Enjoy our Costumed Cairns on Parade Part 3

Pictures Contributed by CP Volunteers


This is the third in our series of costumed cairns on parade at the Cairn Rescue Annual Party in West Virginia last year. We are also including two pictures which show the activity and some of the handlers.

If you would like a caption added to identify your cairn, please email cpcrnblog@gmail.com and let us know the name of your costumed cairn. We hope you enjoy these pictures!

Zander (below)

Grommy RB 2010 (below)

Bea and Neha (below)

Pam and Gracie (RB 2009) below

Enjoy Pictures of our Costumed Cairns at the Cairn Rescue Annual Party in WV - Part 1

Since everyone loves to see a cairn in costume, for the next few days, we will be sharing some pictures of the cute cairns in costume at the Cairn Rescue Annual Party Costumed Cairns Parade in WV.

These pictures were taken by people who attended CRAP last year and shared them with us. Please email cpcrnblog@gmail.com if you would like for us to add a caption identifying your cairn.

Saratoga

Izzy

Edy (below)




Hannah (below)

IT'S TIME TO CONTINUE MAKING YOUR PREPARATIONS FOR CRAP!

Contributed by a CP Media Volunteer


Now is a good time to make a list for what you will need to bring for your dogs.

Be sure to take an adequate amount of their food, treats and bottled water for them. Although their toys will not be allowed in the actual CRAP area, they will appreciate having a favorite toy on the road and in the hotel. The following is the "Good Doggy" standards of behavior expected of all canine and human participants.

(The EMPHASIS has been provided by Danielle )


AN ABSOLUTE RULE FOR OUR CP FUR KIDS AT HOTELS IS POLITENESS WHEN EXERCISING [PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE YOUR ROOM WITHOUT SOMETHING TO PICK UP POOP WITH].

ALL DOGS ARE REQUIRED TO BE IN AN INDIVIDUAL CRATE OR OTHER CONTAINMENT that they cannot get out of, such as an X-pen if they do not jump or climb. THEY MUST BE CARRIED WHEN WALKING THROUGH THE PUBLIC ROOMS of hotels. NOT ALL people like pets, so let's respect them also. Please understand and appreciate hotel requirements, ESPECIALLY in an area that is so short now on places in which to stay . . . they are really opening their arms for anyone who travels with a pet, and hotels are hard to find now that welcome our kids.

DOGS CANNOT BE LEFT IN THE HOTEL ROOM WHILE YOU ARE NOT IN THE ROOM WITH THEM. This will NOT be a problem, since all hosts will have a secure area of their home set aside for stacked crates while we may attend a dinner prior to the event [typically Thursday WORK PARTY NIGHT is also a dinner night at a local establishment. In the unique case of your having a dog that does not get stressed in a hotel situation by crying, barking or digging, PLEASE make sure to CRATE your pup, and if not in the room, it might be a good idea to put this dog in a bathroom with the door closed. ALWAYS put out the DO NOT DISTURB sign so hotel management doesn't walk in the room to clean, etc.

PLEASE ALSO NOTE: DO NOT try to sneak a puppy in to a hotel that does not allow pets. We recommend you tell them at the time of booking if you have pets and how many AND give them an indication of the time of day you plan on checking in so that they will hold your room if an evening check in.

If you are going to *borrow* a needed crate, the CRAP list will take an inventory of needed crates about a month PRIOR to the CRAP. Often those who drive have an extra crate they can bring for your use. At times also, CP will order foster crates if we have fosters who can take them with them for theirnext dog.

PLEASE BRING TOWELS FOR THESE CRATES. THE HOST/HOSTESS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR SUPPLYING TOWELS or similar.

OUR CPCRN HOUSE RULE is that NO CP dog is allowed to run free through another persons home. WE CARRY the furkids if access is needed. It doesn't take a fur child long to smell other dogs inside a home, and we don't want any potty accidents in the home.

SAID WITH A SMILE, we KNOW our breed typically is expected to be a long way from*sainthood*, and especially first time CRAP OR POOP friends will be concerned that their dog is ESPECIALLY not a saint. You probably will be quite surprised. Years and years of experience has shown that unless you know that your dog isn't "other dog friendly" through first hand experience, if you immediately remove their leash, they don't feel the need to protect you.

A HARNESS WITH A TAG IS A MUST HAVE. A harness is an excellent handle to grab if need be, and OF COURSE you are going to want to travel with tags in the event of loss.

FEEDING OTHER DOGS: WELL, OF COURSE our kids are NEVER going to say NO to a treat offered. Many CP kids are on special diets due to health or allergy, and one treat of the wrong type may set them off. Others may have a sensitive tummy.

WALKING: Remember when taking your dog(s) from their confinement area to walk them or move them to the run area, DO NOT walk your leashed dogs up close to dogs that are in other confinement areas (xpens or crates). This upsets the other dogs, and if there are multiple dogs in confinement while you are walking by, this may incite a "riot" in that confinement and cause a fight/injury.

TOYS: CP ALSO has a NO TOY policy while in the common area for our events.There is enough stimulation going on, and dogs that are toy agressive or even those who are not, all going after the same toy could cause problems. Please bring toys for the crates or hotel rooms. WE WILL HAVE A TOY EXCHANGE, BUT THOSE TOYS SHOULD NOT BE SHARED ON THE SITE WITH YOUR FUR KIDS.

BOTTLED WATER: Is always a great idea to have on hand while traveling, so you are not also changing the water that your dog is used to drinking. If traveling by vehicle, you can bring what you have at home in large plastic bottles. You can also obtain bottled water near your hotel room or through the vending machines. Water is ESPECIALLY important if the weather is warm.

KEEPING YOUR KIDS ON SCHEDULE: Remember that if your dog is used to eating at a certain time, to try to stick to that same schedule while traveling. Some dogs just don't mind changes, they adjust really quickly, however some don't. You know your Cairn and how they might react.

COMFORTS FROM HOME: Don't forget to pack special items that bring comfort to your Cairn at home, especially if they are new or are a foster.

Thank you for planning to attend this event and we hope these pointers are helpful!

IT'S TIME TO START GETTING READY FOR CRAP !!( CAIRN RESCUE ANNUAL PARTY)

For those of you who are new to Col. Potter, there is a wonderful tradition of the Cairn Rescue Annual Party( CRAP!) At last count, there were 121 people and 130 dogs signed up for this fall's event, so if you are travelling with a dog, you'll be pleased to see some reminders of needed preparations on the blog.

We are so glad you are joining us for our “Almost Heaven(ly) WV Fall CRAP” Event, at the home of some of our long time CPCRN members, and the home to Braveheart Cairns, in Hurricane West Virginia. Hurricane is between the larger areas of Charleston and Huntington WV.

These are the canine requirements for shots and health as stated in the CRAP files.

COL. POTTER REQUIREMENTS FOR INNOCULATIONS OF ALL ANIMALS ATTENDING A CP EVENT

1. ALL dogs attending a CRAP or a POOP are required to have a copy of their current health records on the owner or fosters person or in their vehicle.THESE RECORDS CANNOT BE LEFT IN THE HOTEL ROOM. Innoculations, including the annual, bordatella and rabies need to be either current OR you need to have had titer testing done and these records have to be with you. CP accepts 3-year innoculations. We also accept a veterinarian's written acknowledgement that a dog cannot have an innoculation due to health reasons IF a health certificate has been issued for this event. YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE ASKED FOR THESE DOCUMENTS AT SIGN IN, but you MUST have them on your person in the event they are needed.

2. Heart Worm and Tick control are at your option. It is recommended ,especially if driving or attending an event in an area you are unfamiliar with. Although you may not have HW or ticks in your area, there may be HW or ticks in the event area or during your drive. NOTE: IF YOUR DOG IS NOT CURRENTLY ON HW CONTROL AND IF YOUR DOG IS OVER 6 MONTHS OF AGE, PRIOR TO GIVING HW, YOU MUST HAVE A HW TEST AT YOUR VETS. Please allow time for this as well. Col. Potter realizes that there are many ways in which to address the health care of your pet, and if you have any questions, PLEASE WRITE TO the CRAP Administration Team and we surely will answer your questions here.

3. ALL foster dogs that have NOT been in foster care for a period of two weeks and have been healthy during this time, are required to have a health certificate as well as current innoculations in order to attend a CPCRN EVENT toinsure the health and well being of all dogs involved.

4. NO dog with a skin condition that has not been diagnosed [PRIOR flea allergy, allergy to food, etc., or similar] can attend a CP event unless the skin condition has been verified as being something that is not transferable or contagious to other dogs. PLEASE treat ALL dogs for fleas ,prior to leaving home if you have fleas in your area

5. OBVIOUSLY we care very much for your dogs. This is the reason for our health rules. We also fully understand that some dogs may not be able to have innoculations due to their age or their health. Special considerations may be made in cases such as these. If you have ANY questions regarding this policy,please write to Danielle at ggreyfriar@aol.com and chat with her. We truly try hard when having any event to keep our fur kids healthy in every way, so if you have a unique situation with your Cairn, JUST ASK!

So, in plain english, it's time to gather the proof of your furkids compliance with required shots and innoculations or titers as set forth above and put them in a file or envelope with each dog's name on it and start a CRAP pile. Next week, we'll review some other preparations that you need to make in advance.

From A Pauper To A Princess - The Journey of a Puppy Mill Dog (Update 9)

We've all followed the journey of Flopsy, also know as Rusty, from the puppy mill to her forever home thanks to her Foster Mom, Karen, one of CPCRN's foster mentors. (To read Rusty's journey from a pauper to a princess written by her Foster Mom click here.) Rusty started the next chapter of her life in January 2008 when she was adopted by her Forever Mom, Sheryl. Not only did Rusty get her chance at "happily ever after" she also got a new name! Rusty is now known as Maisie and lives with her brothers Murry and Micha. Maisie's story continues thanks to updates from her Forever Mom. (To read previous updates click here.)

7/17/08 - Maisie update from her Foster Mom

Today, I arrived in Verona, NY for a 3-day Col. Potter fundraising event. One might wonder why I flew clear across the country to attend. Well, one of the biggest reasons was so I could see Maisie again! Sheryl is driving up to NY with Murry, Maisie, and her mother, Cassie. I checked into the hotel and called Sheryl, they were almost at the hotel! I could hardly contain my excitement to see her and Maisie again.

When they arrived, Maisie and Murry were safely contained in their traveling crates. Sheryl and I said our “Hello’s” and I met her charming mother. Then, my attention turned to the backseat of the car. There was my little princess. Would she remember me? After all, it’s been over six months since her adoption. I said her name and she looked right at me! I could see in those eyes, that there was some recognition. Sheryl got checked into her room and a little later, I went to her room to visit. Maisie got into her crate and so I sat on the floor and reached my arm inside to pet her. She didn’t tense up, she seemed to enjoy the pets. The thing that got to me the most were her eyes; they looked so soft. Also, I immediately noticed that she was no longer flicking her head back and forth, looking for an escape. I was amazed at her transformation! Of course, I got teary-eyed, thinking that Maisie is finally accepting being a pet. I was so elated.

7/18-19/08

The next two days were busy at the NY CRAP (Cairn Rescue Awesome Party), but I managed to escape for a little while and spend time with Maisie and Sheryl. It was so wonderful to hold my sweet little girl, again. There were close to 100 Cairns there, and nearly that many people. Maisie was doing so well. She was trotting around the dog yard with the other Cairns. There was a little kiddy pool in the yard that had been turned over, but it didn't stop Maisie from trying to "swim!" She loves the pool!


She and her Cairn brother, Murry seemed to stick close together, so sweet. When it got to be too overwhelming for them, they found a little corner of the yard, with some tall plants and hid in there.

A couple of huge things that I noticed; when Sheryl went to put the leash on Maisie, she actually walked up to her! This is truly a miracle. The other thing, when Sheryl would leave the dog yard, Maisie would look for her. It was so evident the love that Maisie has for Sheryl and vise-versa. Murry and Maisie seem to compliment one another, as they are both so quiet and calm. They like to lay in the same crate together, it is really cute to watch them.


7/20/08

Today was the last day of the event. After brunch, Sheryl had gone inside the house to ask a question and left Maisie in the dog area. I couldn’t believe my eyes, Maisie was trying to climb the stairs on the outside of the staircase, trying to get into the house where Sheryl had gone!


Soon, we said our good-byes and once again, the tears came, but they were tears of happiness for my once terrified puppy mill foster. She truly has found her happily-ever-after. I am so thankful that Sheryl wanted Maisie to be a part of her life and continue to show her what it is like to be loved and not abused in a puppy mill, pumping out puppies for profit. I took some pictures as Sheryl, Maisie, and Murry left the event. You can see Maisie looking to her mom for guidance, just precious.


This concludes the series "From A Pauper To A Princess - The Journey of a Puppy Mill Dog". Thank you Karen and Sheryl for allowing us to join Rusty/Maisie on her journey. Happy Forever little one! You definitely deserve it!!