April 2013
In February we heard of a breeder’s puppy who was being returned because he had enamel hypoplasia, which is a problem in which the enamel covering the teeth never develops. It’s usually because of either trauma or distemper, but the cause can also be a mystery. That is the case with this dog. He is a perfectly normal boy whose teeth simply stopped forming enamel over the top of the dentin (tooth material). It’s not genetic and the cause is often unknown.
He was flown to Portland where Melissa met him and took him home to foster. Because of a miscommunication in getting the paperwork to her we weren’t able to place him right away; by the time we got it there was no way to pry him away from Melissa, so it looks like he will be staying with her and Terry. Since Terry just retired they have each other for company, and the fit is Wonderful. His name is now Boomer. Once again, Denisenationsitis has won the day (Denisenationsitis is a condition reported by Denise Nations Newell, who first described the inability of a foster home to let a foster Sammy leave).
Over the last few years we’ve had a great influx of applications received from people who want to add a Samoyed to their families. We haven’t had enough dogs to place, so the list grew and grew until three dozen were on it, some for several years. In the past we periodically checked with people, asking if they wanted to remain on our waiting list, but in February we did it differently. We wrote to everyone and told them about the length of our list. We asked that everyone who wanted to stay on the list write to us and say so, and those from whom we didn’t hear would be dropped. About a third of our applicants asked to remain, a third said they had a dog, and a third didn’t answer. Our list now has about a dozen people on it, which is much more manageable.
We routinely ask if someone wants a purebred, mix, or either, and a surprising amount of people say either. Since we only take in purebred Samoyeds to be fostered, we keep a special list of those who would consider a mix; when we hear of one we write to those applicants and give them the information and let them proceed privately. Over the years that has worked out well, both for the dogs and for us.
Please join us in crossing fingers for Eddie, a dog we placed with Jennifer and Rick in 2008. He recently was diagnosed with cancer of the salivary gland and is undergoing treatment now. Many thanks go to SamUrgency, a wonderful group of volunteers who now administer the Kachina Fund, a program that lets them help Samoyeds who have been placed by Samoyed Rescue groups and are living in private homes. They have picked up a substantial portion of his treatment.
Ozzy first came to us about two years ago and ended up a permanent foster (along with his younger brother Chip) when his first owner died last May. When her dogs were younger they were frequently cared for by a friend named Mike, who kept in contact with us. Early last month we wrote to him to say Ozzy was beginning to fade, and perhaps he would like to visit one more time. Mike was here a few days later and had a good visit with Ozzy and Chip. They always perked up when they recognized him.
Three days later, Ozzy had a stroke. From his point of view he had a good morning, a snack, a good scratch, and a peaceful nap from which he never woke. It’s the down side of fostering a senior dog who turned 15 only a month before, but we would do it all again in a minute. Ozzy was one of the most charming old grumpy dogs we’ve known. He came as a cranky old man and became an affectionate member of the family. Chip, 12, is still here and will remain to live out his life with us.
About a year ago we heard of a senior girl in Everett who desperately needed a foster home. Doug and Michelle stepped up to the task and took her home. They came to know an old girl they named Char who must have had a rough life, who was afraid to come in the house, but was eventually persuaded to enter and enjoy the love. They nursed her back, cleaned her up, and she looked beautiful again. Char began to fail last month, and they sadly helped her out of her pain. We celebrate these people who are willing to experience the heartbreak that goes with the undeniable joy and love of fostering a senior.
The rescue picnic this year will be July 20 at Ron and Kathy’s home. Please come and celebrate with more rescue dogs than you could ever imagine in one yard.