Two cuties join CP!

Written by CP's VP of Intakes

This introduction comes with a rating of "C" for cute, Cute, CUTE!!

How many of you are familiar with the Stevie Wonder classic "Isn't She Lovely"? The opening words are:

"Isn't she lovely
Isn't she wonderful
Isn't she precious"

Stevie is describing his newborn daughter and the love he has for her.

Many puppies born into this world don't have that show of love or affection and if there is a genetic or medical issue with them, they are cast away.

Such was the case with two little girls who found their way to the Col. Potter family today. Their parents had produced other puppies that developed Craniomandibular Osteopathy otherwise known as CMO or lion's jaw. These puppies were lucky enough to find their way to a local rescue who sought breed specific help for them and turned to Col. Potter. Currently, neither little girl is showing any real signs of CMO, but both are very young, only 3 months, and the symptoms generally appear between 3-8 months of age.

After taking just one look at their pictures, I think you will join me in a chorus of Stevie's song and agree aren't they lovely, aren't they wonderful, aren't they precious. I think you will also understand how I then came up with the names for these two little girls:

Darling

Sweetheart

They will be visiting a vet shortly for xrays of their jaws to determine the degree of CMO they currently have and started on medications to keep them comfortable while they go through this period.

My VERY BIG THANKS to Marsha and Dennis T. for fostering both of these baby girls and to Dennis for making the long drive to pick them up today.

Isn't She Lovely indeed! Please help me welcome the Baby Dolls!

Valentine Update

Written by CP's VP of Intakes

Little Valentine went to the vet this morning to be checked and to determine if she has CMO. I was so hoping I was wrong and this sweet, little Valentine would not have to go through the pain and discomfort of this affliction when all she should be doing is enjoying being a puppy.

Unfortunately, the x-rays confirmed my fears ... Valentine does have CMO. The vet was not familiar with CMO and is doing some research on the best course to take to medicate her and keep her as comfortable as possible while she battles the condition until she can overcome it.

PLEASE consider sponsoring Valentine as a Guardian Angel donor and keep Valentine and her foster mom, Deborah C. close in your hearts while they go through a tough time together.

Will You Be My ... Valentine?

Written by CP's VP of Intakes

The relationship between millers and rescues has greatly improved and come a long way over the past few years. Thousands and thousands of dogs that have spent their life in puppy mills who would have been destroyed after their usefulness was up, now get a chance at freedom and enjoying life. Likewise, those puppies born into a mill with a medical condition also received the same fate for being less than perfect - death. But, how sad is society when a family buys a beautiful little puppy, takes her into their home, then discovers she has a medical condition that IS treatable, but still chooses to return her to the miller for a replacement. That's exactly what we believe happened in this case. CP has been working with a group that takes dogs from PM releases and then finds rescues to take them. They contacted us to take a 5 month old female. In the back of my head I'm always suspicious when a PM wants to release a young female and unfortunately most times my suspicions are correct.

Last night, or should I say early this morning, Deborah C. and her husband Lanny met a transport at 3:00 AM near their home filled with dogs from the PM. Out came our beautiful little 5 month old girl. The first thing Deborah noticed was she didn't smell, she was clean and looked like she had been groomed with even her ear fringe plucked. Strange, why would such a dog come from a puppy mill? Then Deborah got her home ... her little eyes had green goo oozing out of them and were crusted over. But that's not the real story, while we won't have conformation until she sees the vet tomorrow, based on what Deborah has seen, described and we both know, we believe she has CMO, Craniomandibular or Lion's Jaw. This is caused by excessive growth along both mandibles (lower jawbone) and can include other skull bones and occasionally forearm bones. This condition appears in puppies generally between 4 weeks and 10 months of age. It is very painful and extremely difficult to open their mouth. There is treatment which generally lasts 4-10 months. The good news is most recover, although they can have lasting, permanent effects of enlargement and impaired chewing. The condition is caused by a recessive gene and is generally found in Cairns, Westies and Scotties.

My guess is the miller sold this little girl to a pet home and when they discovered she had the condition, they had her bathed, groomed and returned her to the breeder to get a replacement. I'm sure they didn't realize this could have meant her death and as a credit to the miller, they did release her to rescue rather than destroy her. Whatever happened to this baby girl, she is very lucky to have found her way into the loving arms of Col. Potter!

Please help me welcome Valentine. Deborah C. said she felt like an expectant mother waiting for delivery of her baby last night and Valentine will be her baby to foster and care for through whatever treatment is needed. Again, we won't have confirmation of CMO until she sees the vet tomorrow, but if it is, Valentine will be entering the Guardian Angel program and will need your help and support. I'll give everyone an update tomorrow just as soon as we know.

In the meantime, CP received a very special, early Valentine this morning ... WELCOME to the family!