Northwest Samoyed Rescue

There are as many stories of mistreatment of dogs as there are dogs who find their way to rescue. We experienced a first this month when we heard of a dog at the Puyallup shelter and checked on her. Luckily it was the weekend of the Puyallup shows, and Darlene and Cheri said they could go check the shelter right away. They called back and said she was definitely a purebred Samoyed, and not only that but a well bred dog. The shelter people said she was afraid of everybody and they thought she had been dumped. They were pretty sure she was kept in a crate for months, if not years, because she was so matted and covered in feces they had to clip her short. They said she was so horribly matted that her intake form actually said “intact male.” The person who found her had to call animal control because they couldn’t get close to her because she was so fearful.

The shelter told us she would be available the next afternoon at five, so Kathy was there to pick her up a little before that. They put a harness on her because she didn’t understand a collar and leash and wouldn’t move, but even with that help it was hard to get her into the car and just as hard to get her out. Eventually she was carried into the house, where she hid in a half-bath off our laundry room. When we got close she tuned out as though we weren’t there. If she had room she scurried out of the way. It appears she has never had a moment of socialization or human contact, though she is well fed. Our immediate guess is that she was a puppy mill bitch who escaped, but we can’t tell if she ever had a litter. The area she was found is residential, nice, and not the place a puppy mill or even a backyard breeder would be. She is debarked, which isn’t done casually, and it was a well-done surgery. If someone cared that much it’s impossible to understand her history.

We named her Hope, because it’s how we see her future. For three weeks we have been seeing steady, very slow progress in her socialization. For the most part she lives in the bathroom on her rug, venturing out as she learns not to fear so much. It took 18 days before we could reach down and pet her without her jumping and running away. In the past week she has begun coming out and sleeping on a rug by the door in the kitchen, and only a couple days ago we were able to pet her there. We have been taking our cues from her, while making a point of going to her area to visit her many times a day. We usually sit or lie down on the floor and talk to her and she is becoming used to us and to getting petted and combed.

Hope went to the vet yesterday to be spayed, and we picked her up early so she could recover at home. Our vet is really good about working with us on dogs with issues. She slept it off all night, and this morning she is just about back to normal. When she is recovered from surgery we will start looking for a home with very special and very patient people. She is a beautiful girl even without her hair, and will be stunning in another year.

Tara is the dog who came to us last month after her family moved and left her behind in the yard. We’re grateful to the neighbors who cared for her and helped her find her way to us. She is not a purebred, possibly mixed with Collie, and has a beautiful golden and white coat. We know she lived there for about 7 years so we think she is about that old. She limped a little, so when she was anesthetized for her spay surgery we asked the vet to check out what the problem was. She reported the right rear ACL was completely broken, not just injured, and felt like it had been for a long time. We found a new vet (for us) in Tacoma who was highly recommended, and a couple weeks ago Tara went for surgery. For two weeks she had a thick bandage immobilizing her leg, and she just had that removed. The surgical site has healed well and she is putting weight on her leg without much discomfort. It’s possible she may need surgery on the other leg, since the stress put on it for so long likely affected the left ACL.

Although Tara is a very large dog who towers over the others, she has a sweet disposition. It’s almost as though she understands how much better her life has become and is trying to thank us. It’s very easy for her to walk up to someone sitting at a desk or table and lay her head on their knee, and look up with those big eyes asking to be petted. This is the kind of dog who makes us feel we did the right thing in taking a mixed breed into rescue.

Freya has been around the block a few times. She was listed in the Boise Craigslist last November but we couldn’t get to her in time. She was listed again last month, this time by a new owner, who told us she was Freya’s third home in the last year. Freya has a shrill bark that they couldn’t get used to, so she needed to go. Unlike November, we were able to help this time, and after many (many!) e-mails and phone calls we found a Chessie breeder coming to the Portland shows who had room to bring her along. Melissa met her in Portland late that night and took Freya home.

Freya is not well bred, and the coincidence is how much she looks like Keno, the boy from northern Idaho Melissa and Terry fostered and subsequently adopted. Since going to be fostered there, Freya’s bark has improved. Perhaps she no longer has anything to complain about, considering how she has tried to convince Terry to fall for her. Freya went to the vet to be spayed, and when the surgery was begun they found she was already spayed. When recovered she will be available for adoption.

With these three dogs we are at capacity, and our next foster will have to go somewhere else. Lon and Mary have volunteered (thanks!) and so has Cyndy. We’re fortunate to have so much help from people who care for our Samoyeds.

As always, this report will reach dozens of our friends who love dogs and contribute to humane societies and shelters all over the northwest and the country. Some of you also contribute to the Humane Society of the United States because of the help they appear to give to so many needy pets. Undoubtedly those who contribute don’t realize the vast majority of the funds HSUS receives don’t go to animals, but rather to lobbying efforts attempting to restrict our rights to own dogs. They don’t own or operate one single shelter in the entire country, nor does any of their money go to our northwest shelters. It’s true. If you want facts and not fiction, look here: http://www.nwsams.com/themyth. The NWSR board unanimously approved adding this page to our website and we hope you send the link to your friends.

Casey is a senior dog who came to rescue after his owner died at only 46 years old. He left no instructions for his dogs, so they went to a shelter. They called us and arranged transport, and after a few weeks here we are happy to say he has a forever home with a 92 year old woman on Vancouver Island. Pat Cummins was instrumental in helping us place him, and she took the last leg of the transport from Lon & Mary’s home to his new Mom. A week later when someone from rescue visited, he stayed behind her until he was sure nobody wanted to move him again. He is as happy there as a dog could ever be.

Kaiya is another result of a death, this time an older woman who thought her family would take care of her dog. They didn’t have a place for her, but they did call Melissa who was able to take Kaiya into rescue. She was fascinated by Melissa’s cats, who proceeded to teach her how Sammies should respect their feline housemates. After a stay in the Hopper Bed & Breakfast, Kaiya moved to her home with Deb and John in southern Oregon.

Tara is a hard luck case, and one of the few mixes we have taken recently. We received an e-mail Christmas Eve from a woman in Onalaska about a dog in the neighborhood, whose owners moved a month previously and left her behind. After neighbors realized she was alone some of them began feeding her, but it was during very cold weather and she had very little shelter. After a lot of conversation Christmas day we convinced the neighbors to take her to the shelter when it opened the next day. Kathy met them and we arranged to get Tara when her hold was up. A note was left on the door of the empty house saying where she was, and it was removed during the time she was in the shelter, but nobody came to pick her up. We took Tara home the first hour after she finished her 72-hour hold.

Tara is about seven years old and was in the yard most of her life. She immediately took to living in a warm house and has no interest in the yard now. She is an affectionate love sponge who would be content to have a human arm around her the rest of her life. Although the shelter didn’t charge us for her because she was spayed, it was pretty obvious she was in heat. Her spay appointment is coming soon and we expect to find out she may have had some romance in her life while she was waiting for her humans to return. She is in good health except for her right rear knee, which may have had an ACL tear that wasn’t treated. She will probably end up with surgery. She is a big, tall girl who towers over the other dogs, and our males are wary of her and would just as soon she found a new home soon. Sorry, guys.

Fundraisers went well this year but total sales were considerably less than usual. Part of that was the economy, and part was because we offered t-shirts which cost less than the traditional sweatshirts. The bright spot was calendar sales; we sold out this year and will be splitting proceeds with SamUrgency, a group that funds medical expenses for Samoyeds who are with rescue groups. Many thanks to to Wolfpacks for their donation of the calendars.

Over a hundred smiles of rescued dogs are online at http://www.nwsams.com/rescues.

First off this month is Sally, a wonderful senior girl who ended up in the county shelter in Spokane in September. She was a stray so we don’t know where she came from. When we asked for someone to check on her, Darlene jumped to help. She picked up Sally from the shelter and kept her that week, then brought her west when she came to the Shelton show. We picked up Sally and took her home but didn’t have her long. Penny, who had previously adopted Harley, saw pictures and came to visit. When she went home it was a happy Sally who accompanied her. I’m sorry that somehow in all that was happening in October I missed telling you about Sally. In the two months since she was adopted she has been doing great. She enjoys car rides, but not as much as she likes to watch ferrets.

Melissa is working with a dog in Salem. More to the point, she is working with the attorney for the estate of a woman who died and left her Samoyed behind. The woman’s sister has the dog now but can’t keep her and has asked Melissa to find her a home. The dog is Kaia and is about 7 years old, still very active with a lot of years ahead of her. We think we have a home for her but we have to wait until NWSR actually has legal possession before we can do anything more.

Casey is an old guy who came to us when his owner died at only 46 years old in southern Oregon. He has been with us for about a month now and during that time he has gone from an old dog who couldn’t stand on his own to a dog who trots around the yard. He loves people and should do well in a home where he can stay next to his human. His drool has resulted in a stain on his neck, but despite having dental work done the vet couldn’t determine what causes it. He otherwise seems completely healthy. Pat Cummins has located a 92 year old senior lady who very much wants to have a Sammy again, and as of this writing we have arranged for a transport to take Casey north very soon. We all think this is a great match, and Pat will be close by if needed.

Two dogs in a month have come as a result of their owner’s death. Please be sure you have planned for your dogs. All it takes is a note with your will, or with a family member, that tells them Northwest Samoyed Rescue will care for their Sammies. Or ask your attorney to make it official in your will. We’ll take it from there.

Around the first of this month we had a request for help from someone who needed a Samoyed fostered for six months. Danna volunteered, and we let them know her contact information. Neither she nor we have heard anything since. It’s the kind of thing that happens often but always makes us wonder what happened.

Northwest Samoyed Rescue is in the midst of our annual shirt fundraiser. We recognize that the economy is down, so we offered t-shirts as well as sweatshirts this year because they cost less. As a result we’re down about 60% from last year, but we will be taking orders until just after Christmas so things may yet pick up. If you haven’t seen this year’s designs, Holley’s talent is showcased at www.nwsams.com. We are also selling the stunning Wolfpacks 2010 calendars, a donation again this year from Paul and Linda. As with previous years, we’re splitting the calendar profits with SamUrgency, a non-profit group that helps with medical costs for rescue Sammies who need assistance. We are privileged to know so many caring people who help ensure we have funds to help our dogs. It really makes us feel the spirit of the season.

Carey as he adopted Madison, February 2004

Carey and Cheyenne at Canby, June 2001

Carey and Cheyenne at the SCWS Specialty, August 2001

Carey and Cheyenne at the rescue picnic, July 2009

Picture by Sue Yim

Three months ago we saw a post on Craigslist about a Samoyed. The ad said the person had a 6 month old Sammie puppy and was going to be out of the country for a month and a half and wanted someone to dog sit his puppy for him. He was offering $350. Melissa emailed and offered to take his puppy for the time specified, letting him know he could write off the amount as a tax deduction. She described her house, which is pretty much heaven for a dog. We expected he would jump at the chance, but there was nothing in response.

After a couple weeks went by, Ron got a phone call from a woman that lives in a small town on the Oregon coast. She had a 6 month old Samoyed puppy that she just bought from a fellow off Craigslist for $500 and upon getting her home it appeared her daughter was allergic. Guess what? Same puppy. The woman said when she called about the original ad he was he was planning to sell the dog all along. So now she wanted to turn the puppy over to rescue, but she wanted us to pay her back. We told her we don’t buy dogs, but offered to refer people to her who would be expecting to pay the usual adoption fee of $150. We never heard from her again.

Fast forward another few weeks, when we got a call from people who had adopted from us before and also belong to WVSF. They live on the Oregon coast close to where the woman with the Samoyed was located. They had received a call from their vet asking them if they were interested in adopting a 7 month old Sammie puppy as they had heard of one that was looking for a home. They said they were not but they were pretty sure that rescue would be willing to take her.

So they called Ron and after talking to them he asked if the dog’s name was Lucy. Surprise, surprise, it was (we knew her name from the woman who got her earlier). Apparently the woman who had purchased her off Craigslist did not have any luck finding her a home. She took Lucy to give her a bath and was telling the lady at the dog bath place that she needed to find her a home and was going to have to take her to shelter if she didn’t. Here’s where the story gets complex.

The woman who owned the dog spa knew that one of the women who worked across the street at the beauty parlor also volunteered at the local shelter. The volunteer didn’t want her to take Lucy to the shelter because it was full and they were going to euthanize the dogs. So the volunteer took Lucy home herself and tried to find her a home, unsuccessfully. Then she spoke to her vet about Lucy because her husband would not let her keep another dog, and the vet remembered the nice couple who called us had 2 Samoyeds and maybe they would want another. That’s how we got involved for the third time with Lucy.

After everybody talking to everybody Melissa got down to business and set up transport. The couple went to the volunteer’s house and picked Lucy up. She spent the night with them, their two Sams and their cats. The next morning they were headed out on the start of a trip to San Francisco. They went through Salem, where Melissa met them and took Lucy home to foster.

Lucy is a typical young Samoyed, full of energy and testing her limits. She is 9 months old and the product of a backyard breeder we know well. With some training she will be a spectacular dog and wonderful family member. We have been trying to work through a list of applicants, doing home visits and looking for the perfect home for her.

We had two calls the same day from people who found stray Samoyeds. The first was north of Seattle, and we explained that they have to take a dog to a shelter first so the owner has a chance to find it. We promised to keep in touch with the shelter and adopt the dog the first day it was available. Unfortunately they don’t like shelters and declined to go there. That means somewhere there is probably a family looking for their dog who won’t find it because the finder wouldn’t follow through. Much as we would like to take a dog immediately, we have to be able to prove ownership and we can only do that through a shelter or direct surrender by an owner.

The second call was from a Centralia vet who had someone in the office who brought a dog to be scanned. They put her on the phone and we explained the process and she understood instantly. She took him to the Lewis County shelter, where Kathy met her. They coordinated with the shelter, who told us to call 72 hours later when he would be available. He went from the shelter directly to a vet for neutering, and we have him here as a foster. Since he came from Lewis County, his name is now Lewis.

Early in 2008 we heard about a woman in Centralia who was living in an apartment and selling Sammy puppies. She had two litters at once with 9 males and 2 females for sale. From what we understood at the time, animal control became involved and all the puppies were placed before we could do anything. We believe it’s likely that Lewis was one of the nine males, which puts him just over a year and a half old. He has all the energy of a young dog and fortunately also has some training. He is well behaved except for some barking, and is the most overtly affectionate dog of any foster in ages. He is comfortable with whatever life brings his way and quite well adjusted. Somebody is going to be lucky to add Lewis to their family.