All About Vincent...
January 5, 2009: Progress Report from the Dog Repair Shop!!
Nope,
I can't take credit for that little analogy! The Dog Repair Shop was cleverly coined by Vincent's foster dad, Guy.
He has a wonderful way with words and we intend bring more to you from Guy in the new year! In the meantime, let's talk
about Vincent!
With the howlidays behind us and a new year underway, it's time to promote our beagles-in-waiting!
We couldn't wait any longer to share one of the cutest pupdates we've ever received! Here's a little news from
Vinnie's foster daddy:
Mr Vincent, or as we are currently calling him Vinnie, spent some time in the back yard
chasing his tail and frolicking in the snow all by himself recently. It’s like our American cousin has never seen snow
before.
His foster mommy and I have now got him to play the 'chase me' game, inside and outside the house
when we're all home together. I've also got him to play the newly forumlated 'attack my gloves' game as a
form of greeting when I come thru the door after work, or after going to the store, etc, etc.
We're happy to
report that he's less skittish than when he first came into our Pet Repair shop and he is coming to us more when he is
called. He also gets the idea now of going outside to pee once he is told to do so. He still drapes himself over the other
dogs or his doting foster mom whenever possible.
Another accomplishment: he's barking less at the ground. It
was a strange ritual of his once introduced to our backyard. He still keeps his honker on the ground whenever he's outside,
mind you, even if the same smells that were there minutes, hours or days ago are still there now. But, he doesn't seem
to think they're worth barking about so much anymore.
Our thanks to Guy for passing along this adorable pupdate.
And that's just what Vincent is - adorable. He's also a dog that deserves the commitment of a loving family. His start
in this world was less than ideal and he's got the scars to prove it, i.e. his fearfulness. But thanks to his wonderful
foster parents and doggy siblings, those wounds are healing and he's finally discovering what it is to be a happy young
beagle boy in the world! Do you think you might be the one to keep the momentum going for Vince? Then send us your adoption
application TODAY!!
PUPDATE as of October 20, 2008:
It's been 2 weeks since rescuing
a couple of the most adorable vagabond hounds we've ever met ---Walter and Vincent.
Everyday, these two teach
me yet another reason why they were worth saving. Like the other afternoon, for instance. Walter gladly posed as my writing
desk while I jotted down these thoughts on the couch! Walter is a charmer. Heaven knows where he called home all these years.
His past as well as his age are a mystery. We can only guess about these things and I guess he's not such an old boy after
all, despite those unique markings on his beautiful graying face! He's just got too much spunk! I'm thinking 8 years
old - tops.
Walter is that wonderful combination of spunk and calm. One minute, he's raring to go on a walk
with you and the next, he's just as raring to hop up next to you on the couch and help you write his biography! Mind you,
he'll expect you to break for kisses occasionally! He loves smoochy time!
Walter is a brave boy too. He underwent
his neuter operation soon after his rescue. But before surgery, a full blood profile and nose to tail examination revealed
a couple concerns. First, Walter displayed a significant heart murmur. The good thing is that his heart is not enlarged so
it could be that he was born with the heart murmur and will do just fine, as long as a vet listens to his heart annually and
monitors any changes. The other issue was a concerning lump on his groin. Walter certainly gave us a scare with that. As it
turned out, the lump was a mass cell tumour but tests after its removal indicated that it was a Grade Level One tumour which
means that should be the last of it and he should be fine as a fiddle now that it's gone!
Our Walter is ready
to find his forever home! What do we want for him? Someone to adore him as we do. Someone who will share with us all the,
as yet, undiscovered reasons why his life was worth saving. I have a hunch the reasons are endless as I look down at him,
curled up in the shape of a lima bean next to me, snoring up a storm without a care in the world...just as it should be!
And
what about Vincent pictured above? Well, in the last few days, I've caught a glimpse of the one-year-old pup that little
Vin is SUPPOSED to be! It was heaven to watch as Vincent suddenly broke free of his fears, unable to contain himself any longer!
A regular little visitor at my place since his rescue, aka Beagle Tailquarters, Vincent is learning the ropes from my guys.
So there we were, door to my backyard open and beckoning, sun shining and blue skies beaming and birds singing. The opportunity
for play was irresistable! Suddenly, Vincent scampered off in one direction, then the next! Before I knew it, he was involved
in a game of Catch-Me-If-You-Can with my howlers!
Up until that priceless moment, I thought Vincent was an old
soul in a young beagle/basset body, but I was mistaken. His puppy spirit is hiding just behind those big brown eyes and those
giant droopy ears! All he needs is a loving family to bring it out for good!
October 7, 2008:
For
every beagle we save, how many others just outside our vision are lost? I try not to think about that. I can't bear to
think about that.
Instead, I take out my beagle rescue album and look at the familiar faces looking back at me.
It gets me through the rough times. In fact, my album is all the inspiration I need to carry on.
I must have kept
that in mind yesterday...because yesterday, we added 2 more to our B.O.B Family Album. Cast your eyes on Walter (the name
given to him by the shelter) and Vincent Priceless (we figured it a good name with Howl-o-ween just around the corner) We
got a call about these two at the end of last week. They were doing time in a local shelter. But they were both deemed "Unadoptable".
Walter
had come in as a stray and quickly became a staff favourite. Graying whiskers surrounding hope-filled eyes. Guessed at 8-10
yrs old, but with the tail of a puppy and the spunk to match! He's also a darn good kisser if you don't mind my saying.
Why unadoptable? Any dog past their prime has a tough time getting noticed in the adoption room for one thing.
For another, Walter is sporting a chick-pea-sized lump that could be nothing or could be something. Testing it isn't within
the shelter's budget, especially for an old dog like Walter.
Then there's young Vincent. A dashing mix
of Beagle and Basset Hound. Originally transferred from an Ohio Pound just in the nick of time to save his tail. But his TALE
since then hasn't been a happy one. He's been adopted and returned. The reason is vague. His adopter couldn't
keep him from seeking out the neighbour's dog for companionship. At approximately one-year-old, young Vincent has already
known enough abandonment at the hands of humans. Who can blame him for doubting the commitment of yet another stranger, choosing
a fellow dog as his port in the storm of uncertainty instead?
Yesterday, we met them both...sealing the deal. They
no longer were dogs just outside our field of vision. They were real to us and they were special. The problem was, we had
no answers for them. Our foster homes are full. But, like I always say, where there's a will, there's a way.
We
left with a promise to the staff - we'd get back to them at the end of the week and by hook or by crook, we'd land
a miracle by then and take Walter and Vince with us like the rescuers we're meant to be!
But then something
unexpected happened. We got back home to a phone call from the shelter. 6 new dogs were on their way. Walter and Vincent were
taking up space. Their time was up unless we took them before the end of the day.
YOU BET YOUR BEAGLE BUTT WE WENT
BACK!
Walter on my lap in the passenger's seat, tail wagging to beat the band offering a kiss for every mile,
and worried Vincent at my feet, chin resting on my knees, eyes as big as saucers looking up at me in the hopes I was his knight
in shining armour --- the shelter becoming nothing but a speck behind us.
I refuse to think about a world without
these 2 in it. And just how close it came to that. Instead, I print off their pictures and tuck them into the next blank page
of my rescue album.
I need your help more than ever. PLEASE...play a part in this miracle rescue story. Call me
about fostering or even adopting one of these dogs. We only have until Thanksgiving Weekend to find our miracle. For now,
Walter the Wonder Dog and Vincent Priceless are in the care of our vet clinic here in the Beaches - Walter will have his lump
checked this week, bloodwork and his neuter operation. Vincent is fully vetted, healthy as a horse, and waiting for his dream
home.
THANKSGIVING --- a time to give thanks for all that we have. What better way to do that than by giving back
to one who has nothing?
Your support makes it possible for us to bring life and love back to a deserving boy like
Vince. Please keep it coming so we can keep coming to the rescue of our wonderful and inspirational rescue beagles!
