The Foster Spotlight is On PHYLLO!

UPDATE: We are very pleased to announce that Phyllo has found his forever family! Are you looking for a TERRIFIC TERRIER? Check out our available cairns! Look for Phyllo and other "Happily Ever After" stories on our Post Adoption blog.



Please call me Phyllo or Milo. I come to both names! Let me tell you a bit about who I am.

I have been around the block a time or two, let me tell you. At fourteen years young, I've seen a lot of life. Wait a minute now, I know what you are thinking. Fourteen you say? By golly you're ancient. As a matter of fact, I can keep up with most of the young whipper snappers I live with right now!

I enjoy going for my walks. I also enjoy going for drives in that funny box on wheels! In fact, I want to be involved in whatever it is that you are doing! Unless it's a bath or something undignified!

And here is another great thing about me. I like to sit next to you, or even lay down next to you, but you don't need to have me in your lap to show me you love me. That is for those darned ole excitable puppies! Lots of hugs and kisses aren't needed as I like to be loved from a distance…appreciating my own space.

I am not a barker. I leave that to those silly pups. And while I do go to the door when I have to go outside, I will not lower myself to scratch at the door, or jingle a bell, or give you a bark or a paw signal that I need to go out. So you just need to get used to my routine and when you see me at the door, let me go out to do my duties as a gentleman!

You know, I used to be an only dog. Yep, I had my master to myself. Well, things changed for me and now I am in a house with a gazillion dogs just like me! Now I don't mind all these kids, but it would be nice to have a forever home where it was just me and my master, or one other dog.

One more thing, I do not need toys. I really don't play with them. But I do like a nice bed to nap in the sun and I am always ready for your next adventure. So when you are looking at all those kids, really take a good look at me. I am ready for a dignified forever home where I can get all the love I need without all that gushy stuff! Remember, that is fourteen years young!!!!!!! Your man, Phyllo!

If you are interested in reading more about this special little guy, click here for updates from his foster home.

If you would like to adopt Phyllo, please click the following link: I WANNA ADOPT PHYLLO!

2008 Ends with Intrepid Joining the CP Family!

Written by CP's VP of Intakes

The lengths and sacrifices rescue people will make for the sake of the animals never ceases to amaze me. Last Saturday I was contacted by the same group that brought the Holiday Confections to freedom. They were making another mercy rescue run and there was one little Cairn. They knew it was short notice and right in the middle of the holidays so would understand if we couldn't help. Their transport was leaving Missouri the morning of 12/30 loaded with Puppy Mill kids who would spend the new year in freedom. It would be stopping in Memphis, Birmingham, Atlanta and then ending in Ft. Myers, FL.

Tackling the challenges one by one:

1. Yes, CP can take the Cairn


2. No one in Memphis or Birmingham, but possibly Atlanta. Problem, the transport was going to be arriving around 1:00 AM on 12/31. Who would be willing to get up in the middle of the night and drive to meet a transport to pick-up a furkid? Enter Susan C., THANK YOU Susan!!


3. Now would the vet we work with in the Atlanta area have room for this little Cairn during the busiest week of the year for boarding? They graciously did some rearranging of space and found a kennel for us.

And so, at 2:30 AM on 12/31 with Susan C. waiting in the dark and chill of the Atlanta night, the transport vehicle pulled into the meeting place. It was jam packed with crates and little furfaces not knowing that all their tomorrows were going to be better ones. After trying to hand Susan a little Westie and then a little Yorkie, the little Cairn was found and officially in the loving arms of Susan and Col. Potter - our final intake of 2008. What better way to end 2008 but rescuing a little PM girl on the final day of the year and being able to start her new life in the New Year!

Please help me welcome Intrepid who is 1.5 years old. Susan was kind enough to take pictures of Intrepid while they spent some quality time bonding in the back of Susan's Explorer. The pictures are a little blurry because as Susan put it little Intrepid was much more interested in climbing in Susan's lap for some skritches and lovin' than picture takin'!! She's going to be a heartbreaker!!

Intrepid is a donated name from James and Jo Ann M. - our very own Maureen H.'s parents. The Name a PM Cairn program is a vital part of CP's ability to continue to help PM Cairns. The funds from this program go directly to help with the expenses of vetting a PM Cairn. Please remember this program and consider it as a gift, memorial or honorarium. There is nothing better than the gift of life and that's exactly what this program means to PM Cairns.

Finally, Intrepid is in need of a foster home. If you would like to help, please check out our Foster Facts or email our Director of Foster Homes.

HAPPY NEW YEAR Intrepid and welcome to the CP family -- what a GREAT way to end one year and start a new one!!!

Freedom Fliers III Are Cleared for Landing!

Written by a CP Intakes Coordinator

Saturday morning, the third group of Freedom Fliers took flight over the skies of Georgia heading to South Carolina with Monika. Released to spread their wings into freedom were three YOUNG adults and five pups. They've made it out, they can soar, and the sky's the limit on the possibilities for these lucky kids!

Please help me welcome:

Meadowlark -female 10/21/07 wheaten

Tern - female 09/14/06 wheaten

Blackbird - female 12/25/07 brindle

Oriole - female 13 weeks wheaten

Swift - male 13 weeks red wheaten

Gannet - female 13 weeks brindle

Razorbill - female 11 weeks brindle

Gull - female 11 weeks brindle

We are in desperate need of foster homes for all of our new mill kids, and there are MANY. Please consider fostering one, these kids REALLY NEED YOU!! If you are interested in fostering, please contact Col. Potter's Director of Foster Homes by clicking here.

Special thanks to Monika for picking these babies up!!!

A Puppy Mill Cairn's Holiday Wish ...

Written by CP's VP of Intakes

Twas the first night of winter, when the chill really starts to set into their bones, the sleet and snow accumulates on their dirty, shaggy, matted coats, and they huddle in the corner of their cage trying to turn their back on what is just the start of another harsh winter to survive in a puppy mill. The little bit of fresh water they got is fast frozen and if they are lucky, maybe they can lick some snow to get some water. Hopefully the miller will venture out in the nasty, cold weather to even throw some food their way to help keep the little bit of body fat they have to help insulate them. They sit shivering in their cages watching the miller as they remove the dead dogs or those they just don't want or aren't productive anymore. When will it be their turn, when will the suffering be over? They don't even connect with the real world, they live in a daze - a haze of abuse, hunger and filth. Those strong enough will survive until spring to go through the cycle yet again, but the weak, the sick and the injured will perish in yet another puppy mill winter.

Here comes the miller, grabbing the Cairns out of the cage by the scruff of the neck, is this it, is it their time to finally die and be put out of their misery??? Wait, what's happening ... They are handing the Cairns to someone else who is stuffing them into different cages and they are being shoved into a giant box. A little time passes and all the Cairns are now moved to the new cages. Suddenly, they are no longer feeling the cold wind, the wet snow and stinging sleet. This giant box seems to be moving and they can feel heat. The little Cairns don't know what to think as they sit in their new cages shaking with fear. What is going to happen to them now?

Little do they know their Holiday Wish has just come true ... they have been released from a puppy mill into rescue. No more frostbit ears or tongues frozen to icy metal. They will be cleaned, fed, watered and vetted. For the first time in their lives, they will spend the holidays indoors, in someone's home, being warm, comfortable and loved. This is every Puppy Mill Cairn's Holiday Wish ...

Over the next two weekends, Col. Potter has the opportunity to make 15 Puppy Mill Cairn's Holiday Wish reality ... 15 little Cairns can come in out of the cold and snow. BUT, in order to make their Holiday Wish come true, they need that foster home where they can be warm, comfortable and loved for the first time in their lives, learning to enjoy the holidays and knowing they are safe and no longer have to wonder when their time will be up.

The holidays are already a tough time for us to find enough foster homes for those in need and with this many coming in, it really stretches our resources. Everyone has plans to either travel to visit family or have family visit them. There are parties to attend, shopping and decorating to get done, just not enough time in the day to get to everything. Everyone wants to wait until things settle down after the holidays before they take on a new foster.

These little Cairns don't get a choice of when they get their opportunity at freedom. They don't know or understand what holidays are or that people are busy and don't have time for them. They've never had anything in their entire lives and expect so little. Whatever you can offer them, is FAR better than anything they have ever had.

THIS IS THEIR CHANCE AT A HOLIDAY WISH COME TRUE ... CAN YOU HELP ... WILL YOU HELP ... YOU WILL BE REPAID WITH LOVE TENFOLD ...

If you are able to foster one of these precious little Cairns, and help them get their Holiday Wish, please go to our website and complete the Foster Home Application by clicking here: I'll Grant A Wish!

My hope is that every one of these Cairns will be able to exclaim as they head to their foster homes ... HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

A Little Girl Finds Safety Through Family Heartbreak ...

Written by CP's VP of Intakes

Domestic abuse is a terrible blight in US society. It tears apart families, leaving lifelong scars on children and adults alike from mental and physical abuse at the hands of loved ones. Those scars can go much deeper and include family companions who are displaced as a result of the abuse.

Such is the story of one little Cairn girl. Her family fled the domestic abuse taking place in their home and sought shelter in a safe-house. They also feared for the safety of their two family dogs and had them placed into boarding with their local vet, hoping that within a couple of weeks they would be resettled, either back into their home or another home, and could be reunited with their beloved dogs. But the weeks stretched on and it became painfully apparent they would not be going home any time soon. After consulting with their vet and some very difficult soul searching, they made the only decision they could, the one that placed the welfare of their pets first -- they surrendered their dogs to the vet for placement. Luckily for this little Cairn girl, this vet also happens to be the vet of our own Roberta E. who immediately got in touch with Intakes to see if and how we could help.

At first I wasn't sure we would be able to help or at least not immediately as we have a waiting list for owner surrenders to come into CP and this was just one more to add to the list. But, this little girl was so adorable, has absolutely no issues and is literally ready to find her new forever home. Intakes worked with the Matchmaker Team to find an already approved adoptive home that was willing to become an approved foster home with the intent of bringing this little girl into their home and making it her forever home. Who says dreams don't come true?

Please help me welcome Quincy Ann to the CP family and wish her and her foster/adoptive family good luck as they start down the path to their happily ever after!

Tick Tock, Tick Tock, Tick Tock

Written by a CP Intakes Coordinator

Tick Tock, Tick Tock, Tick Tock.

That is the sound of time running out for two little cairn pups. Ten months old, with no place to go. Time was running out. If the sun rose on Saturday, November 15, and a safe haven could not be found, two little cairns would pay with their lives.

Tick Tock, Tick Tock, Tick Tock.

Could anyone HELP these two?

They were OH SO CUTE, and OH SO SWEET, and OH SO COMICAL as they played together. BUT there was just NO SPACE for them. NO foster home for them. NO room for them anywhere. NO one to take them in.

Tick Tock, Tick Tock, Tick Tock.

Could anyone HELP???

Enter COL . POTTER CAIRN RESCUE NETWORK! YES! We can help and then the clock starts to tick faster ...

ticktockticktockticktockticktock

Can we get there in time? Can we find someone to pull them?

ticktockticktockticktockticktock

Can someone, somewhere, anywhere, foster one of these kids?

ticktockticktockticktockticktock

Well, we will cross that bridge when we get to it, we can NOT let them die!

ticktockticktockticktockticktock


Please help me welcome Tick and Tock!

Tick is our little girl, standing in front of a bush.

Tock is our little boy, wagging his tail.

Yes, they are safe, yes, Col. Potter worked some magic once again for two little ones whose time had almost run out! If you are interested in fostering, please check out our Foster FAQs by clicking the following link: Tick Tock We Beat The Clock!

Please welcome Tick and Tock!

Col. Potter's Newest Boy Cheats Death!

Written by CP's VP of Intakes

Have you ever wondered what it must be like for animals that end up at shelters and especially HIGH KILL shelters? They have no say in what happens to them, they don't know where their families have gone, why they are there, what is that smell, why are other dogs crying, whining and barking, why they cold, where is their blanket and toys, but most importantly when are they going home. Many of them get that look of despair almost immediately. In HIGH KILL shelters where the dogs only have 3 days, they don't have to wait long until the Angel of Death comes to find them.

I was notified of a young male Cairn in a shelter in KS Wednesday. He had been adopted on Saturday, but returned on Sunday because the resident dog in the home that adopted him, didn't like the little Cairn. One day, no trying to work with them, give them a chance to get to know each other, just take him back to the shelter. This meant he could have been Put To Sleep immediately as he then became an owner surrender. The Angel of Death was lurking just around the corner for this little boy, but a local rescue group put a rescue hold on him Monday. However, by Wednesday, they realized they had nowhere to go with him and couldn't take him. They contacted me to see if Col. Potter could take him. We are extremely full right now, but how could I let the Angel of Death take this little boy??? OK, we'll work to get him pulled on Friday -- a little breathing room. But that was not to be ... I received an urgent message that he had to be out by Thursday afternoon or the Angel of Death would claim him before Friday as this had already happened to another little girl named Foxy (Cairn mix) who wasn't given an extension until she could have been pulled Thursday ... she was Put To Sleep Thursday morning. After a fast and furious 15 minutes on the phone back and forth with the local rescue, our vet and their representative, I had a plan in place to get this boy out and into the loving arms of Col. Potter before the Angel of Death could claim yet another victim.

After beating the Angel of Death at his own game, I thought this little boy could laugh in the face of death and would carry the name of Samael - the Angel of Death - as a constant reminder that he had WON!

Samael is estimated at less than two years old, very friendly and as you can see from his shelter picture is a little cutie. He will be boarded and vetted and then be looking for a foster home that will love and care for him until he can find a forever home so that he will never meet the Angel of Death in another HIGH KILL shelter for the rest of his life.

If you would like to foster Samael, please check out our Foster Facts by clicking the following link: Saving Samael!

Please help me welcome Samael -- THE GOOD GUYS BEAT THE ANGEL OF DEATH!

Columbus' Voyages Brings Us Another Voyageur!

Written by CP's VP of Intakes

Our 10th Columbus Voyageur sailed into the safe water harbor of Col. Potter!

Susanna - named after Columbus' mother, is a beautiful black brindle, weighing in at 10.3 pounds. This little cutie was wagging her tail as she landed in CP! She is very friendly, loves to cuddle with the new people she has met in the New World of freedom and is as sweet as can be!

She is being boarded and vetted and will be ready to start her new life next weekend. My thanks to Marlene T. for meeting Susanna's ship. We are in need of a foster home for Susanna. If you are interested in fostering for Col. Potter please check out our Foster FAQs by clicking the following link: Sign Me Up!

Please help me welcome Susanna to the New World of Freedom and Col. Potter!

Paid Euthanasia or Second Chance?

Written by a CP Intakes Coordinator

Darra, an 8 year old girl, was brought to a kill shelter in Ohio, as a "PAID EUTHANASIA". Her owners were 'TIRED OF TAKING CARE OF HER'. NOT because she was terminally ill, or suffering from horrible injuries. But because THEY WERE TIRED OF TAKING CARE OF HER. Did they consider someone else might not be tired of her, might be able to love her, would be honored to have her as part of their family? Nope. If they didn't want her, no one would have her.

Her FIRST lucky break came when concerned shelter staff begged the administration to give them time to find a rescue group to take her - to NOT euthanize her. That bought her enough time for the staff and dedicated volunteers to find Col. Potter! Intakes was contacted Tuesday. We immediately told them YES! we can take her, just give us a minute to find help to pull her and get her to the vet.

And here it gets better for little Darra - her SECOND lucky break! Amazing volunteers at the shelter coordinated to get her moved to our vet the very same day! One of the volunteers picked her up and drove an hour to get her set and SAFE. From death row, to safe haven, in two short days! There truly are huge hearts everywhere!

Darra is already spayed. She is housetrained and very sweet. She does have some skin issues, and ear issues, which will be evaluated and she will begin treatment at the vet's. She is very confused, and I am sure sad at the loss of what family she knew.

Darra needs a foster home. She needs to find a safe place to lay her head, and gather her thoughts, before moving on to her wonderful forever.

Can you foster sweet Darra? Can she find her LUCKY BREAK NUMBER 3 with YOU??? If you have space in your home and heart for this senior baby, who was tossed aside, please check out our foster facts and apply to become a CPCRN Foster Home by clicking the following link: I’M LUCKY BREAK NUMBER 3!!

Welcome Darra, we love you and will take good care of you!!

Col. Potter Wants YOU!

Written by CP's Volunteer Coordinator

CPCRN is experiencing record numbers of incoming dogs needing foster homes and incoming applications needing to be processed. Our need for new volunteers in ALL AREAS is great right now. Even if you have only a couple hours a week free, you can help coordinator a home safety visit or drive a leg in a transport. If you have not filled out our Volunteer Forms, please consider taking a few minutes to do it. We always try to find the best fit for your skills, experience and time restrictions. We all have busy lives but the Cairns will thank you for any way you can volunteer.

Volunteer form:http://cairnrescue.com/rescue/volunteer.htm

Transport specific form (if you can help by driving a leg anytime in your area)http://cairnrescue.com/rescue/transport.htm

Remember if you are a CP Adoptive Home, that your dog came to you because people - many wonderful people, volunteered to rescue/transport, foster, check references, inspect, match and keep tabs on YOUR adopted Cairn Terrier. While fostering is always our greatest need (and Adoptive Homes can be approved VERY QUICKLY for fostering), there are many ways to help.

Thank you for considering volunteering!

"To the World you are a rescue person, to a rescued dog you are the World."

Columbus Sails Into CP Waters!

Written by CP's VP of Intakes

History tells us Columbus sailed on four voyages to the New World discovering lands filled with abundance and beauty.

It is going to take multiple voyages for the Cairns released from the puppy mill after the miller's death to reach their New World and discover the abundance and beauty of the world called freedom. The first voyage of these Cairns brought three little ones to the New World. There were supposed to be five on the first voyage, but only three were "ready" to set sail today. The next voyage is scheduled to sail next Thursday and we'll see how many sailors are on that ship and how many more voyages there are to come.

The first voyage, of course, brought us the captain himself, aboard his flagship and he brought his wife along for company. Let's welcome our first voyageurs:

Columbus: Male, red wheaten, friendly but also scared, he has an eye infection

Santa Maria: Female, black brindle, friendly

Filipa: Female, red wheaten, friendly and already giving kisses

These voyageurs are now staying in the New World at our vet where they are being boarded and vetted. They will continue their journey next weekend when they go to their foster homes. If you are interested in fostering one of these little sailors and helping them learn about all the wealth and beauty life has to hold for them, please check out our Foster Facts by clicking on the following link - Foster a Cairn. My thanks to Marlene T. for providing the transport vessel and photos of our voyageurs.

While we are welcoming these from the first voyage of Columbus, let's also hope for the safe passage of the others as they embark on their voyage to the New World known as Col. Potter!

Here's Pixie!

Written by a CP Intakes Volunteer

Saturday this gorgeous cairn, Pixie, officially became a member of the Col. Potter family. She is 7 years old and a not so pixie-ish 22 pounds. Pixie has spent her entire life in a puppy mill doing what puppy mill girls do - have babies. When Pixie gained her freedom she had given birth to her last puppies not too long ago. She came into the humane shelter with a hernia and enlarged mammary glands. The wonderful staff at the shelter took care of her health issues to help her on the road to health. Pixie spent a month at the shelter having surgeries and recuperating. The humane society called Col. Potter this week to help Pixie get a start on her new life.

I want to take a moment to share more of Pixie's background and the enormous task involved in her rescue. Some of you may remember that a few months ago a puppy mill in Wisconsin announced it was going out of business. This puppy mill had 1200 dogs of various breeds. The Humane Society of Wisconsin took on the monumental job of helping these dogs to a new life. The shelter is taking in large numbers each month. They do the initial health screenings, some of the vaccinations, spay/neuter and any other necessary procedures. Breed Placement works with rescues to assure the dog has the best chance possible. They are to be commended for all they have done and are doing. Pixie is not the first cairn from this shelter to join CP nor will she be the last. When they call, Col. Potter is ready to go into action. Without the help of all the CP volunteers we couldn't save cairns like Pixie.

Pixie has a gorgeous terrier coat and is only going to get more beautiful with a spa treatment. She is currently spending her week at the vet finishing up her vetting and getting ready for the next step. Pixie will be heading for her very own foster home and her first dog bed! If you would be interested in fostering Pixie, please check out our Foster Facts.

A big thanks to Joan N. and Mary Jean O. for being Pixie's rescue angels and a big WELCOME to Pixie!

YOU CAN HELP SAVE A CAIRN!

Written by CP's VP of Intakes

A puppy miller in MO died unexpectedly leaving behind 60, yes SIXTY Cairns and Pekingese. Col. Potter has been asked to help rescue the Cairns but, we can only take as many as we have foster homes for.

With the large groups we have recently rescued, our "regular" foster homes are full to the brim. These Cairns deserve a chance to grab the brass ring of freedom and be loved, spoiled, pampered members of a family. They are currently living in a horse barn with no light and little ventilation or some of them are living in horse trailers. Won't you consider opening your heart and your home to these Cairns????

If you've never fostered, I can assure you it will be one of the most rewarding things you have ever done!! If you are an approved foster home and haven't fostered in awhile, please consider helping one of these Cairns.

We aren't sure how many Cairns will need our help, but please remember, we can only help those we have foster homes for. If you are interesting in fostering a Cairn please check out our Foster Facts. THANK YOU for helping to get these Cairns out of the horse barn and trailers and into your homes!

If you aren’t able to foster a Cairn we still have numerous ways you can help! Please consider filling out a volunteer application. After all, it takes a "village" to save a Cairn! :)

Please Welcome Col. Potter's Newest Puppy Mill Kids!

Written by a CP Intakes Volunteer

Intakes was contacted on Sunday by a woman who was rescuing three cairns from a puppymill. She could only take them if she could find a rescue group to accept them. The miller told her there were two females and one male, ages 9 and 11 YEARS old.

Col. Potter said yes!

Wednesday night, she met Kathy H. with the cairns. Kathy described these three kids as the biggest cairns she has ever seen, weighing in between 26 and 28 pounds! She doubts they have ever been groomed, and said they could only be described as yaks. They are friendly and vocal, letting Kathy and Barney know they wanted attention.

Each of these kids were named through the "Name a Mill Cairn" program, and I am proud to announce them! Please help me welcome:

Bubbles - Wheaton Female - friendly and vocal, dark tips on her ears and tail. She was named in honor of our own Sister Bubbles, Carol L. Kathy said her personality fits her name!

Shipwreck - Wheaton Male - friendly and sweet. He was named in honor of Joy W's beloved boy, who crossed the Rainbow Bridge in May.

Kenda - Wheaton Female - shyest of the bunch, on the quiet side. Her name means 'Child of clear, cool water'.

They will be ready to move to their foster homes the weekend of Sept 27. If you would like to foster one of these special kids and give them their first look at what life SHOULD be like, check out our Foster Facts!

If you would like to name a mill kid, you can find out more by visiting our website and clicking on the "Name a Mill Cairn" button on the home page. It’s a wonderful way to honor a loved one, and help a puppy mill survivor!

Col. Potter Has a New BABY!

Written by CP's VP of Intakes

Sunday Col. Potter was contacted by a puppy mill owner. She said she had three, 8 week old male puppies that she couldn't get rid of and wanted to surrender. Within two hours, Molli C. was on her way to meet the miller and pick-up the puppies. When Molli arrived, the miller only had one puppy saying she had found homes for the other two already. WHAT???? In two hours time??? No way, but there isn't anything we can do. Molli walked away with one adorable little boy. And we can only hope the other two are safe somewhere else.

WARNING: the attached pictures may cause weak knees and a yearning for puppy breath in your home!!!

Rufus is a donated name from our Name a PM Kid Program. My thanks to the donor for helping to support our efforts to rescue PM kids!!!

Oh, and before I forget, Rufus already has a foster to adopt home, so he's taken, but there are LOTS of other Cairns waiting at the gate that need a foster home. If you aren't already on the list of available foster homes and you are interested in fostering check out our Foster Facts. We may have another large group of PM kids come in this weekend and we might need your help with them!

In the meantime, please help me welcome Rufus to the CP family!

Safe In CP Without A Minute To Spare - Written by CP's VP of Intakes

We were contacted by a shelter in Virginia that they had an 8 year old female in desperate need of rescue. She had been at the shelter since July and they were full and the ones that are there the longest have to go. She was an owner surrender to the shelter - her previous owners had said they couldn't care for her any longer and her REALLY BIG sin was she had killed a rabbit and they were very upset about that. This girl almost received the same death sentence as the rabbit. She was on the list to be put to sleep on Friday but hadn't been pulled from her kennel when Intakes made the call and was able to get her a stay of execution!

She is now safe and being boarded and vetted awaiting a foster home that will understand her interest in rabbits!

My thanks to Marie F. and Ann S. for their assistance in getting her to freedom. We don't have a new CP name for her yet and we also are in need of a foster home for this little girl. If you are interested in fostering for Col. Potter check out our Foster Facts. Also, stay tuned today for a MAJOR announcement concerning some PM kids that found their way to safety in the loving arms of CP yesterday.

Give a Bark Out to Barkley! Written by a CP Intake Volunteer

This weekend a little red wheaten boy entered the loving arms of Col. Potter. Please welcome Barkley! We are also welcoming one of our newest foster homes who stepped in to give this little guy a new chance on life. Beacon's new Forever Dad, Dan M., answered the call when we were looking for a foster home. Please join me in welcoming both Barkley and Dan. I would like to thank Sandy E., Mary Jean O. and Dan M. for giving up their Saturday to get Barkley to his foster home. If you would like to open your home to a foster check out our foster facts!

Do You Remember Miracle? (Entry Seven)

Some Col. Potter cairns develop their own "fan club" and such is the case with Miracle. For the next few days we'll be posting his story - how he came into Col. Potter, his surgery, life with his Foster Mom and "nurse" and a wonderful update from his Forever Home. Do you remember Miracle? (To read previous entries click here.)

The following is a synopsis of Miracle's journey with CPCRN written by his Foster Mom in October 2007 in response to a question posed by a new CP volunteer inquiring about the nature of Miracle's wounds:

Warning - parts of this post are graphic.

Miracle was attacked by Pit Bulls. His "kind, caring" owner took the boy and dumped him at a shelter on a weekend. No one saw him until Monday morning. When they found him he was nearly dead, covered in horrible wounds, with his right front leg nearly torn off. His head and chest showed multiple bites. He was covered with filth, dried blood and MAGGOTS. The Shelter's first reaction was to put him out of his misery. But someone knew an angel, and called CP's very own Lisa. Lisa called the CP Board who (bless them) said, "Yes, Of course try to save him!" The Vet wanted CP to be sure they understood that he might not even survive the surgery. Lisa named him Miracle. And a lot of folk prayed.

Lisa nursed him for a week or so. Then he was transported by Lisa to Iowa from where he was supposed to go on to Valerie. However he was "accidentally" dognapped by some crazy woman in Iowa. This loony just fell in love with him and since she had a foster spot open, he just kind of, umh, stayed. I remember getting a call from Mo. She was very diplomatic and asked point blank if I understood that he was not out of the woods and we could still lose him. And at the least he may lose the leg that was almost torn off. Could I handle that kind of thing? I told her that I would not be happy, but yes, I could do what needed to be done.

Well it turns out what needed to be done was for our Baylee to meet Miracle. When he first arrived he spent quite some time in a private apartment (X-Pen) in my office. He slept a LOT. The other dogs sniffed him but took very little notice, except for Baylee. She lay by his pen and stayed very close to him. At first I was a bit worried. But I soon realized she was looking after him. When he was able to get out and about Baylee was with him all the time. She walked with him and sat with him and watched him. What she didn't do was try to lick him, which I found interesting. I would sit with him on my lap and rub his wounds and stretch his leg. (His leg would not stretch because of the scarring, so I thought a little physical therapy would help.) But Baylee would sit right there with her nose on my lap as if to say. "Now be careful of his owchie, Mom!" He got a lot better.



Then one day He stood up on his hind legs to ask for a cookie. The next day he was missing. I went to look for him and he was on TOP of the table in the dog room with his head in the cookie jar... I kid you not! I have pictures to prove it!!! Mo was not happy. "You are supposed to be keeping him quiet!" she said. Whoops, Sorry. I forgot to tell Miracle he was still sick!!! Soon he got better and was adopted by a wonderful family in Colorado.

I loved him from first seeing him in Lisa's arms. But here is the really amazing thing about fostering: I knew he wasn't mine. He knew he wasn't mine. I don't know how the dogs know. But from the second he met his Forever Dad he went with him and never turned back to even look. I cried all the way home. But he slept all the way HOME. He knew where he was and where he was going. Lisa was his angel. Baylee was his nurse. I was just a temporary lap. He knew it and I knew it and I don't know how.

For you folk out there who worry about not being able to say goodbye to your fosters: Don't worry about it. Know that a little piece of your heart will leave with them... but luckily that leaves a hole to be filled, and then along comes the next little lost soul that needs you for a while ... just a while …

If after reading Miracle's story you find your heart moved to foster fill out a foster application form and you too can help a cairn on the path to the life they deserve!

Dead Dog Walking - Written by CP's VP of Intakes

Thousands of dogs are euthanized each and every day in shelters in this country. It's not the shelter's fault. They simply don't have the space and resources to house all the dogs that are found as strays and surrendered by their families. These dogs die in a variety of means from very humane injection to torturous heart stick. The majority have done nothing wrong in their lives and don't have a say in what happens to them. They are at the mercy of society, economics and some simply because they outgrew puppyhood. They are Dead Dogs Walking into eternity.

The Rescue Team was alerted to a possible Cairn at a shelter in TX. The picture was inconclusive if Cairn or not. With the holiday weekend, we were having a hard time getting in touch with anyone to get any additional information. Monday we received word that this boy had until closing time at the shelter to be adopted or rescued or he too would be a Dead Dog Walking into eternity. He didn't have a tomorrow. We finally were able to reach the shelter mid-afternoon and get some additional details on him: 18 pounds, prick ears and he would in fact be dead in less than 4 hours without help. Thank goodness Kim D. was home and answered my urgent phone call! While we called our rescue friendly vet to see if they had room, Kim headed to the shelter, knowing if he wasn't Cairn, she would have to leave him. With less than 1.5 hours to go before he was to be put to sleep, Kim called me to say she had a brindle Cairn in her car, he was very sweet and friendly and even knew how to sit. He seemed to really be enjoying being out of the shelter and with people who cared about him. He had escaped being a Dead Dog Walking. He was now safe in the loving arms of Col. Potter.

Please help me welcome William. He is being boarded and vetted before he will move to his foster home with Carol L. and her girls.

William escaped death, but please think about all the other dogs that weren't as lucky as William was and they did become Dead Dogs Walking. We can only rescue as many as we have foster homes for and we are becoming very tight on foster homes. If you have room in your heart and your home for a Cairn foster check out our Foster Facts and consider becoming an approved foster home. Don't let a Cairn become a Dead Dog Walking because we don't have room for them...

Welcome Bayo!

There are many ways a dog can be in danger at a shelter. The most obvious is being PTS when their time is up. Another is being a young, intact terrier at a shelter near a large metropolitan area where bait dogs are sought. Such is the case of our newest CP cutie pie! He's only 8 months old, was an owner surrender to this metropolitan area shelter as they weren't able to give him enough love ... HUH? He's 8 months old, he's a BABY, of course, he wants love! Well, he's found it now with Col. Potter!

His name is Bayo. Thanks to Maureen H. for pulling him and Mary Ellen L. for arranging boarding for him at her vet. Maureen said when she hooked the leash on him, he took it in his mouth as if to say, I know the way out of this place, let's go! Bayo pottied and pooped once they got out of the shelter building and then hopped right into Maureen's van ready to get on with his life! Did I mention that he's a CUTIE PIE!!!

Bayo will be ready for a foster home next weekend. If there are any takers to foster Bayo, check out our Foster Facts, but you better have your sign ready ... this one has FOSTER FLUNKIE written all over him!

Please help me welcome Bayo!