CP's foster puppy Fili and the Norrie boys!

Written by Fili and Suudella's foster mom

Best Buddies Fili and Oliver

Fili wrestling with Sebastian

Fili and Oliver wrestling

Fili playing tug of war with Sebastian

Tonight while Suudella was in the den and Fili was in the ex pen in the family room, Oliver kept going over and pushing himself up against the ex pen, even putting one front foot in so Fili could chew on him. He has just been captivated by little Fili. So I picked him up and put him in the pen with him. Oliver was so cute, his little stub of a tail going ninety miles an hour. He let Fili chew all over on him, climbing on him, chewing on his cheeks. I was just about in tears watching these two play. I think they were together for an hour before Ollie finally came to the gate and nosed it, satisfied he'd worn his new little buddy out with all their wrestling. I put Sebastian in for a few minutes of play - his play was a little rougher than his brother's as his brother has always been the one to pick on him a little too roughly. But he picked up a toy and wanted to play with Fili with the toy instead of being chewed on like Oliver let him do.

This is really funny as Oliver and Sebastian were a little scared of the girl puppies we've had here - Circle and Cube wanted to run and chase, and Virgo - she was a little tomboy that actually could get the best of them and have them running with tails tucked to us for protection! LOL They seem to know Fili is a little guy that needs to be played with gently, and they let him explore them, chewing all over them. He's supposed to be nine weeks old today, but he seems more immature than that. He weighs a little over 3#, which compared to Stinger's babies is a couple weeks behind in weight. But he's gaining a couple of ounces a day and has a little belly on him. He's got the prettiest big eyes, and where he lost his coat to the sarcoptic mange, he's got nice harsh coat coming in (all except for the backside of his tail which is still bare ).

I've got to get some good picturess of Suudella - she seems to cower when she knows the camera is out. Her bare spots are almost gone, with a layer of new fuzzy stuff coming in all over. She's looking lighter than I expected - I thought she'd be coal black but may turn out to have quite a bit of silver on her. Her tail goes constantly when you're around her and talk to her, and when we let her in, she now comes running to the dog bed in the kitchen by my computer stool :-) She's spent some lap time the last couple of nights now that we're integrating them with the rest of the pack. She gets a little nervous when the pack is playful, so we're going slow with her so we don't overwhelm her. And Louisville is VERY interested in her and greets her with a harsh bark as he comes charging across the room. He's only being playful, but I think she sees him as a threat because he sounds so gruff and is such a big boy. I figure tonight while we had Fili out in the family room, Suudella probably stretched out in the den pen and took a long, uninterrupted nap with no puppy there to chew on her .

Fili and Suudella are being fostered in Missouri. They are not ready for adoption yet but you can learn more about them and the other cairns available for adoption by clicking here.

Suudella and Fili on their blankets -Update and Video!

Written by Suudella and Fili's foster mom

Fili

Suudella

Suudella and her son Fili received a package for Christmas - their own soft blankets from their blanket auntie! Thank you Nan T in MN. Sorry these pictures weren't the normal posed ones I do, but they had to be taken in their quarantine area.

Both are doing well now that they've been on meds to treat their ailments. Suudella had a nasty case of seborrhea, along with infected ears and eyes. The vet also said she'd had an untreated ulcerated cornea and has the eyes of a much older dog than 6.5 from the poor conditions she's endured. Poor little Fili looks like he's got a bad case of "cradle cap", which is actually from sarcoptic mange. So they're both being treated for that as well. We've found it interesting (and sad) that his eartips are now standing upright instead of being curled back - I'm guessing they curled because of the mites chewing on them as the vet said they go for the extremity areas first.

I'm glad you can't tell how thin his hair really is in his pics, as that's really sad to see, too, knowing he must have been just miserable from those bugs chewing on him and him just a baby. But they're both almost "itch-free" and feeling much better. Fili's got teeth popping in right and left now, and he's actually now feeling like playing. He's also hit TWO POUNDS on the scale! That's still about 1/2 of what he should weigh at six weeks old. It's sad that he doesn't have siblings to play with, so we have to make sure we wrestle with him and get him to play with some toys. We haven't seen Suudella play with him - when she hears us coming, she hops out of the box and wants our attention. Fili actually BARKED at us yesterday when we entered the room they're in, wanting us to play with him.

I'd say in another week I'll have to take out the whelping box and let him run the ex pen as he'll be able to jump and hook his feet on the top of the whelping box. He's just so small I've felt it better to keep him safely contained where he could also stay warm and cozy - he had a bit of the sniffles after he arrived, but the vet didn't seem concerned about them. Della is still letting him nurse, but she's spending more time out of the box now that he's active and getting older. He's doing great with puppy gruel and will let you know if you're not fast enough at getting it to him while his mom is outside to potty! Della slaps the floor with her feet when she gets excited, and this morning while out to potty, she BARKED for the first time. We hadn't heard more than a happy groan or a small start of a yodel so far, so they're both showing signs of feeling much better.

Here's a link to some video I took last night of Fili on his blanket. As you can see, he really wanted to be picked up and cuddled! He loves getting attention.

These two are being fostered in Missouri and you can learn more about them and the other cairns up for adoption by clicking here.

Sealed With A Kiss

Written by a CP Intakes Volunteer

Please help welcome the "Sealed with a Kiss" kids:

SUUDELLA. Female, estimated 6 1/2 years (mom to Fili)

FILI. Male, estimated 20 days


SARUT. Female, estimated 6 1/2 years


HALIK. Female, estimated 8 years


KISU. Female, estimated 5 1/2 years

BACIO. Female, estimated 2 years

We've all seen many intake pictures of our cairns that have come to us from bad breeding facilities, hoarders, seizures and shelters. We've seen the horror that these little ones have endured at the hands of humans.

Many of us have been involved with Col. Potter for a long time and think that we have seen it all. I have done Intakes for almost 6 years now and often think I have seen it all. Then suddenly the universe shows me that for all I think I know, there are horrors beyond my comprehension.

This weekend has shown that once again.

Intakes was contacted by a shelter for help with 6 of 12 cairns they received through a seizure. Half of the cairns were considered adoptable through their facility. The other six were not adoptable due to "being severely matted and having skin conditions due to neglect of grooming". Surely understandable, if a dog doesn't "look" good, the general adoptive population most likely won't consider that dog as a new family member. CP has seen a large number of cairns with skin issues and coat issues due to poor living conditions and that is not anything of major concern.

Intakes received approval to take the six, despite how full CP is right now with cairns. That decision was truly a blessing for these six.

Once we had approval and began working with the shelter, we found out that we were in for MUCH more than we expected. One of the six was a 20 day old pup and his mom. One "might" be pregnant. One had an eye that "might need to be removed". All were so malnourished that they gorged when given food. They most likely had never seen that much food in front of them at one time.

We arranged to have the six picked up, with emergency transport of mom and pup directly to a foster home that could isolate them. We don't ever know what illness might be picked up at a shelter, or what illness a dog from a seizure might be carrying, but we do not want a 20 day old pup at a vet.

The other four were taken directly to our vet for evaluation, vaccines, testing, medication for infection, spays, dentals, and boarding for a week. Our version of a spa treatment.

When these four reached the safety of the vet, the vet tech picked up the first girl, carried her to the tub, and began bathing her--sobbing the entire time. She continued her work, one by one, bathing each gently, sobbing through it all.

These are little ones that know only horror in life. They know starvation, thirst, filth and loneliness. Mama Suudella gave birth, starving, tired, thirsty, alone; certainly without any reserves to get through pregnancy and birth.

Yet, when you look at their pictures, after you notice their physical state and dry your eyes, go back and look at their eyes. I do believe there is hope in those eyes. They have not given up on us yet, despite only knowing the dark side of humans. They are going to give us another chance. A chance to show the bright, loving, nurturing side of humans.

Col. Potter has taken on a lot in saying yes to these little cairns. Given their medical needs, this will be hard on CP financially. All four have already needed medical testing beyond what we normally do for new kids. We won't know the full need medically until all tests are done, all results are in, but we know for sure it won't come cheap.

How can we help offset this strain so that CP can continue to help the most needy? Consider donating to the Name a Rescue Cairn program or become a Foster Grandparent to one of these kids, or make a donation of any amount - every single dollar helps!! If you can open your home as a foster parent, that too would be a way for CP to be able to continue its work. We can only say yes if we have a place for each cairn!

We have made a promise to these babies, that we will do all in our power to give them what they need: recovery and a loving happy forever. Never another day hungry, or filthy, or alone. Never another day feeling sick, weak, ill without anyone caring.

We seal that promise with a kiss.

Please click this link to see all of the pictures
(choose 'view this album as guest' under yellow Create an Account button)

Kisses to each of you as you get strong and healthy on the road to your new life!**