

Starr's adoption ID number is 30150039.

Monday, August 24, 2015

Adopt Woofie an #AustralianCattleDog Mix @WaysideWaifs in #KCMO

This handsome fellow is Woofie. Don't you just love that sweet face and name? Woofie is a 5 year old Australian Cattle Dog / Shepherd mix.

Woofie is crate trained, knows sit and come commands. He had some hard time on the streets and tends to be fearful of other dogs. He's hoping for a forever home with no small children or cats.

Here's Woofie's adoption message:

I am an Australian Cattle Dog/Shepherd mix male dog of 41 lbs. I am medium in size and about 5 yrs. old. You will love my fur because it is dense and very fluffy and soft!

I have been without a home for a while and found on the street by a caring person that took me in. They hoped they could find my owner by themselves but that didn't come to be. This person wanted to add me to their family but they had too many other dogs already. I became crate trained and feel I am at least partially house trained. Being the smart dog I am commands of "sit", and "come" were easy for me to learn. Food really gets my attention for training purposes. My breed back ground and current behavior suggests I am a high energy dog and need attention and activity to keep me happy. So if you are an active outdoor person I would love to me you! My capacity for learning is limitless just give me a chance.

I have been tested with other dogs here at the shelter and I find that it is over whelming. I tend to freeze up from fear and will growl to protect myself. Life on the street is unpredictable and so I carry that memory with me. I know that forever home is just around the corner! The new family needs to give me a little tenderness and go slow for me to gain confidence in myself and in them. When approaching me if I seem very nervous it is suggested that you make yourself look smaller by kneeling down to the ground or sitting. Humans are so tall! I have the great heritage of very intelligent dog bloodlines and would make an excellent companion.

To add to my back ground it is known that I have been around older children and did fine but I am not recommended for children under 5 years. No cats please or other small furry animals. Please bring your family and other dogs to meet me if you want to add me to your family so we can meet on neutral territory and become friends first.

Your friend, Woofie

Contact Wayside Waifs for more information about Woofie at 816-761-8151. Woofie's animal ID number is 28202926

Wayside Waifs is Kansas City’s largest no-kill animal shelter. They are an independent, 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit humane society and animal welfare organization established in 1944. Wayside Waifs is committed to finding homes for all adoptable pets. Wayside is the largest pet adoption center in Kansas City, placing over 5,400 animals each year in loving forever homes. Wayside does not euthanize adoptable animals, and there are no time limits for animals in our care. Only animals suffering from significant medical issues or thnose that pose a danger are humanely euthanized. Wayside Waifs is proud to be a part of Kansas City's no-kill community.

Talking Dogs blog is participating in the Tuesday's Tails blog hop hosted by Dogs N Pawz and Talking Dogs. This is the blog hop that features shelter pets. Find a pet at your local animal shelter or rescue and join us!

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

My Tripawd Dog | #GiveCancerthePaw

Not a day goes by that I don't run my hands all over my dogs' bodies.

I'm not just "petting" them and, though I'm sure they think I'm just massaging them, it's more than that.

It's a learned habit. It is being vigilant. And it is a lesson I learned long ago with my dog, Benji.

This a story without a lot of medical jargon and details. It's just story about a dog with cancer. It happened before I had internet access and before the explosion of traditional and non-traditional medical advances.

Benji, aka Ben, Bennie, Bennie Ennie Ennie, Benopolis, was my first on-my-own dog. While in college I accompanied some friends to the local animal shelter. I was going along because I adored dogs. My friends went with the intention to adopt one.

There I encountered a 4 month old puppy who was scheduled for euthanasia. At the "midnight hour," I raced back to the shelter and adopted him. I had no business with a pup at that time in my life.

However, he was now mine and I was his. We were a team of two. We were halves that made a whole.

He was my dancing dog. He was my first heart dog.

My dancing dog the morning of his amputation surgery.

Benji was 3 years old when I noticed the strange little growth in his "armpit."

We were living a new city and I thought I'd found a good vet, thanks to co-worker recommendations. When I found the growth, I made a vet appointment. After examining Benji, the vet washed his hands and told me that since my dog was not a purebred, it was no big deal.   It could be "something," but probably wasn't and since my dog was a mutt...   He shrugged his shoulders and figuratively washed his hands of me.

I was young. I was speechless. And devastated. In tears I drove away.

Two days later I had an appointment with another vet, thanks to a friend's recommendation. This vet, Dr. H, was a dog lover. He examined Benji and decreed that the growth was, indeed, probably nothing, but should come off. It was in an awkward place where just by virtue of walking, it would be irritated. Surgery was scheduled. Growth removed and biopsied.   Benign.

When Benji was 8 years old he had another strange growth, but this time it was on a back foot. Back to the vet.

Same song; second verse. Surgery, biopsy, benign.

Ben on the morning of his amputation surgery.

Benji was 9 when the growth came back. Same location. Dr. H warned me that the recurrence was probably not good news.

Third verse: Surgery, biopsy, malignant Mast cell tumor.

I was overwhelmed with fear and felt helpless.

Options were discussed and the case for amputation was made to me by both Dr. H and his partner, Dr. C. Just the thought of amputation horrified me and that horror hung around me like a dark cloud until Benji taught me different.

Benji, my Doberman / Shepherd Mutt

Benji came through the surgery with flying colors. In fact, the vet clinic staff just couldn't keep him down. He was up and hopping around right away. While they marveled, Dr. H told me he'd never seen a dog with such life force and will to live.

Post surgery

Dr. H repeated that to me many times over the next few years. Because the odds were that we'd only bought "a little" extra time. Both vets warned me of the signs to watch out for that the cancer had spread. Vigilant became my middle name.

Before he wore the muzzle (only while I was at work), we made 3 trips back to the vet to repair stitches. Unfortunately, nothing short of this "get up" worked.

Benji came home early and got right back to teaching me life lessons. He couldn't dance anymore, but otherwise nothing had changed. Life was good.

In fact, he was so good on 3 legs that people didn't realize he was missing a leg. People would play with him and after a few hours exclaim: where's his leg?!

Benji was 11 when we moved from the city to what we call "the big farm." He roamed 150 acres with me and enjoyed his new incarnation as farm dog. Good times.

Benji and Sherman on the farm.

He was 13 when he had his first seizure. Tests revealed cancer of the liver. Our vet prescribed a special diet, medication, and offered radiation treatment. However, that was only available at the Vet School 5 hours away.

He would have to stay at the Vet school to be treated and I would not be allowed to be with him. His odds were not good. He was 13 years old.

Benji, 14 years old

I chose to keep him at home and live with joy on the farm. As long as he was not in pain, he would be with me. Benji was 14 years old when he passed away in his sleep.

Benji taught me a lot. Too much to tell here, but he would want me to tell you this:

Be vigilant. Check for lumps and bumps often. Do not procrastinate if you find something. Time is of the essence.
Make sure you have a vet you trust who also has a compassionate "bedside" manner.
Amputation bothers humans, not dogs. As horrific as it sounds (and looks immediately post-op), Dogs get on with life and don't care how it looks.
Keep your dog lean and fit. This was very much in Benji's favor and helped him quickly adjust to tripawd life.
If your dog is diagnosed with cancer, you need to get your own feelings of panic under control first in order to make good decisions. Then trust your gut and forget about being perfect - there is no such thing.
Be positive. Be hopeful.
Live fully in the present moment.

Benji beat the odds and lived a long, joy filled 5 years as a tripawd.

My heart dog, Benji.

Talking Dogs is participating in the Give Cancer the Paw blog hop, hosted by Pooch Smooches and Peggy's Pet Place. Join us with a tribute to a lost pet, personal experiences, tips, research - anything related to pet cancer.