A new life for Rocky B!

Written by a CP Intakes volunteer



Please give a warm Col. Potter welcome to a boy who deserved better in this life.

Rockie B was just rescued from a lifetime of being a breeder boy. He is TEN YEARS OLD, and from all accounts sweet and mellow. He is somewhat nervous with the changes he has experienced over the past few days, but is warming up quickly. The vet tech who is his primary care taker said he is a very sweet, calm cairn. He gives her kisses and follows her around.

Kisses. Follows her around.
After TEN years in a kennel shed.
The epitome of resilience.

Rockie B's name was donated by Lynne B., named for the beloved cat of one of Col. Potter's foster homes.

He is a beautiful wheaten, weighing 17 pounds. He has just been neutered and has his dental. He will be ready to move to his foster home this weekend.

Welcome Rockie B, may every day from here be one that a cairn truly deserves!!

For all who support CP--Here's ANOTHER reason why

Written by CP's VP Intakes



Working rescue can be very rewarding, filling your heart with joy and pride. Working rescue can also be agonizing, filling your heart with sorrow and pain.

As with anything, there are two sides to the story, two different trains of thought. We have seen well intentioned legislation do more harm than good for the dogs. Now we once more find that people who were trying to help the dogs may have actually hurt them.

CP has been asked why we attend auctions as many rescues do not, and many rescuers lobbied to stop auctions. We believe if there is a Cairn that needs help, regardless of where it comes from, it deserves a chance at freedom and a happily ever after. This is what the United States of America stands for, what this country was built on--welcoming all people and giving them a chance for freedom and equality.

That opportunity was recently taken away for many dogs when a popular auction was shutdown. Yes, some of the dogs that go to auction didn't make it to rescues, BUT many did! Some of you have them in your family right now. Has anyone thought about what is to become of those dogs that did not make it to freedom? Where do the older, retired breeders now go? Or how about the puppy that wasn't quite healthy enough or chosen to become part of someone's family? What happens to them now?

This past Saturday, a little 7 month old male Cairn made his way into the loving arms of Col. Potter. We had been working on getting him for over a month. As a puppy, he had some skin irritation that was referred to as "hot spots" and never got a chance to find his own family. He's no longer a puppy, so no longer of value or sellable as a family pet. The dogs that are no longer needed or wanted are now being collected and sold to a LAB FOR RESEARCH. Yes, you heard me right, but let me say it once again -- THE OLDER, RETIRED BREEDER WHO CAN NO LONGER PRODUCE PUPPIES AND PUPPIES THAT WERE NOT ABLE TO BE SOLD ARE NOW BEING COLLECTED ENMASS AND SOLD AS LAB RESEARCH ANIMALS ...

I don't know about you, but when I learned this, I got chills, my skin started crawling, I felt sick to my stomack and my heart sank. What an absolutely awful way for these dogs to end their lives ...

Smoochie Poochie did not befall that fate thanks to CP! His name was donated by Tricia M. in memory of CP's very special Slater. I think Slater wanted to make sure this little boy had a chance to live a long, healthy life that he didn't.

Smoochie Poochie and all the others owe their lives to the generosity of those that support Col. Potter. We do what others can't, but we can't do it without you and your support. Please, when you look at this sweet little face, think about what could have happened to him, where he could be right now if it weren't for Col. Potter. Help us to help not only Smoochie Poochie but all the others out there that need us. Your donations and support truly mean the difference between life ... and death.

CP SAYS TIME FOR THE WILDFLOWER BUNCH TO BLOSSOM AND BLOOM

Written by CP's VP of Intakes

We have officially said good-bye to spring and hello to summer. Even in the farthest northern states, the snow and cold has been replaced with mild temperatures and flowers are starting to bloom. Certainly a welcome sight to see the beauty of spring and summer emerge. Three little Cairns will now be following that same path, transitioning from the dreary bitterness of their former lives to bask in the beauty and warmth that is Col. Potter while they learn to blossom and bloom in freedom.

Our Wildflower Bunch was a theme and names chosen by Geri P. who won a CP contest to name a group of furkids. Congratulations to Geri on winning and thanks for the wonderful names! And so I present the Wildflower Bunch:

Lupin: Male, red wheaten, born 6/15/08

Goldenrod: Female, wheaten, born 7/3/08

Bellflower: Female, cream, born 6/18/06

You will note all these furkids received a wonderful gift for their birthdays this year - FREEDOM! My THANKS to volunteer Monika for once again making the journey to help more Cairns into the CP family.

Please help me Welcome the Wildflower Bunch - we can't wait to enjoy watching your beauty unfold before us!!

WELCOME THE TROPICAL FLOWERS TO CP!

Written by CP's VP of Intakes

Most of your Tropical Flowers are a little tougher, a little stronger and their blooms last a little longer than many other flowers. They tend to have a waxy coating and appear in vivid, stunning colors.

Recently, three little girls made their way to Col. Potter that could most definitely fit the description of Tropical Flowers. They have found freedom for the first time in their lives and it certainly took strength and toughness for them to survive to this point. They now get the chance to blossom and bloom into the beautiful Tropical Flowers they were named for.

Lotus - born 3/17/03, dark wheaten brindle

Orchid - born 6/13/02, gray brindle with black markings

Plumeria - born 6/13/02, black brindle

Many people only want to consider the younger furkids. These Tropical Flowers have had to sacrifice their early years through no fault of their own. Now, they are ready to make up for lost time and really show you how they can become the most gorgeous Tropical Flower in anyone's home. Please consider opening your home to a furkid in need - BECOME A FOSTER HOME. Without our foster homes, these Tropical Flowers would have withered and died without ever knowing freedom and how truly beautiful life can be.

Please help me Welcome the Tropical Flowers - may their blooms last a lifetime!

WORKING CLASS ... NOW PART OF CP FAMILY

Written by CP's VP of Intakes


Everyone knows what they say the oldest occupation in the world is... Many of the Cairns that find their way to the Col. Potter family have been forced to participate in that occupation. But some have been lucky enough to also been cared for and yes, even loved by their owners even though they were among the "Working Class". Today four such Cairns found their way out of that situation when their owners became too elderly to continue their breeding operation and made the decision to surrender them to Col. Potter. They are Working Class no more!

Please meet the Working Class:

Gigolo: Male, wheaten, born 6/26/04

Imp: Female, wheaten, born 3/14/05

Tramp: Female, black brindle, born 3/2/05

Scamp: Female, wheaten, born 1/7/08

My thanks to Sharon J. for all her help in getting the Working Class into CP!!

This week the Working Class will be boarded and vetted and then will move on to foster homes where they will start the next phase of their lives -- RETIREMENT!!

Please help me welcome Working Class!!

Welcome Haines

Written by a CP Intakes volunteer



Haines has landed in Col. Potter and he couldn't be happier! This boy spent years as a breeder, eventually finding his way to a kind cairn loving soul who took him in so that he could have a better life. He is six years old, and reported to love playing with the resident cairn girls. He is a quick study--when they tell him he is doing something wrong, he changes his behavior.

He will be heading to his foster home this weekend, ready to continue his journey learning all the important skills needed to make any cairn owner laugh!

Welcome, Haines!

CP rescues Miss Tinker

Written by a CP Intakes volunteer



Please give a warm welcome to a special girl, Miss Tinker. She comes to us needing the help our group knows how to give so well. She is scared, covered in flea dermatitis and lice, having just weaned her last litter. This tiny wheaten girl, who will turn 5 in December, is confused and sad. She is finally free from her life of misery, but she does not know that yet. All she knows is that the life she was leading is now changing. What will those changes be? Will things be worse? More of the same? Will she be safe?

Can she even imagine that there is a 'BETTER'? How can she imagine what she has never experienced?

She spent the last week getting her spa treatment, along with being well fed, clean, dry, hydrated, and cared for the first time in her life. We will show her there is a 'better' life.

In a short time, I imagine her eyes will be clear and bright, and her face will be smiling. I hope she never thinks back to her past, unless its only to think ,"Glad that's over'.

Miss Tinker, you will love being clean, dry, fed, handled with gentle hands. You will have soft bedding, toys, treats, grass under your paws. Most of all, you will learn about LOVE from humans.

We are so glad you are here!

This Boy Must have the Luck of the Irish Smiling on Him

Written by a CP Intakes volunteer



Harvey's first run of luck was that he landed in a shelter. What is lucky about that you ask? Well his previous owner was going to use him for a life of breeding and changed his mind, so he took Harvey to the local shelter. So Harvey escaped a life of living in a cage outdoors in all weather being nothing more than livestock. The second run of luck was when a local CP adoptive home and volunteer alerted Intakes that Harvey's time was running out at the shelter.

And the best run of luck for Harvey is that he is now part of the Col. Potter family! As part of CP, he will learn about a great new life with his foster home and his forever family will find him!

Please welcome Harvey!

Please vote once a day for Col. Potter in the Animal Rescue Site's "Shelter Challenge"! Search for Col. Potter in Medina, OH. Feel free to cross-post and please pass this on to your friends and neighbors!

Vote in the Shelter Challenge by clicking the following link: VOTE HERE

Need more detailed instructions? Click the following link: SHOW ME HOW

Welcome Gumdrop!

Written by a CP Intakes Coordinator

Last week Intakes was contacted by a breeder asking for help placing one of her girls. We've worked with this breeder before, and she speaks highly of the care Col Potter takes when placing cairns. She says it is the only way she can part with her dogs, knowing they will have a wonderful retirement.

Gumdrop is now a CP kid! She is eight years old, and very sweet, just like the candy she is named after. The vet staff are enjoying her, and say she is a happy girl. She is having her spay today, and will be heading to Canada for fostering this weekend.

Thanks to every CP volunteer who works hard so that Gumdrop and kids like her can have a wonderful forever!

Welcome, Gumdrop!