Introducing Kanza!

Written by a CP Intakes volunteer

"Kanza" -- a beautiful name for a handsome young guy. "Kanza" is a word of American Indian origin meaning "South Wind People" or it can be from the Arabic word for "Hidden Treasure."

Well, there's not too much hidden about this treasure! This gorgeous boy is surely the dog in the grey flannel suit, but he definitely doesn't act like a "suit." Kanza is a 2-year-old gray brindle, "On the Go" kind of guy. He's helping out foster mom patrolling the yard for varmints and tracking down those pesky tennis balls--especially those dang orange ones.

Kanza is so good at his job, they say, that he gave his previous owners a real run for their money and they couldn't keep up with his cairnie antics. Well, luckily, Col. Potter is made of sterner stuff and welcomed this active youngster into the clan.

Let's give a wonderful CP welcome to our newest treasure, Kanza!

Precious Pewter joins CP

Written by a CP Intakes volunteer



This tiny boy, estimated to be 7 years by our vet, found himself in a very high kill shelter in CA. Given his 5 days stray hold, on day 6 he was to be euthanized.

Thanks to the very hard work of one of our Rescue Team members, he was saved with only ONE HOUR to spare. Had she not worked as hard as she did, he would not have been rescued and he would not have had the chance to enjoy being a a Col. Potter kid.

His Col. Potter name is Pewter. His name was donated by Doreen W. She won a football pool and generously donated her winnings to the Name a Rescue Cairn program. The name suits him!

As you can see from his intake picture, he is a beautiful grey boy (in need of some grooming). He weighs only 14 pounds! He is at the vet for his neuter, dental, vaccines and testing. He will be moving to his foster home soon, and then onto a wonderful forever!

Please welcome Jilly!

Written by a CP Intakes volunteer



Sometimes owners spend money and more money on their dogs, and still a problem is unsolved. This is what happened to this precious 7 year old gray brindle Jilly. Due to the economy, her owner could no longer afford proper medical attention and felt that Jilly would be better off with someone who can give her the medical care that she needs.

Jilly should be in her foster home shortly. Let's all give a warm welcome with open arms to this sweet girl.

Please welcome Sark!

Written by a CP Intakes volunteer



It is with great pleasure that I introduce Col. Potter's newest boy, Sark! He is 2 1/2 years old, has a beautiful gray brindle coat with a foxy red undercoat and charcoal gray face and paws. His photo does not do him justice. Sark is very social, enjoys the company of others (dogs and people), men or women, young or old. He knows sit, stay, shake and come. He loves to walk and has the strong leg muscles to prove it. Sark also is a master of vocalization. While not a noisy cairn, he does the cairn trill, scream and whine. He also imitates sirens of all kinds - so well some humans have mistaken his imitations for the real thing!

Through an unfortunate turn of events, Sark and his owner had to part. Sark's caretakers wanted Sark to have the best possible chance of finding a new home and Col. Potter is giving him that opportunity.

Let's all give a big bark to Sark!

Welcome Mickelson!

Written by a CP Intakes volunteer



Please help me welcome Col. Potter's new young man, Mickelson. This gorgeous gray brindle 3 year-old found himself surrendered to a shelter when his owner headed off to college. Mickelson is described as typical terrier: exuberant, vocal, full of energy.

He is heading to a foster home this weekend, and I imagine it won't be long before he is adopted!

Keltie, our newest CP furkid

Written by a CP Intakes volunteer



An emergency email came into CP Intakes from an over crowded shelter--"Please help this little 13.5 lb, 1.5 year old male, his time is limited here". Within 24 ours, Keltie was our newest CP furkid. There is not much known about him as he is a shelter stray. However, his transporter did say he is very puppy like and he did not like to be crated, but he settled down within a couple of minutes of been given a toy to play with.

I’d like everyone to give Keltie a big CP welcome!

Welcome Micah!

Written by a CP Intakes volunteer



Please help welcome Col. Potter's Micah. This sweet boy is a beautiful gray brindle, estimated to be between 3 and 4 years old. He is described as sweet and very smart, with amazing house manners. He is typical cairn, loves to be on the move and active. He is settling into his foster home, and will be looking for his forever family soon.

Welcome, Micah!

Elroy joins the CP family!

Written by a CP Intakes volunteer



This extremely CUTE, loving, sweet, shy, little, 8 year old, cairn boy is looking for a little stability. From what we know, he’s had at least 3 homes and for a variety of reasons (none of which were his fault) couldn’t stay in any of them. He’s been with his most recent family for about 2 years, but because of a change in family circumstances needed to move yet again. Col. Potter came to his rescue and promises to find him the perfect home where he will be loved and never have to pack his bags again.

Special thanks to the transport volunteers who literally went the extra mile to get him to his foster home. The three drivers drove a total of 1350 miles! Extra special kudos to Kirk J for driving over half of those miles AND keeping little Elroy overnight so they could get an early start on their day-long journey.

Welcome little Elroy!

A New Boy Joins CP

Written by a CP Intakes volunteer



Sometimes life throws us a curve ball. When Baxley’s mom unexpectedly had to take in her father’s cairn, Baxley had to move. Mom lives in one of those places that has strict limits on number of pets allowed and contacted us for help. Baxley is now a Col. Potter kid enjoying his new life and waiting for a new family to welcome him into their home. The volunteers who helped with his transport all described him as a sweet, friendly, and happy boy.

Today, Baxley is celebrating his 8th birthday. Welcome birthday boy!

Slater joins CP!

Written by a CP Intakes volunteer



Slater is a handsome gray brindle boy who has spent his life living outdoors. Today he became a Col. Potter boy and will learn what it is like to live in a house as part of a family. There were rumors of an almost kidnapping due to his cuteness and calm personality.

Welcome Slater!

Welcome Macadie!

Written by a CP Intakes volunteer



Please help welcome Macadie. This sweet 3 year old girl is a typical owner surrender to a shelter: new baby equals dog has to go. She is a typical confident, energetic cairn. She is friendly, happy, strong. Her coat is a lovely light gray brindle. She does need to drop a few pounds, but that should come easily at her foster home.

Welcome Macadie, we are glad you are part of the Col. Potter family!

Please welcome Harrigan!

Written by a CP Intakes volunteer

Please welcome Harrigan to the Col Potter family. Harrigan was a shelter stray and is estimated to be 3-4 years old. Our volunteer who rescued him from the shelter reports that:

He's a nice little guy with a lot of energy and he is a "bouncer," meaning that he tends to jump straight up into the air in excitement. He seems to love all people and is very social, if a bit wild (but that's probably from being cooped up in a kennel at the shelter). His coat is coarse, even for a cairn and there is some hair loss on his back, but not very much.

It’s so hard to imagine that someone wasn’t missing this little guy, but no one called or went to the shelter to claim him.

Don’t worry Harrigan, we’ll find you a new family that will love you and keep you safely at home.

Please give Cinnna a warm welcome!

Written by a CP volunteer



Cinna led a comfortable happy life with her owner for over 9 years. She was loved, pampered and taken on daily walks. For years these two were inseparable, finding comfort and companionship with each other. However, as the years passed by, Cinna’s owner was finding it more difficult to give her the care she needed. Doctor’s restrictions prevented Cinna’s owner from driving and taking her for walks. The difficult decision was made: Cinna needed a new home.

CP was right there to take in this cairn beauty in. Please give Cinna a warm CP welcome.

Introducting Anderson

Written by a CP Intakes volunteer

After a long hot summer, shelters are filled to their capacity. There comes a time when decisions have to be made. Thanks to Col. Potter, our newest intake, Anderson, was plucked from the “line” just in time!

Anderson reportedly has spent his entire life, which they estimate as 2.5 years, outside chained to a tree. He’s being vetted now, and will be in the loving arms of his foster before the end of this holiday weekend.

I’d like everyone to give Anderson a big CP welcome!

Another new boy arrives at CP!

Written by a CP Intakes volunteer



A call came into Col. Potter from a shelter to help a stray male cairn puppy who had been hit by a car. His back leg needed medical attention. There was no room in the shelter for this puppy, as animals from a hoarder had taken up most of the available room at county facilities. He was taken to a vet, who determined this 11 months old baby boy had “trauma” to his leg weeks ago, but he was well on his way to healing.

He might have a slight limp, but it doesn’t slow him down one bit. Reportedly he’s an active, cairn personality filled little man. Let’s give a big welcome to the newest intake to CP...Boothe!

Welcome Cal!

Written by a CP Intakes volunteer



Please help me welcome Col. Potter's newest member, Cal.

Cute as a button, sweet as pie, this little one bounded into CP's loving arms ready to find his happy forever after. He's a gorgeous young gray bridle boy who, like a typical cairn, has determination and focus on what he wants.

Welcome Cal!!!

Introducing Kaden!

Written by a CP Intakes volunteer



Kaden has had a bit of an up and down life. We have no early history other then he was a stray and became companion to an elderly gentleman for many years. When this gentleman could no longer even care for himself, Kaden was taken in by the man's relative. His relative loved Kaden and even took him with to his work. Then they had a child, and as time passed it became clear that Kaden could not adjust to little people in his home. They knew they would have to find Kaden another home without little people and posted an ad to craigslist.com.

This is where CP's great volunteer searchers on the Intakes Team stepped in. A letter was sent explaining the dangers of offering a dog free and information about Col. Potter. His family contacted CP asking if they could place Kaden with us because they wanted to ensure Kaden would be placed in a home where he would be happy again.

Huge thanks to our CP volunteer who took a day off work to help Kaden become a Col. Potter boy!

Welcome Kaden!

Rescue angel guides Matty to CP

Written by a CP Intakes volunteer



The heat and humidity this summer has been tough for all of us. Luckily we can escape to air conditioning, shade, cool places and the comfort of our homes. A refreshing drink of water can quench our thirst and parched throats.

Can you imagine being a young cairn out in the middle of nowhere enduring near 100 degree heat? On top of that, you are running down the road to the point of exhaustion looking for something or someone.

Matty was found in this situation. A woman driving down a country road, no houses for miles, saw this little guy running down the road. She stopped, gathered up Matty and he collapsed in her car from exhaustion. It was a very lucky day for Matty. His rescuer just happened to be a person who regularly works with shelters and rescues to save furkids of all kinds. She gave him food, water,shelter and TLC. Matty suffered fur loss from a flea allergy and his rescuer helped ease his discomfort. Matty had no microchip or identification of any kind. She contacted Col. Potter after no one came looking for him.

Matty is a delightful young cairn, possibly around 3. He's housebroken, neutered, gets along with dogs of all sizes and cats. He's playful, curious, charming and loves lap time. He also enjoys air conditioning.

Thanks to all of you who support Col. Potter and the rescue of cairns. Without your support it wouldn't be possible to rescue sweet cairns who are in emergency situations like Matty. Just look in his eyes and know that if it hadn't been for his rescue angel, he wouldn't be here today. She was very thankful that Col. Potter was able to help with the next step in Matty's journey.

Col. Potter is very lucky to have our newest little guy, Matty!

Saved from the jaws of death--Austin Blu

Written by a CP Intakes volunteer



Please help me welcome Austin Blu, a little one who was on the top of the shelters euthanasia list for last Monday.

A huge component of the "Rescue Team" part of Col. Potter is a small group of women who work behind the scenes every single day scanning shelter listings for cairns in need. They make contact with shelters by email and phone to check on those cairns they find. They field emails sent into the rescue email box and follow up on all Cairn In Need forms we receive. Daily they see heartbreaking listings, dogs we can not save, dogs that will not live another day. Yet they trudge on, knowing that while we can not save every one, we work very hard to help those we can. Each 'save' is celebrated.

In Austin Blu's case, one of our team called the shelter to follow up on him. She was told that he was slated for euthanasia THAT morning. For some reason, there was a delay and he was still alive. She asked if she could have time to try to rescue him--either through CP or another group. Very often in these cases, we are told there is no more time. She was told they would hold him until 5pm the next day. Immediately she notified the Intakes part of the team, and at the same time started emailing and calling other rescue groups. Our team prides itself on always working Plan A and Plan B at the same time--leaving nothing to chance.

Intakes got the case and approval to pull him. He was assigned an Intakes Coordinator to work his case. A local volunteer was called- our own Kim - who as always said "YES, I can help", and by the next morning - Austin Blu was a free man!!

He is about 1 year old, and full of energy - as most boys would be after spending a month in a kennel at a shelter! He is getting his spa treatment, and will move to his foster home shortly.

Thank you CP (a group with the best volunteers ever!), and Kim, and a STANDING OVATION to our Rescue Team women ~ who do their very emotional job daily without complaint!

Welcome Austin Blu, we are thrilled to have you as part of the family.

2 new cairns join the CP family!

Written by CP's VP of Intakes

Two more little Cairns have found their way to the CP family! They come to us from a breeding operation who has released quite a few cairns to us the last few years. The furkids from here are generally well cared for, pretty friendly and socialized and adorable! These two are no exception!

They also have some pretty special names. Both of their names were donated through the Name a Mill Cairn Program. This program does so much to help the furkids, and at the same time it is a wonderful way to remember, honor or celebrate someone special in your life with a unique, memorable, living gift. This program is available year round and is truly the gift that keeps on giving. So, without further ado, please help me welcome Loebie and TJ!!

Loebie - Female, born 6/27/08, grey brindle - named in honor of Carol L. our Sister Bubbles, for all of her dedication of making blankies for the CP fosters through the CP Blanket Aunties.



TJ - Male, born 2/1/05, wheaten - donated by Geri & Joe P. in memory of their son who was 17 when he died in 1993.




WELCOME Loebie and TJ!!