Update on Sarut Potter's Story

Written by Sarut Potter, her foster mom (and her keyboarding assistant)

Note from CP's Blogger: We would like to thank all of you who have made such generous donations towards Sarut's care. She even has a facebook page! This has been updated by our CP volunteers and we would like to share her story and her road to recovery with all of you. This is her story since December 27th and we will be posting weekly updates from now on.

Look at me. Look at me. Look at me. Don't I look just AMAZING. My fossa mom and CP are working wonders. (Of course I am working hard at it too ♥ Sarut aka Sugar

Some words from my foster mom and from me (I'm first of course):

Hello everyone! I am sorry that fossa mom has been slow at keeping you up to date on my progress, you understand, she is only human. My mouth feels much better after having so many teeth removed that I have even been chewing on some bones, I like bones. I have not been back to the doctors yet because fossa mom keeps calling me mangy but she says I have to go see the vet real soon. I hope they have cheese there or maybe a cheese bone!

Foster mom here. Little Sarut, or Sugar as we have been calling her is doing great. She is still getting medicated drops and ointment in her eyes throughout the day and loads of vitamins and supplements in her food. I carry her drops and ointment in my pants pocket so they are warm when I put them in her eyes, I think she likes this. Sugar usually makes this cute closed mouth smacking sound as I scratch her jaw after I put her eye medicine in. She is a very sweet girl and likes to be at your feet or in your lap during the day. I had to put a dog bed under my computer table for her and almost always find Sugar and Halik curled up together in it. They like sleeping with each other. Sugar has two more mange treatments to go and she hardly itches anymore. Sorry we do not know more about her eyes right now but we can say they don't look any worse, only better for this little one!

There has been a number of serious inquiries from adoptive homes and we are touched with how good people are and their willingness to continue with what probably will be life-long eye drops and care. It's hard for me not to fall in love and want to keep her, but she needs to go to a home that she can bond with and get the individual attention she deserves. We will be talking with some of these homes in the coming weeks and will keep everyone in the loop on what is happening. Please let's not forget the other Sealed with a Kiss kids that arrived with Sarut and in the same rotten shape or the other needy foster kids in our program. They all need your love and support.

January 10, 2011

From my foster mom:

I wanted to share that I was just watching Sarut play bow in directly front of my Daley. Daley is completely blind and Sarut is completely sight challenged. Daley started walking forward directly into Sarut. Sarut jumped for joy thinking someone was going to play with her. In her jumping she lost track of where Daley had wandered off to and was left standing alone in the dark. Feeling sorry for her I gave her a chunk of swiss cheese, life is good.

Jan 7, 2011

I would like to thank everyone for all the love and support I have been shown in my first experience at a real life. I'm feeling better, but surely I'm not out of the woods yet. I have some more medication to go before a return trip to the vet. I will let everyone know what the doctor says, especially about my eyes. Now go and check out the new photos I posted today. And yes, that IS me. I am so pretty . And don't forget that Col. Potter needs help with funding as my care is very very expensive. You can help by following this link♥sarut> Now they just have to pay for my care. A lot of $$ has been raised but a lot more is needed to take care of the injustices of that terrible place that I lived.

See my progress in the video here:

Jan 5. 2011

The Col. Potter people are interviewing two eye specialists now. With one they can get me in within 7-10 days. With the other it will be about 2 weeks unless they consider it an emergency.

They agree with us that it's important to have her feeling somewhat better when she goes in as far as recovery and mouth/teeth healing since mouth/ear infections can also be transferred to eyes since they are somewhat related.

Dec 31, 2010

Look how much better I am already! (And notice that my shirt is the color of CHEESE ) ♥ Sarut



Dec 30, 2010

Good morning everyone! I slept well and in freedom only to wake up to breakfast. Can you imagine that? Food in the morning and the night and sometimes in between as well. Life in freedom is wonderful. ♥ Sarut (Please donate to help with my care by clicking here .

Dec 28, 2010

Guess what? I like cheese! CHEESE! Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Dec 28, 2010

Thank you everyone for getting this going and spreading the word about poor little ole me. I am in a wonderful foster home and getting nutritious meals to help with my emaciation, treatment for my mange, and of course intense treatment for my eyes. I do not know when I will be up for adoption as Col. Potter will not let me go until I am health or healthy enough that a forever home can finish the process of my rehab.

Dec 27, 2010

Sarut needs your help. She has not had an easy start to life. In her 6.5 years on this earth so far she has known nothing but filth, cruelty, and abuse. Her tiny 12 pound body endured more than its share of neglect. Sarut is in danger of losing both her eyes. She is currently on expensive medication to try and save them. Sarut had a dental when she was spayed and besides the 5 missing teeth she had already she had 17 more extracted and is on pain medication for this. As if her emaciated body had not had enough hardship she also has mange and is being treated for that. This little girl is a fighter and wants to live a good life. She can't do that without your help, won't you please consider becoming a guardian angel for Sarut? Please click here to join those who have already become her guardian angels.

Carthage survives her surgery- won't you be her guardian angel?

The time had come when a decision had to be made for Carthage. Our little girl's ALP has continued to climb into dangerous levels despite every effortknown to support and help her liver and bring the results down. The cancerous mass continued to grow. The heartworms and the effect they are having on her heart and lungs also are a big factor. With all these factors going against her, Carthage's time is short unless we can get that cancerous mass off of her.

The decision had been made ... Carthage would have surgery tomorrow afternoon. It's her only chance ... Tonight, I placed a special order for Carthage's dinner menu ... she enjoyed a big, juicy hamburger ... the first ever in her life. The entire staff at our vet is absolutely in love with this sweet, older girl. She has known kindness,comfort and love for the first time in her life.

Tomorrow, before being put under for surgery, Carthage will get a BIG hug and kiss and told how much her Col. Potter Family loves her. All I want is to be able to place another special dinner menu order tomorrow night for Carthage ... I'm thinking chicken sandwich because it's healthier.

Please join me in asking for guidance for the surgeon's hands, that the cancer has not spread throughout Carthage's body and that she has enough Cairn spirit and fight left in her to survive the approximately two hour surgery and begin the next part of her journey to freedom in her loving foster home who is waiting for her.

Our girl is one tough little Cairn!!! Surgery took more than two hours. The mass was huge, more than 4" long and tightly adhered to her muscle walls. She has 4 incisions throughout her abdomen and chest, the longest being more than 9" long to be able to get at the tumor from all angles and detach it from the muscles and other organs. Carthage held her vitals throughout the surgery. Her liver looks very pale and swollen. Hopefully getting that cancerous mass out of her with the massive networks of vessels leading from it will allow her liver to heal.

The next 24 hours are critical for Carthage. She is on IV and someone will be watching her most of the night. BUT, SHE MADE IT!!!

I've attached a picture of Carthage post op with her pretty pink bandage holding her IV in place.

Her surgery was amazing, but didn't come without a cost. If you are interested in helping to fund the cost of Carthage's surgery and vet stay, please visit the website to make a donation and indicate it is for Carthage. She will also be going into our Guardian Angels program so you can give to her in that way as well.

It was a GREAT day for our Cairn girls, both Carthage and Chloe coming through with flying colors!!!




Please vote once a day for Col. Potter in the Animal Rescue Site's "Shelter Challenge"! Search for Col. Potter in Medina, OH. Feel free to cross-post and please pass this on to your friends and neighbors!

Vote in the Shelter Challenge by clicking the following link: VOTE HERE

Need more detailed instructions? Click the following link: SHOW ME HOW

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.

MAGIC - FINAL UPDATE!

Written by CP's VP of Intakes

What a journey ... a Magical Mystery Tour if you will!

Magic has gone from a little Cairn struggling to hang on to life to one that is now grabbing life with all three paws he has left! The mangled and crushed leg has now been amputated. The shattered pelvis has been repaired. The troubling liver values on the ALT and Albumin are finally perfect. The damaged liver, intestines, stomach and all the other internal organs that suffered such severe trauma are healing. The road burned skin is showing signs of improving. And the attitude and will to live in this little Cairn has remained unwavering -- truly Magic!

He has touched and amazed everyone he has come in contact with including the seasoned and experienced surgical team and staff at the vet. They couldn't believe some of the things he was doing despite the injuries and pain and how quickly and well he is recovering. This boy had quite a few tricks up his sleeve, or should I say his paw, to show them!

Magic is now up and walking around following surgery, although he seems to prefer walking on his front two legs and ignoring the rear one for now. But, with therapy and exercise, he should once again find use for that rear leg especially when chasing critters - only from the safety of a fenced yard of course!

Please feel free to share Magic's incredible story along with the link to our Guardian Angel page. When you scroll to the bottom of the page, you will find the donation form to complete and submit.

This is my last update on Magic because he's moving to his foster home today, so from here on out once he arrives you will be getting updates from his foster mom. But, before I turn Magic over, I hope you will bear with me as I have quite a few THANK YOUs I would like to acknowledge.

First, to the lady who literally scooped up Magic's shattered and broken body from the pavement -- THANK YOU! Then to the local rescue group who took Magic to the vet immediately for treatment for shock and pain meds to stabilize him, then went looking for rescue help for Magic and then taking him to the surgeon the following day to get the process started -- THANK YOU! To Col. Potter Cairn Rescue Network for quickly and positively replying to my urgent message to see if we could help Magic before he was put to sleep -- THANK YOU!

Without the wonderful surgeon and the entire vet staff in Lexington, KY Magic would not be here today. They did a wonderful job of explaining everything, giving us our options, taking their time to insure that Magic could withstand the trauma more surgery would cause to his body, for their skill and caring and always keeping us informed -- THANK YOU! We often say Col. Potter is a family and a family takes care of their own. Nothing could be more true! Without your support and generosity, there would have been no Magic -- THANK YOU! To Sharon and Nick M. who have visited Magic during his hospitalization and provided pictures and updates. Today, Nick will pick-up Magic from the vet and start him on his journey to the rest of his life -- THANK YOU! Finally to Stacey W. and her girls who will be fostering Magic and helping him through his recovery and therapy period. Yes, it really is going to happen! Magic will really be home with you tonight -- THANK YOU!

Magicians use slight of hand, mirrors and illusions to thrill and captivate their audiences. One little Cairn boy named Magic thrilled and captivated his audience with his determination, attitude and will to live. Of course, that adorable little face didn't hurt anything either. I've attached one more picture of Magic shortly after he was struck by the car. Take a good look at Magic in this picture and remember him, for the next pictures you see of Magic will be of a happy, proud Cairn standing on all THREE legs at his foster home!

NO SURGERY TODAY FOR MAGIC...

Written by CP's VP of Intakes

Magic continues to do well, but his albumin level has dropped again and the surgeon wants to wait until it comes back up before doing such a long and involved surgery.

Other than that, Magic continues to do well and amaze all that come in contact with him. I was joking with the surgeon yesterday that if they weren't careful, they would have to tie Magic down as he would be up and walking around on his three legs even with the broken pelvis. The surgeon kind of laughed and said he didn't think that would be happening until after surgery. WELL GUESS WHAT! Today, while the vet tech was cleaning his kennel and had him moved to one side, she looked up to see Magic walking around and trying to get out! Can't say I didn't warn them!

We'll check his liver values again tomorrow, and if that albumin goes back up, we may do surgery tomorrow. It's a day by day check at this point as we don't want to do anything to set Magic back any further after he's come so far. So keep those thoughts and prayers coming for Magic who has shown the vet staff a few of his own magical tricks already!

Please click here for Magic's Guardian Angel page.

Magic had a VERY GOOD day today!

Written by CP's VP of Intakes

The surgeon is very pleased with the obvious improvement in Magic today and can see a difference in him since the amputation of his leg yesterday. He looks much brighter, peppier,animated and appears to feel better. Magic is eating well and has had no vomiting today!

Today was also a special day for Magic as he had visitors! He has fast become a vet staff favorite and is a very sweet, friendly and loving little boy even when he was in so much pain and so heavily medicated. I'm told that he gives sweet little kisses and is always wagging his tail to draw someone's attention. But, today Magic had not one, not two, but three special visitors. Our own Sharon M. stopped in for a visit and some lovin' with Magic, also the local rescue lady who contacted CP to help Magic stopped in to visit and his true rescue angel who found Magic after the accident and called for help stopped in to visit him. This is certainly one popular little guy and one who really enjoyed ALL the attention today!!

Hopefully, if Magic continues to do well and his blood panel looks good tomorrow, he will have the second surgery to repair his pelvis. I won't know for sure until tomorrow morning, but it looks promising. Please keep Magic in your thoughts and prayers that he continues to show his true Cairn spirit and the "Magic" continues.

Sharon was nice enough to share a picture she took of Magic today. Just look at that precious little face. I just know he has a few more tricks up his sleeve ... or should I say paw!

*MAGIC SURGERY UPDATE!*

Written by CP's VP of Intakes

Magic came through the amputation surgery with flying colors!!! He is awake, alert and resting comfortably following surgery.

The surgeon reported to me that we absolutely made the correct decision to amputate rather than try and repair Magic's right rear leg. During the amputation he was able to determine that absolutely none of the arteries in Magic's leg were still capable of carrying any blood. The only blood the leg was receiving was through the cappilleries. Magic's body was working hard to sustain and heal that leg when there was absolutely no chance of that ever happening. The hope is now all that healing energy will be transferred to other parts of his body. The longer that damaged leg remained,the greater the chance of infection or gangrene setting in. He's at a much better place in his overall recovery process now due to the amputation.

Magic will be monitored closely tomorrow and his liver function values will once again be tested. If all looks good, the hope is that the repair of the pelvis can take place on Friday. That surgery will take much longer than the amputation today and will be more involved, so it is important that Magic be as healthy and strong as possible.

Please feel free to share Magic's story with your friends, family, coworkers and other groups you may be a member of along with the link to his Guardian Angel listing. Every dollar will help to insure Magic continues to receive all of the medical care and follow-ups he will need now and throughout his recuperation and rehabiliation.

Please click here for the link to Magic's Guardian Angel page or here to our sponsor a cairn page.


Our Magic has made it past the first surgical hurdle and is living up to his name, but I know it's because of all the Cairn and Guardian Angels looking down on him and your unwavering thoughts, prayers and support. Please don't stop now ... let's keep it going for Magic!

Magic is Going in for Surgery!

Written by CP'S VP of Intakes

OK everyone, our boy Magic needs all of your thoughts, positive energy and prayers now!

I just spoke with the surgeon and Magic is at a point that the leg that needs to be amputated is probably hampering healing to the rest of his body. His ALT levels are down nicely, but his Albumin has now once again dropped. His vomiting is greatly reduced and he ate some solid food again yesterday. It's the crossroad of taking the chance of putting him under anesthesia to amputate the leg so all of his healing powers can go to the parts of his body that really need it, or waiting longer to see if the liver can work even harder at healing itself while his body is also trying to the heal the leg that can't be saved. We've decided to go ahead with the surgery to amputate his right leg today. The surgery will only take about 30 minutes and the surgeon will call me when it's done and I will let you know.

PLEASE keep Magic in your thoughts and prayers today ...

Tuesday's Update on OUR Injured Boy - He's a CP Kid!

Written by CP's VP of Intakes

It is my honor and privilege to introduce you to a new member of the CP family ... a little boy who has withstood more than any little Cairn ever should, a little boy who has demonstrated a Cairn spirit and will to survive, a little boy who has needed A LOT of Cairn "Magic" to make it to this point ... and so what better name for this little Cairn boy but ... Magic!

He officially became a CP kid on Sunday with the receipt of his release from the local rescue group along with a lot of thanks and gratitude from them for all that CP was able and willing to do for him.

His ALT levels have dropped substantially, while his Albumin level has increased -- both a sign that his liver is healing itself from the trauma it suffered. Right now he is fighting some gastric upset which was expected, due to the medications and pain killers he is taking. His vomiting has lessened today and the surgeon's hope is that by tomorrow it will be to a point that it is safe to perform the first surgery on Magic without danger of him choking on his own vomit while under anesthesia.

Magic will have to undergo two separate surgeries on two separate days. The damage to his right rear leg is so severe and has caused such extensive nerve damage that he has absolutely no feeling or movement in that leg. The first surgery will be to amputate Magic's right rear leg. Assuming that surgery is successful and there are no negative side effects to Magic, then hopefully he will undergo the second surgery two days later to repair the pelvis which is fractured in 4 places by plating and pinning it.

As you can imagine, these surgeries will not be easy on Magic and he will once again have to draw upon his Cairn spirit, his will to survive and that Cairn "Magic" to get through these surgeries. The medical procedures for Magic, along with his care leading up to the surgeries and following them are quite expensive. Please visit our Guardian Angel page where you will find Magic, along with a listing of all our other Guardian Angel kids. It provides details of how you can help support Magic with his medical needs. If you would like to help Magic, please click the following link: I'll Be Magic's Guardian Angel!

How many of you know the story of how Col. Potter Cairn Rescue Network came to be? How many of you know there was a young male Cairn named Col. Potter? How many of you know that Col. Potter ran out into the street right in front of his family's home and was struck by a car? Col. Potter wasn't as lucky as Magic ... he died before they could even get him to the vet. Somehow I think Col. Potter is looking down on Magic and helping him achieve a different fate than he had.

Tomorrow is going to be a very important day for Magic and in addition to Col. Potter watching over him, Magic can definitely use your prayers, positive thoughts and energy that he will be stabilized enough for the amputation surgery to be performed and for it to be successful. I won't know until the surgeon calls me tomorrow if it's a go for surgery, but I will post as soon as I do know. Please keep Magic foremost in your thoughts and visit his Guardian Angels listing to support his medical expenses. I've posted his photos previously, but I've attached one of them as a reminder of his sweet face saying THANK YOU for giving him a chance ...

A Special Day For A Special Little Girl!

Today is a very, very special day for foster mom Cathy and her foster girl Gianna or GiGi as she calls her. (Read GiGi's story here.) Today GiGi will undergo a very delicate surgery to correct her eyes. This is the very FIRST time CPCRN has been able to approve the cost of this amazing operation. GiGi’s Foster Mom has raised money to help with this expense and GiGi has also been helped by her own Guardian Angels, but it is through YOUR equally amazing generosity that this surgery is possible!

Due to YOUR support Col. Potter was able to win the Yahoo! "Be a Better Inspiration" Charity Contest and receive matching funds from Yahoo! Thanks to YOU Col. Potter is able to go where we have never gone before! We dug deep and raised those “unique” donations. We kept on trying to spread the word and struggling for just $10 more, even when it looked like we could not win. Then when all was said and done, we DID win and we did it fair and square thanks to YOUR support. So today when GiGi goes under the anesthetic and her surgeon makes those tiny incisions in her eyes, all our hearts will be with her. The same sense of “oneness” that bound us together when we thought we had lost the Yahoo! contest and lifted us so high when we found out we had won, will hold GiGi in our prayers and hopefully will bring her once again into the daylight of vision.

Col. Potter has the funds to be able to help this sweet little girl THANKS to YOU and to YAHOO! for their matching donation! On behalf of our very special little girl, GIGI, all the CPCRN volunteers collectively say THANK YOU!! THANK YOU for helping to make this possible and THANK YOU for helping us help GIGI!!

Update from GiGi's Foster Mom: The doctor called and said GiGi's surgery went really well. (He's a man of few words). She's in recovery and I'll be calling a little later to make sure she's still doing okay. I'll be picking her up sometime tomorrow after 12pm.