Ringing into the New Year…

Contributed by CP Foster Archibald

Hey!  Look at me!  Doesn’t my revitalized coat look great?

Warm greetings from Texas!

In case you don’t know, my name is Archibald, but you can call me “Arch” if you like!  I am hoping, maybe, you would like to call me “your own”?  At least think about it?

I am quite a good companion, now that Foster Mom has taught me a few things, and I am the most excellent house guest she has ever had, or so she says - Even better than the resident dogs!  I am friendly to everyone, I am courteous when playing with my Foster siblings, and I am cool and calm when everyone else is barking up a storm, chasing a squirrel or some other critter.  I am so quiet in the house, Foster Mom keeps my Christmas bell on my collar so she can find me!

I don’t bark so much anymore!  I wear a bell, I’m so quiet!

Surprised?  If you don’t remember, when I first came to Foster Mom, she just didn’t understand what I was trying to tell her, and she did not realize that I did not know how to read lips.  She thought I was just barking and barking!  But Foster Mom really studied me and realized that I could not hear her!  So I couldn’t hear her and she didn’t understand me – sounds like a lot of people, right? 

Anyway, my Foster Mom was determined to resolve our communication problem and she started working with hand signals.  I see pretty darn well – and I am very smart – so this hand signing worked out very well!  It is quite simple, really, and I know signs for “Sit” “Down” “Shake” “Quiet” and “Cool it” and my Foster Mom can teach these signs to you very quickly – so we could communicate too!

I am very well mannered with my Foster sister!

“Cool it” is my special signal to not get excited about Foster Mom’s food.  I am very “food motivated” – which is great for training – but I have to be careful about what I eat so my beautiful coat stays lush.  Foster Mom has worked very hard to get rid of my skin problems and she tells me that I have to only eat the proper grain-free food to keep my coat and skin in good shape.   Of course, I would still love to eat Foster Mom’s food too, so “Cool it” comes in handy when I get excited and forget how miserable I was before Foster Mom straightened out my diet.  That’s really the only fault I can confess to, so I am sure you will be able to work this out with me as well!

Oh!  And I discovered you don’t need a lot of teeth to kill a squirrel!

O.K., Time for a quick nap…

I really am a great companion… and very cute!

I would love to be your only companion, getting all your attention, and maybe learning to be a Therapy Dog or something, but I am also perfectly fine with other siblings if you are truly the right person for me.   Fill out an Application for Adoption and tell me about yourself! 

It might be a good sign!  

Sincerely,

CP Foster Archibald aka “Arch”

Find out More about this Available Cairn in Texas!

 

CP Foster Adonis is making great progress!

Contributed by Adonis' foster mom


Adonis (of the Famous Lovers) is from the Ohio hoarder that had 200 dogs stacked in crates in the home. He's about 5 years old and is a total pistol. Either he was someone's loved pet before they got him or they treated him like a house pet, as he is nothing like an abused dog. Having said that, he does have some trust issues. When he first came here, he was fine for the most part, but then he started resisting all my attempts at petting within a week. He really didn't want to be touched, so growled and snapped to show me that. And anytime I raised my voice, he would cower as if he thought he was going to be beaten.

Once 'I' learned to not push his boundaries, he learned to trust me. I can pet him without any growling and he chirps and chortles when I come home from work as he's so glad to see me. He does still have some issues with hugging, so we don't. Well recently, he went on a play date at Westie Rescue Houston. They rescue Westies, Scotties and Cairns (and too many mixes). He was running around and playing with the other dogs (about 7), terribly happy to find so many toys on the floor, and never growled once at the male or female humans.

There was one old yorkie mix (looks just like a yorkie but white) who is very old and a real BEECH. He was bouncing and trying to get her to play, but she was heck bent on trying to set him back on his haunches with the few remaining teeth she has. I had to tell him to leave her alone, poor thing. He played long and hard with the other dogs that would join him. The change in him is remarkable and he's going to make someone a fantastic companion. Adonis is one of those Cairns that is too smart for his own good, talks a lot, is very interactive, and insists on telling you what he wants when he wants it. I'm so proud of my little black boy foster.

Adonis is being fostered in Texas and you can find out more about him and the other cairns available for adoption by clicking here.

CP foster Dividend arrives in Texas!

Contributed by Dividend's foster mom



There's a new girl in town. I picked up little Dividend this morning from Miss Kim's husband, who was nice enough to bring Divi home from her spa week. She is much sturdier looking than I expected from the report of severe tick infestation when she came in. She was good for my husband, and kept her crate dry last night. I gave her a little shower, and then we did some brushing. No vermin at present, but her hair is VERY thin/almost moth eaten in places. She investigated the toy bed and selected an orange snake to drag around. She wasn't thrilled about picture taking. This was the best I could do.

She seems like a sweet girl. I hope my guys don't ruin her.

Amy in Texas is fostering Dividend who will be available for adoption after her evaluation period.

CP Foster Jethro is waiting for his forever home - won't you consider adopting him?

Written by Jethro and his foster mom


Here is Jethro. He is ready to roll for a new Forever Home. He is a happy guy who seems to have minimal baggage. Please keep him in mind if your family wants a pirate dog. ( Jethro says: I only have one eye. It has been gone for ever so long but it doesn't bother me at all)

Ok. My two week evaluation period is up and I am officially accepting applications for my new Forever Family. Here's a list of things I will be looking for: Someone to love me and keep me - forever. Someone to take me for walks. A yard would be nice, but not a deal breaker. Someone who doesn't think I'm handicapped. So what if my eye is missing? I play just like every other dog. And I see just fine with the one I have. Watch Jethro work over a raccoon toy: tinyurl.com/3b7jhaf

I need someone around so I don't get lonely; either another dog friend or a person. I am very good company! And I'd like some toys, and balls to throw. And treats for when I'm a specially good boy (and sometimes just because you love me). If these criteria are easy for you, then fill out that application right now! Time's a wastin'!

Please go to our website to find out more about Jethro who is being fostered in Texas.

CP foster Slater and his surgery - won't you be one of his guardian angels?

Written by CP's Director of Foster Homes

Amy has shared some information on Slater, who was brought into Col. Potter and is being fostered by Amy. Slater spent his life outside in the backyard because his owner could not house break him. What she did not know was that it was not his fault. He was not dumb, he was not being stubborn, he could not help it! After many tests, very expensive scans ($400+ for these), it was determined that Slater had a portosystemic shunt, which basically means, the main blood to his liver was being routed around his liver instead of through his liver. Because his liver is not working properly, he has to eat very low protein foods as his liver does not have the capacity to break these down, be on many medications, one of them lactulose to control his ammonia level. When an ammonia level is too high, it produces hepatic encephalopathy and until we were able to figure out his issue and start him on these meds, he was aggressive, almost uncontrollable. Once Amy started on the lactulose and got his ammonia level down, his whole demeanor changed and he became a "new" boy.

Slater needs very expensive surgery to correct this congenital issue he was born with. Ideal time to do this is before a year old. Slater is 4 years old. He is past the ideal time but the surgeon feels he has a very good chance of correcting this and allowing him to live a normal life. Due to the liver not working properly, Slater drinks huge quantities of water and because of this, urinates huge quantities of urine. If he wants to have a good life and get to live as an indoor dog in a home, he needs this surgery.

This surgery is almost $3000 - a stunning blow to Col. Potter. I know we are hitting you all up left and right for donations but this little boy desperately needs guardian angels and donations so that we can provide him this surgery. We do not want to have to tell him "no", sorry, you are not worth it. He is worth it, he is still very young, he deserves to be live in a home. He deserves to be free of the many medications we now have to give him. He deserves this surgery. Will it be risky due to his age, you betcha. Do we owe him this change, you betcha. We can do this if everyone pitches in just a little to make his life better.

CP's foster Austin Blu - VIDEO

Submitted by Austin's foster mom

If you are unable to see the embedded video, please follow this link

I told my son that I had given AB aka Batty a bath and planned to make an Oscar winning movie today. Unfortunately, today it started raining cats and cairns,then switched to snow and sleet. He was totally distinterested in "playing" in the snow, so here he is lurking around in the sun room. And that is Baby, the granddog, watching him be a goof.

Austin is being fostered in Texas and you can learn more about him and the other cairns available for adoption by clicking here.

CPs foster General Sherman - VIDEO!

Submitted by General Sherman's foster mom

please follow this link if you cannot see the embedded video,

General Sherman is being fostered in Texas and you can learn more about him and the other cairns available for adoption by clicking here.

CP Foster Trudel gets her blankie!

Dictated by Trudel to her foster mom




Auntie Mary J., thank you so much for my beautiful hand crocheted blankie I will cherish it. Foster mom said she will make sure I get my use out of it as it also gets cold here in southeast Texas. Hope you like the pictures, my foster mom snuck up on me to take them.

You can find out more about Trudel and the other cairns available for adoption by clicking here. Col. Potter is proud to have blanket aunties who provide each of our foster cairns with a hand crafted blankie of their very own!

CAIRN TERRIER DALEY IS STILL LOST IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOW FOUND!

Written by Daley's Mom

Please forward this link to your friends and relatives who can forward it to their friends and relatives so that Kim can have as much manpower as possible to search door to door for her beloved Daley who is unable to see or hear and is undoubtedly scared and needs to be found soon.

LOST DOG

Lost on Ross Trail

Arlington, TX 76012

Female - Spayed

Small shaggy terrier – 20 lbs.

Light Tan almost White

Answers to Daley and is Blind

Please Call 817-455-8439

LOST CAIRN - ARLINGTON,TEXAS CAN YOU HELP SEARCH? - NOW FOUND!

Daley is a 10 y/o wheaten (tan) shaggy dog with short legs and is mostly blind and mostly deaf. She got out last night through an open garage door and unfortunately she wasn't wearing a collar or tags. Her collar was off until she could get it washed and back on her so Kim's been searching all night. She put up signs first thing this morning then went off to the shelter to see if she had been taken there. As of this time, she has not been found.

Welcome Ariana!

Please welcome Ariana into CP! She was an owner surrender - her dad was crying as he released her to the shelter. He is an older man who had to move to an apartment that didn't allow pets. I picked her up last Sunday, 2/10/08. So far, we know that she has a collapsed trachea, which means she coughs whenever excited or picked up (picking her up means a little added pressure to the chest area). After several days of antibiotics and a cough suppressant, she rarely coughs now and is full of spirit. Ariana is very sweet, gives lots of kisses, but cries at night because she is alone (I think she must have slept with her former owner). You cannot imagine how heartbreaking it is to hear her cry and cry and cry.... As soon as I go to bed, she starts panting heavily, then it escalates to pants/whines, then louder whines. I know all she wants is to snuggle for the night with me, with someone. I'm sure she misses her dad. After three nights of only a little sleep, I finally found the magic word to make her hush and go to bed - "No". With owner surrenders, these dogs know many things, and we foster moms have to figure out what words work for them.

Ariana is 9 years old, 18 lbs, spayed, and loves to "frolic". She is mostly a happy little girl, and has moments of cairn silliness. She also has an umbilical hernia. We think her family didn't have the money to have the hernia fixed, as they probably had to spend lots of money to treat her for heartworms a few years ago. Fortunately, Ariana is heartworm and parasite free now, has good knees and hips, only pinpoint cataracts so she can see just fine, and can hear well, too. She's up to date on all her vaccines, so will be available for adoption soon. We plan to have her hernia fixed, as well as giving her a badly needed dental (at least one tooth needs to come out). I'm so thankful that the shelter volunteer and the shelter worker thought she might be a cairn and contacted me. I'm keeping Ariana temporarily. I'm hoping a CP foster home is looking for a very sweet and house trained little girl that needs help... Ariana is currently snuggled up on the couch, as in one of the pictures below.

Ariana has the cutest and tiniest cairn "turtle tail" with just a slight curve to it (does not curl over). Ariana has a wonderful mahogany/grey brindle coloring, except for her face/head which is silver/black. Ariana is the perfect lap dog for that person who truly needs cairn love to get through the day. She makes me aware that life is more about love than anything. This girl is sweet, sweet, sweet! Ariana is very thankful to all of you who do whatever you can for the many cairns in need.

Servus

I hope you all can see the wondrous miracle that CP has wrought with this little guy. At first he was afraid to even look at me when he arrived 9/23/07. Now he gives kisses and wags his tail all the time. He's finally starting to look like a real cairn, now that his coat has grown in a little. Servus was a mill boy, and so matted that he had to be shaved by the vet. I've included his intake picture for comparison, as well as a couple from a few days later. He doesn't even look like the same dog. Servus loves to play with toys and has a lot of that cairn attitude. He has survived heartworm treatment, will soon be neutered, have a dental exam and will need at least one tooth removed. Servus is a work in progress with very little problems. He continues to need work on marking, but a bellyband takes care of that. He is not afraid of thunder or the camera, and it's almost difficult to get a pic of him without him nosing into the camera. He loves attention and quickly comes to be petted. He will make the most wonderful companion for that lucky adopter. I trimmed his tail hair short, as I think it looks better and cuter than with the hair left longer (Servus is missing part of his tail). This boy has overcome so much with CP's help. You should all pat yourselves on the back!

Servus is a big boy, standing 14 inches tall at the shoulders and weighing in at around 20 lbs. Servus wags his tail all the time, and is mostly a very happy little boy. He just needs a quiet home that will continue to help him grow into the magnificent cairn boy he was meant to be. He wants to be the lead boy, so going to a home with a female or two would be best. Servus is still a little shy, so needs help to become an outgoing cairn. Regular outings will do wonders to help him learn that no one is going to hurt him. He loves to take things, like most cairns. He's better with the cats, but isn't allowed to get into their area.

Servus has the most beautiful eyes, which I am sure you will see from these pics.

Apply to adopt Servus at http://www.cairnrescue.com/. (Servus #3003 TX)

Heeeere's HUNTER!

One day last week word went out that a high kill shelter was closing for remodeling and any dogs left at the end of the day would be put to sleep. There were 20 dogs in need of immediate rescue including Hunter. The rescue call was heeded and the rescues all worked together to pull the dogs and get them transported. Col. Potter was a part of the network and Hunter was brought to safety with the help of a volunteer in Houston. Hunter has been in quarantine this last week. Unfortunately, Hunter tested positive for heartworm. He's a sweet dog, thought to be 3 to 4 years old, no one is sure how he ended up at the shelter - he may have been a stray. Only Hunter knows. He will be heading to his foster home where he will enjoy some quiet time and get the special care he needs.

Hunter is named in honor of two volunteers who bravely went to an auction recently to save a little girl cairn. They went hunting for the cairns just as Hunter was hunting for Col. Potter. Sometimes rescue can be a very intense situation as Hunter experienced last week. He went from certain death to the greatest chance of life he will ever have. This is truly what rescue is about.

Thanks to all of you for your hard work, donations and willingness to help. Because of all of you, Hunter is alive today.