October 2012
Once again we had a slow month in rescue. It’s almost like waiting for the other shoe to drop, because eventually we know we’ll get swamped with dogs again. Still, it’s nice to catch up on our “normal” lives — although the 30 families on the waiting list probably don’t agree.
On October 3, a woman in Newburg, Oregon was hit by a truck while in her wheelchair. A social worker contacted us for help because she had a Samoyed named Sugar at home and they were looking for a temporary foster home. They knew nothing about the dog and wouldn’t give any information about the woman because of privacy laws, but they sent a picture. They thought the dog was fairly young. Joy suggested a woman in Oregon named Marilyn who might help, and when we called her she said yes. On the 10th she sent us this new picture and let us know Sugar is actually 13 years old. Unfortunately the woman died in the hospital that same day, so Marilyn has adopted Sugar and hopes they have a lot of time left together. Once again we see there are many generous people in this world.
Twice recently we heard about Samoyeds on Craigslist. The first was in southern Idaho, and last month we reported that Dorinda has taken care of him and he is in a new home now. Another was in Eugene, so we sent our usual email letting them know who we are and offering to help. As usually happens, we heard nothing in return. We had a call from a woman in Arkansas trying to find information about a dog, and we helped as best we could; we literally get calls and inquiries from all over the country and try to refer them appropriately.
From time to time we get updates on Samara, a rescue adopted by Dave Fletcher in BC. She is a senior girl now, and Dave just sent this picture with a caption saying: “Anne Wilde, a resident of St. Joseph’s Hospital “The Views”, points out activities of interest to St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Samara on the occasion of Samara’s 1000th Therapy Dog visit. Over a period of 10 years, Samara has worked with the elderly, with special needs children, in the Psychiatric Ward, in drug and alcohol rehabilitation and with the Reading Tails programme at the Courtenay Library. In addition, she has taught children in school visits how to approach a strange dog and served as a demonstration dog for new teams joining St. John Ambulance. She was the first Therapy Dog at a National Investiture ceremony on Parliament Hill and has visited 14 countries. Samara has had a very busy life for a dog that came to the Comox Valley as a ‘rescue’!”
Congratulations to Dave and Samara!
