Consulting the Crystal Ball…

Foster Spotlight for Joanne and Paul!

I love to sit in Foster Mom’s garden…

…and smell how beautiful it is!

Well…  Hello there!  It’s me, Joanne, and I am so happy that Spring has finally Sprung here in Virginia Beach!  The garden is looking really perky – and it smells good too!  Paul thinks I smell good too, but that’s a story for another day…

Paul just had to check and make sure Foster Mom didn’t wash away my personal scent when she gave me a bath!

Paul and I have spent a lot of years together, working in “the business”.  I think my job was harder, quite frankly, having so many puppies, year after year, that they always took away too soon, but Paul had to do his job longer, and he didn’t get quite as much care as I did (not that mine was so great, mind you), so it sort of evens out.   Sort of…

I wonder if my Forever Home is over that way?...

Anyway, Paul and I made a break for it back in Kansas, and we stopped by and asked Professor Marvel to look into his crystal ball and see if he could find us a Home, but all he saw was some yellow brick road and flying monkeys, so we went instead to seek help at Col. Potter.  The nice people there didn’t have a crystal ball, but they had nice soft beds and good food, and I can’t tell you how nice it was after all those years of work!  To just lie in my soft bed and do nothing was delightful!  I know Paul felt the same way too!  Of course, he also had some terrible problems with his teeth, but he didn’t tell anyone, being a true Cairn, so he just suffered in silence, grateful for his nice soft bed.

Thanks for the nice soft bed!

Well, one day, some other nice Col. Potter Volunteers came by and helped us pack up our bags and move South to Virginia Beach!  This was quite an interesting change for us, not being Kansas anymore, and we decided to let down our guard a little bit and allow this new Foster Mom help us a little.  You see, Paul had very bad infections and terrible teeth, and I had no way to see, at least the way others do it.  Both of us had been neglected, in spite of all the hard work we did, and, like I said, we’re Cairns so we just dealt with it.

This is a great place for a Sun bath!

Well, we sure learned about trust!  Suddenly, we were off seeing doctors and getting poked and prodded and examined carefully, and things started looking up right away.  Foster Mom started to put some nice drops into my eyes every day, and my eyes started to feel better, and then I found I could see again, even if it was just a tiny bit!  Foster Mom was so happy when she realized this because she thinks I am a very sweet girl, and I know she loves me a lot.

Paul's mouth feel sooooo much better now!

Paul, well, he had to have a big surgery to fix his poor mouth, and take medicine to get rid of the horrible infection that had been driving him crazy.  It was a very difficult time for him, but Foster Mom took such good care of him, so he recovered completely and got back to his old adorable self – only better!  Now he doesn’t have to sit in a cage, waiting to be put to work.  Those days are over!  Now Paul can run in the yard with our Foster Brother, guarding the fence and hunting for all those critters that need to be dispatched!  This is work that he really loves!

Paul takes his yard patrol duties very seriously!

Paul and I feel better than we have in a long, long time, so I hope you don’t pay too much attention to our ages.  We are both healthy now, and full of spirit, with lots of Love to give our own special person!  And that’s another thing:  Paul and I are great friends, sort of like having a comfortable pair of Ruby Slippers, but we are both perfectly OK going barefoot!  I mean, if you just wanted a beautiful, mature, young woman, give me a call!  I would love to have my very own person who only has eyes for me!

Paul is very independent, but he really Loves our Foster Mom and he is always excited to see her!

Paul feels the same:  If you want the sweetest, most happy young man to monitor your yard for invaders and greet you with great excitement when you come home, Paul is your guy!  He has great work ethics, so you’ll never have to worry about your yard again – and he really is the sweetest, most charming fellow!

You don’t need to consult that old crystal ball.  Just look into our eyes and I think you’ll see, one of us is a perfect match for your Home, and you will never regret giving us a place to Forever call our own!

Sincerely,

CP Foster Joanne (and Paul)
in Virginia Beach

Find out More about thisAvailable Cairn Girl in VA!

Find out More about thisAvailable Cairn Boy in VA!

CP Application to Adopt form:

http://www.cairnrescue.com/adoption/adoptapp.htm

Read our Intake Story here:

http://cairnrescue.blogspot.com/2013/02/true-love-comes-to-col-potter.html

Please  Consider being a CP Volunteer!

CP Foster Home Application form:

http://www.cairnrescue.com/rescue/foster.htm

CP Transport Volunteer Driver form:

http://cairnrescue.com/rescue/transport.htm 

CPCRN Volunteer form:

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

Col. Potter’s Name a Rescue Cairn Program

http://mall.cairnrescue.com/forms/frm_namecairn.htm

Rescued:four years later : Foster BG is 'just a dog' now

Written by Guinness' former foster Mom

Guinness

Guinness, his Mom's 'furry ankle'

Guinness, affectionately nicknamed Foster BG and Snickers while he was our foster dog lived with us for nine months. He was 4 1/2 years old when he came to us and we helped to prepare him for life outside of a commercial breeding facility. He was crate trained, house trained, discovered toys and the company of cairns and people. He was very agile and we quickly learned that he was an escape artist with the ability to jump very high. In June of 2010, he was matched and he went to live with his new 'Mom' who has shared his new life with me through updates over the years. She tells us he is still quite a jumper and can get on top of her kitchen island, some things never change.

Fast forward three years and she brought Guinness back to where we live to help cheer her on in a race at the beach.  She invited me to come and see him again and I think we all wondered what our reunion would be like.

I am happy to say that he is a well adjusted, friendly guy who lets children pet him and isn't phased by runners or strangers. He was friendly to me but I was one of his Mom's friends now.

It's ok Mom, I'll be waiting for you

If you would like to see how far he has come, you can click this link to see the stories and videos of him when he was a Col. Potter foster - officially named Bubba Gump but we called him Snickers.

This is the story of rescue. A sad or difficult beginning doesn't mean that a dog can't thrive with a second chance. Just ask Guinness.

IN THE FOSTER SPOTLIGHT!!

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

Bubbles is a brave, young at heart 10 year old cairn who has survived 9 years in a puppy mill. Puppy mills often do not provide proper nourishment, veterinary care, exercise or socialization to the animals that they breed. One of the definitions of “Bubble” is “ to rise to or as if to the surface; emerge.”

She was rescued by Col. Potter nearly a year ago in September and quickly became the favorite of the resident boy cairns at her foster home. She has a sweet disposition and has learned to enjoy life, the routine of regular meals and playing with the boys. This may not sound like a big accomplishment but for a dog who spent nearly a decade as a prisoner in a puppy mill,it is a triumph and she has emerged from a life of servitude to a life with potential She is still more fond of the dogs than the people but will relax a little once she is in foster Mom’s lap. It is such a testament to her willingness to grow in her new life that her foster mom tells us that you can almost see her bolstering up her courage to be around people and not run as she makes this effort.

She had a medical setback several months after coming to Col. Potter. She had surgery for the removal of mammary tumors last year. Her post surgical checkup revealed “clean edges” and she is cancer free. Like human breast lump survivors, she will require annual checkups to be sure that she remains healthy. Many people have been touched by her story and have participated as her guardian angels to help defray her medical expenses and place her on the road to a brighter future!


She goes outside for her potty breaks but likes to come back inside right away. She is not a chewer. She does like to sit with her toys and “dig” at her blankets to make them just right. At a voluptuous 24 pounds, she has been described as the “Mae West of Doggiedom” or in other words, girls want to be her and boys want to be with her. She takes this in as her due “waddling with magnificent composure between her adoring fans”. She enjoys playing with the other dogs and will initiate play as well. She adores other dogs and enjoys teaching the younger dogs to behave.She is much more active when she is around younger dogs.

She has had the opportunity to become secure enough in her foster home to develop some very cute habits. She “woo woos” when she is waiting to be fed and in case you were thinking about giving the other dogs her food, she sings to get you to feed her first. If this doesn’t work, she will bark at you.She is not food aggressive and doesn’t bark about anything else. If you pick up the cookie jar you will also be serenaded by the “woo woo” chorus and if you have the audacity to laugh at this, she will chide you until you produce her food or treat.

She is a very quiet, reserved big girl who is slowly becoming less fearful of people. Her puppy mill days have made her wary of them but she is loosening up. She is very pretty and sweet and everyone at the vet loves her!

Please don’t let her age discourage you from making her part of your family. She is an experienced mama and she does a wonderful job of keeping furkids in line. She would love to grow old with you and serenade you. Can’t you make room for one more? After all as Col. Potter likes to say, “saving just one dog won’t change the world but it will surely change the world for that one dog”. Bubbles exemplifies that one dog.

If you would like to know more about Bubbles or fill out an application for adoption, please click here.

IN THE FOSTER SPOTLIGHT!!

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

Written by Zander's Foster Mom

Zander is a survivor. He was extremely underweight at only 11 pounds and suffered from a bacterial skin infection which had caused significant hair loss to his flanks and his entire tail. The fur on his nose was all worn off, probably from being confined to a cage (at some point in his life) for a very long time. He was considered unadoptable due to his hair loss. Thankfully, a local rescue person spotted him at the shelter where he had been picked up in April as a stray.

Col. Potter rescued Zander and he was neutered, had his teeth taken care of and was started on a regimen to regain his health and his coat. Our vet estimated his age at approximately seven years. He was very deconditioned at first and was carried up and down stairs and given food and water every 2-3 hours to keep him hydrated and well nourished. He responded very well to his treatments including a switch to corn free-wheat free food and now weighs 17 pounds, scoots up and downstairs by himself and has received medical clearance to be adopted!

He has been in his foster home since early May. Watching him blossom has been a joy. We don't believe that he ever lived in a house before. He is housebroken and will let you know if he needs an extra trip outside. In many ways, it is like watching a child's milestones, first time his tail stood up straight and stayed up! first time he shook for treats, first time he brought the ball back! and medically, when he stopped coughing and his fur really started to grow back. He is developing a cairn "physique" and lopes when he runs as his muscles become stronger.

He has learned to accept the love and companionship of his foster cairn "sisters" , the cats (we caught him kissing White Kitty this morning!) and his foster Mom and Dad. He seeks attention with a cute little stretch where his head goes up while his body leans back or he nudges you with his nose. He enjoys spending time in foster Mom's lap. He likes to help Foster Dad in his office by trying to pull the papers out of the printer for him! He is settling in to the household routines.

He is not too sure about some household noises like the can opener and the garbage disposal but he is getting a little better with them. He is very industrious and has given himself the job of standing at the full view front door and keeping an eye on things. If he gets noisy, we just shut the door and he gets the idea. He is very smart, has a sweet disposition and he aims to please. He loves to ride in the car and gets along well with the other dogs off leash at the dog park. He likes his chew toys and has a favorite that he takes to bed with him.

Zander needs his own forever home. He hopes that someone will overlook his "possum tail" and open their heart and home to him. Foster Mom saw some fur sprouting on the top of his tail with a magnifying glass the other day and it is furring up underneath too. His pictures and videos show you how far his journey has taken him - wouldn't you like to take him the rest of the way? He's ready to come to your house!

Please watch his videos to see his story and how far he has come.

If you would like to learn more about Zander or complete an adoption application for him, please follow this link.

The Foster Spotlight is On CHAMPLAIN!

Hello, my name is Champlain. I am one handsome boyo if I do say so myself! I have been in foster care a while now and sure would like to find a forever home of my very own. The thing is; I think that my picture is invisible on that there rescue site. You ask me why? Well, have you seen me? If you had, you would have already rushed to fill out that application!

I am a protector! See, I protect my foster mom from everyone that comes to the house. I don’t want anything bad to happen to her! She is one special lady, if you know what I mean. (Well, she IS the one with the food and the treats!) If I don’t know you very well, you can come in, but I might try to bark at you and give you a little chase when you leave. Foster mom says that isn’t nice.

Geesh, I just want her to be safe! I am getting a bit better about this, but still have a bit of work to do. I am a cairn! What did you expect? A lab? Nope, I need attention! If you adopt me, then you can work with me too. Anyway, once I get to know folks, then I am a real marshmallow!

So here is the deal: I have a list of things I am looking for from my forever family!

1. I need unconditional love!



2. I need treats!



3. I just have to have walks!



4. I need discipline (that’s accordin tu foster mom!)



5. Most of all, I need you!

So, if you want a handsome, loving, boy of your very own, fill out my adoption application and we’ll live happily ever after! Just look at my pictures! Goodness, how can you resist! If you would like to read the updates written by my Foster Mom click here.

Take a Look at Me Now!

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

Written by a CP Media Volunteer

Colonel is back in the spotlight to ask you if your heart has room for a special guy. He loves his foster Mom in New Mexico but he is ready for a forever home of his own. Won't you take another look at him?

Dogs from commercial breeding facilities spend their lives in cramped cages with little exercise or loving interaction from humans. They live in their cages with little or no veterinary care or training. It is amazing how resilient they are when given the opportunity.

Colonel spent 6 years in a commercial breeding facility. He faced his new freedom with courage and determination. He has gone from stiff joints due to inactivity to exploring the yard with a cute lope as he investigates his new surroundings and chases and plays with his foster sister. She is a lot more fun than toys.

He likes to cozy up to his foster mom and moves her hand off the computer keyboard when is time to pay more attention to him and give him skritches. He loves to sit outdoors with the other dogs and his foster family. He is still shy around strangers but he warms up once he gets to know them.

Housetraining is proving to be one of his greatest challenges but he is making great strides. He wears a belly band and stays dry for 4 hours at a time. Foster Mom thinks that with a few extra trips outside and some consistency he could be very far along in a matter of a few weeks.

Colonel says:

I want to be your velcro dog. If you are home alot and have time to spend with me I will fill your heart with love and joy. I have one floppy ear so you can always spot me in a crowd. I would like to keep your girl dog company too- I love to play with girls and I would like to be the only boy dog. I need someone who likes to takes me outside and give me a special blueberry treat when I potty outside. Of course I may keep you busy at first! I would love the chance to join your "furmily"

If you would like to see the latest updates from my foster Mom, please click here.

Wait until you see how much progress I have made!

You can see me in action if you click on my video!

The second annual Bark around the World is coming in May! Bark is an event that brings awareness to the plight of the puppymill dog. Look for Col. Potter at Bark and network with local and national groups.

Be inspired by educational speakers and learn how to take action to bring an end to puppymills.

Please join us for a day full of education, music and fun!

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!

The Foster Spotlight is On COLONEL!

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


Hi! Psst … over here, it’s me Colonel! I think you may have missed my picture on Col. Potter’s available cairns. I am living in New Mexico with my Foster Mom, Deb. The reason I think that you missed my picture is because I have not heard from you! I’ve been waiting for so long and I know if you would just look into my eyes you could see how much that I need you. I really love my foster mom and all my foster brothers and sisters, but I truly want a real Mom and Dad to call my very own. A sister would be nice too!

Do you see me now? I’ve got that cute little one ear up and one ear down going on. Kind of cute, huh? Seeing you have missed so much of my life let me tell you a little bit about myself. I am 7 years young. Did you know that Cairns can live to be 16 years and sometimes older? It’s true. I have spent most of my life in a cage and really never had the chance to be a puppy, but I’m catching up on that now. I love to go outside and play and run cause I never ever got to do that before. Do you have a yard? I bet you do. I would be so, so happy to run and play in your yard with you. I am a very shy boy, where I came from the humans were just not very nice, so I'm a little scared of new people. But I am getting better about meeting new folks. It just takes me a while. And geesh, if I am gonna be your protector some day, you don't want me to like everybody, now do you?! I need someone to help me overcome my shyness and teach me and love me and make me feel like the most special dog in the world! I hardly ever have accidents in the house cause foster mom Deb has been teaching me to be a well trained young dog. Did I tell you I like girl dogs? They like me too. I don’t know about boy dogs though, I think they are just jealous cause all the girls like me! Do you know how to give skritches? It’s okay if you don’t, I can teach you. I love getting skritches it feels so good. I would love to be your special dog and I am so glad we met. I’ll be waiting to hear from you. Just ask for Colonel, I will answer you right away, I promise!

Colonel is a CP history maker! Did you know he was our 2000th Cairn?? If you are interested in adopting this special little guy fill out an adoption application! To read additional updates written by his Foster Mom click here.

The Foster Spotlight Is On GIANNA!

Happy New Year! I was at a New Year's party and got to thinking about this past year. I thought I would share my past year with you all!

My name is Gianna. I have been on a long journey and thought you all might like to hear my story!

I originally came from the South. Down South that is. I am a true Southern Belle! I enjoyed being a Southern Belle, but a day came when I was very mysteriously moved from my Southern home, to a new home in Southern California! I wasn't sure what was going on and was a bit nervous about this whole moving thing! There I was, just uprooted from the person I owned by a big bad hurricane and hard times.

Thus began my journey in my new home. It's called a temporary home. Hmmm…a foster home. So this is not my furevah home, but an in between place? I am training this family and then I will have to do this again? Oh bother, these humans sure are strange! But, all aside, I do love my foster home family!

My temporary family in Californea has been most helpful! They had me diagnosed with diabetes and now that I am getting my shot after my morning and evening meal, I am feeling healthier. And let me tell you, that shot after my meal just takes a second to give! Fast and easy. Kind of like my motto for fun! Then my foster mom had my cataracts removed! NOW I am having fun, feeling frisky and having a blast!

I love to meet new people! These two-legged hoomans just fascinate me! I love to hear them laugh! Some of them are pretty funny you know. So how do you make them laugh? Well, you just have to put some of the Southern belle away for starters! Now here are some of the things I like to do to get the attention and laughter of the humans!

1. I want your attention! I sit up in my best Meerkat pose so that you think I am cute. It automatically brings you my way for scritches and or treats!



2. Why don't you lie down on the floor? I promise to come to you immediately and kiss you all over for a good belly rub!



3. I like to walk backwards. My hoomans then go beep…beep…beep. I think this is so funny. I am not sure who is laughing the most, them or me!



4. I love to kill my toys! Or shake them to death. The hoomans just watch and laugh. Well, I am having fun and if this makes them laugh, then it's even more fun!



5. This is my favorite! I love to fall over on my back, stick my legs straight up and rub my back on the ground and grunt! The hoomans go nuts over this!

There are a lot of other things I love to do. I do like going for walks and I love to cuddle. I will sit at your feet while you are busy with the TV or while you are on your computer. I love to go for rides so I am a great traveler if you like to travel! I would love to be an only dog, but I guess I could handle having a boy around! What I am looking for here, is a home that has a sense of humor and a whole lot of love. I have a lot of love to give to a fureveh family and now that you know a bit more about me, go to Col. Potter Cairn Rescue and fill out my adoption application!

To apply to adopt Gianna click here!