October 2009

NW Sams on October 11, 2009

Three months ago we saw a post on Craigslist about a Samoyed. The ad said the person had a 6 month old Sammie puppy and was going to be out of the country for a month and a half and wanted someone to dog sit his puppy for him. He was offering $350. Melissa emailed and offered to take his puppy for the time specified, letting him know he could write off the amount as a tax deduction. She described her house, which is pretty much heaven for a dog. We expected he would jump at the chance, but there was nothing in response.

After a couple weeks went by, Ron got a phone call from a woman that lives in a small town on the Oregon coast. She had a 6 month old Samoyed puppy that she just bought from a fellow off Craigslist for $500 and upon getting her home it appeared her daughter was allergic. Guess what? Same puppy. The woman said when she called about the original ad he was he was planning to sell the dog all along. So now she wanted to turn the puppy over to rescue, but she wanted us to pay her back. We told her we don’t buy dogs, but offered to refer people to her who would be expecting to pay the usual adoption fee of $150. We never heard from her again.

Fast forward another few weeks, when we got a call from people who had adopted from us before and also belong to WVSF. They live on the Oregon coast close to where the woman with the Samoyed was located. They had received a call from their vet asking them if they were interested in adopting a 7 month old Sammie puppy as they had heard of one that was looking for a home. They said they were not but they were pretty sure that rescue would be willing to take her.

So they called Ron and after talking to them he asked if the dog’s name was Lucy. Surprise, surprise, it was (we knew her name from the woman who got her earlier). Apparently the woman who had purchased her off Craigslist did not have any luck finding her a home. She took Lucy to give her a bath and was telling the lady at the dog bath place that she needed to find her a home and was going to have to take her to shelter if she didn’t. Here’s where the story gets complex.

The woman who owned the dog spa knew that one of the women who worked across the street at the beauty parlor also volunteered at the local shelter. The volunteer didn’t want her to take Lucy to the shelter because it was full and they were going to euthanize the dogs. So the volunteer took Lucy home herself and tried to find her a home, unsuccessfully. Then she spoke to her vet about Lucy because her husband would not let her keep another dog, and the vet remembered the nice couple who called us had 2 Samoyeds and maybe they would want another. That’s how we got involved for the third time with Lucy.

After everybody talking to everybody Melissa got down to business and set up transport. The couple went to the volunteer’s house and picked Lucy up. She spent the night with them, their two Sams and their cats. The next morning they were headed out on the start of a trip to San Francisco. They went through Salem, where Melissa met them and took Lucy home to foster.

Lucy is a typical young Samoyed, full of energy and testing her limits. She is 9 months old and the product of a backyard breeder we know well. With some training she will be a spectacular dog and wonderful family member. We have been trying to work through a list of applicants, doing home visits and looking for the perfect home for her.

We had two calls the same day from people who found stray Samoyeds. The first was north of Seattle, and we explained that they have to take a dog to a shelter first so the owner has a chance to find it. We promised to keep in touch with the shelter and adopt the dog the first day it was available. Unfortunately they don’t like shelters and declined to go there. That means somewhere there is probably a family looking for their dog who won’t find it because the finder wouldn’t follow through. Much as we would like to take a dog immediately, we have to be able to prove ownership and we can only do that through a shelter or direct surrender by an owner.

The second call was from a Centralia vet who had someone in the office who brought a dog to be scanned. They put her on the phone and we explained the process and she understood instantly. She took him to the Lewis County shelter, where Kathy met her. They coordinated with the shelter, who told us to call 72 hours later when he would be available. He went from the shelter directly to a vet for neutering, and we have him here as a foster. Since he came from Lewis County, his name is now Lewis.

Early in 2008 we heard about a woman in Centralia who was living in an apartment and selling Sammy puppies. She had two litters at once with 9 males and 2 females for sale. From what we understood at the time, animal control became involved and all the puppies were placed before we could do anything. We believe it’s likely that Lewis was one of the nine males, which puts him just over a year and a half old. He has all the energy of a young dog and fortunately also has some training. He is well behaved except for some barking, and is the most overtly affectionate dog of any foster in ages. He is comfortable with whatever life brings his way and quite well adjusted. Somebody is going to be lucky to add Lewis to their family.

September 2009

NW Sams on September 12, 2009

In early July a friend of Sandy’s was walking his dogs and was approached by a man who asked if he would like another Samoyed. He said he had one that kept escaping his yard and he was going to take it to the shelter. Her friend immediately called Sandy, who offered to foster the dog for rescue. She handled the paperwork and a few days later Alex, a three year old purebred Samoyed, came to live with her. He did very well, and Sandy made sure he was groomed and ready for a new home. We arranged for an applicant in Spokane to visit him while she was on vacation in Montana, and several weeks later when we finally reached her again she said she hadn’t had time to call as she was passing through town (those who have done rescue recognize this as all too common).
It’s difficult to find people willing to drive 500 miles to visit a dog they might want to adopt. After two months in Montana, it was time to move Alex west where he would have more access to a new home. Sandy found Amy, a friend who was traveling to Seattle on September 1st, who was happy to take him along. Kathy met them in the Seatac area and picked up Alex and brought him here. He instantly settled in and did well with the rest of our dogs.
A couple in Kirkland, Tom and Linda, were on our waiting list and looking for a young male. We called and arranged for them to meet Alex, which they did on September 11. They and their dachshund liked Alex, and he liked them, and now Alex has a forever home. He is living with people who have shared their lives with three previous Samoyeds and know what he needs.
Over the years Carey has been a solid rescue volunteer and adopter, taking in several old dogs for hospice and loving them while they were with him. He has been quick to offer help, and he was the one who did the visit that told us Alex’s new home would be a good one. Over the past couple years he has had a number of setbacks and a lot of bad luck, and we’re sad to say he lost his home. Just before that happened he called and asked us to take care of Cheyenne and find him a good new home. We called Dennis and Rocky, who recently helped us so much with Stoney, and they agreed to take Cheyenne into their family. We already know how much they love dogs, and this is a special one. I know everyone joins us in hoping Carey’s life improves.
It was in August, 2000 when we decided to look for a companion for our Sammy girl Tasha. We asked everybody we saw with a Samoyed at the Nisqually show in Lacey if they knew anyone with puppies, and they unanimously referred us to Cheryl and Steve. That was when we discovered Rescue, and they eventually lined us up with Charlie. He was a one year old with separation anxiety and we were his third home; we were told he ate his way through the furniture in his previous home. During a lengthy training period Charlie became thoroughly bonded with us, and we confirmed our love for the breed. Two years later when Cheryl and Steve stepped down we offered to take over the job as rescue coordinators. Much has happened since, including the formation of Northwest Samoyed Rescue and the merger of SCWS Rescue and Samoyed Rescue of Oregon. Charlie just turned ten, and is still one dog in a million. We invite you to visit http://nwsams.smugmug.com/rescue/adopted/ where there are pictures of most of the dogs we have been able to help since then.

August 2009

NW Sams on August 11, 2009

Over the years we have had many great experiences and happy times. August will not be remembered that way.

Stoney was a mix, probably Samoyed and something else, who came from Montana. We know he had been tied out most of his life on a rope, and the animal shelter told us they were glad not to return him to that home. Sandy Nelson brought him to Coeur d’Alene and met Kathy there, and she brought him back.

From the beginning we knew there was a problem between Stoney and other dogs. It’s likely because he was tied that he learned to fight dogs who came into his territory; he had no way to run away. He didn’t trust other dogs and we soon realized he had to be segregated from our other dogs. At different times he fought with all our dogs, even our old girl who gets along with everybody. He ended up spending lots of time in the laundry room with baby gates across the door, which is no life for a social dog. When the other dogs were outside or in other rooms he was affectionate and seemed to love people.

Dennis and Rocky lost Chilly last year and had no other animals in the house. They agreed to take Stoney to see how he would do in a one-dog house, and everything seemed to be working fine. Then one day, a visiting neighbor stood up and he took it as a threat; he lunged and bit her. In rescue work there is only one absolute rule; a biting dog cannot be adopted out. The liability is too great, and it does no good for our breed when people hear one of our dogs bit someone, even though Stoney was a mixed breed dog.

They gave him one special day before bringing him back to us. We did everything we could to make his final hours happy, and then Kathy sat with him while he quietly crossed the bridge.

This is only the third time this has happened to us, and it forces a change in our rescue policies. Over the years we have placed some really great Sammy mixes, but on the other side of the coin it has been mixed breeds that have given us almost all our problems. From now on, only obviously purebred Samoyeds will be taken into our rescue program. We will continue to help mixes as much as possible, including listing them on our web pages and referring adopters to them, but they won’t be taken in as fosters.

Another dog from Montana, a handsome purebred named Alex, is being fostered by Sandy right now. Alex is mellow, loves being there, and is available for adoption. We are waiting for an applicant from the Spokane area to visit him, and if that match isn’t perfect we will continue down our waiting list.

We also heard of a dog named Ice somewhere in central Oregon, but the owner is working with a retired trainer there and wants her to be the one making the contacts. Consequently we still don’t know exactly where the dog is, and the registration papers and pictures we requested have not yet been sent. We’re still hoping to be able to contact the breeder when we know who that is.

We’re all glad the past month is behind us. We want to thank Sandy for her work with Montana dogs, and we’re grateful to Dennis and Rocky for trying so hard with Stoney.

July 2009

NW Sams on July 12, 2009

Nicky found his forever home in June, and it was the most perfect placement since we hosted our first foster dog in 2001. In fact it’s the same home, where Nicky is joining Holley and Hans and their dog Mori. Thousands of people know Mori from his twice-daily walks around Green Lake. Only a day or two after Nicky joined them, Holley wrote that one Samoyed attracts attention, but two are an absolute spectacle. We know Nicky will be as happy there as Mori has been, and both will be great Sambassadors for the breed. Nicky was a dog we would love to have kept with us, but this was a perfect opportunity for him.

Stoney has been one of the biggest challenges since we began doing rescue. He came from the Kalispell area and had been tied out most of his life. Because he couldn’t run away he learned to fight when other dogs got too close. He is nervous about being in a pack situation. For the most part he gets along, but when other dogs crowd him he doesn’t know how to handle it. He is getting much better but there have been a number of fights during his time here.
When other dogs aren’t present Stoney is affectionate and loves to be with people. He is eager to please and extremely well behaved. Recently we talked to someone who has no dogs right now, and they agreed to foster Stoney and find out how he does on a one-dog home. We’re expecting they will say he is a perfect dog there. Plans are for Stoney to move there on the 18th, and if he works out they may adopt him.

This year we have had quite a few dogs found in Montana, and transportation has been problematic. Recently Sandy Nelson said she would provide foster space and give Samoyeds a place to stay while we look for a new home for them. That gives us an important edge in our ability to help more dogs. Early this month Sandy was approached by someone who had a two year old male and wasn’t able to keep him in the yard. They asked if we could find someone better equipped to give him a safe home. As a result, Alex is now with Sandy and we are looking for the right family to adopt him.

July 11 was our tenth annual rescue picnic. Begun by Cheryl and Steve in 2000, it’s a time for all of us with rescue dogs to get together for a potluck picnic and afternoon with our dogs. This year we had 31 dogs present for the group picture, and several more left before pictures were taken; one came afterward. Counting our own dogs, we think there were close to 40 total, which is the number here last year. Forty people accompanied their dogs and we had a good time. Seeing so many of the dogs we have known makes the afternoon worthwhile.

June 2009

NW Sams on June 11, 2009

Keno came from a small shelter in northern Idaho where the manager decided there were too many dogs. She proposed to euthanize all of them and start over, and one of the workers immediately pulled six purebred dogs to save them. This is the story we heard, and although we can’t verify it we can say Keno was one of the dogs. With help he made it to Coeur d’Alene where he stayed overnight with Kristina. We arranged for a Malamute Rescue volunteer who was taking a dog from Portland to Post Falls to take Keno back to Portland. The following morning Melissa picked him up and he has been there since.

This month we’re happy to report that Keno is in his permanent, forever home. It’s the same home he has been in since April 26, with Melissa and Terry. He fits in perfectly.

Nicky was found as a stray, and after some work we found his original owner. She gave him away several years ago, and he ran away from that home. We couldn’t find where he has been for the last two years but we can say he will be safe now. Nicky is a rare dog, completely content to be with other dogs or leaning against a human getting attention. He is the only dog we have ever fostered who never evoked a growl from Charlie, our resident alpha. Nicky is just finishing a major shed and is also one of the most naked dogs we have hosted. We have a potential home lined up for him and hopefully he will be moving on soon to his own home. We’ll be honest and say we’re really going to miss this one.

Stoney appeared in the shelter in Kalispell, Montana. He was found as a stray with a rope tied around his neck, dragging behind him. The people at the shelter told us they try to return dogs to their owners, but in this case were glad the people decided not to take him back. There was no elaboration but we know it wasn’t a good place for him. Stoney is about 7 years old and we understand he was tied out most of the time. After we committed to him, we learned he was not a purebred Samoyed. Now that he is here we believe he is half Sammy and half Collie or some similar breed. At first glance he could be easily taken as a biscuit Samoyed.

Sandy Nelson picked him up from the shelter and did some grooming to get the worst of the mess off his coat. She brought him along to the Spokane/CDA shows on May 22 and dropped him off with Kristina. We were unable to find anybody at the show who could bring him back, so Kathy had to drive to Coeur d’Alene and back that weekend to bring him here.

Stoney is a product of his earlier life, and like many dogs who have been tied he was not immediately comfortable in a pack. He likely had other dogs harass him when he couldn’t run away, and a lot of his training has been aimed at keeping him from feeling threatened when other dogs crowd around. He has needed a strong alpha to explain proper behavior, while at the same time needing a lot of one-on-one comforting from humans to show he is safe here. We’re going to find a home for him where the people understand his past, and where he is the only dog. He has a lot of affection and companionship to give and we’ll try to make sure he gets the chance.

Our annual rescue picnic is July 11 this year, less than a month away. This is the TENTH annual picnic, continuing the fun that Cheryl and Steve began in 2000. Last year was our best attended ever with about 40 dogs joining us and this year we hope to have even more. The Nisqually show is the same day but there should be plenty of time to stop by on your way home. If you’re driving south we’re on the way, and if you’re heading north it’s only a six mile detour. Please stop by and be part of the fun!

RESCUE PICNIC – JULY 11 AT RON & KATHY’S HOME

May 2009

NW Sams on May 11, 2009

In March there was a Craigslist post about a female Samoyed found in the LaCenter area, north of Vancouver. We called the woman who found her and suggested she take the dog to the Southwest Washington Humane Society for two reasons; first we can’t take or place a dog unless we have legal ownership, and second because the Vancouver shelter is one with which we have a good relationship. Melissa checked with them and found out her stray hold would be up on March 21, and that morning picked her up. That was the day of a pet festival in Portland, so Lola joined Melissa, Kathy, and Jim at the booth there for the day. She was a great ambassador for the breed.

About two weeks later there was another post on Craigslist, this time for a lost Samoyed in the same general area. After some checking we determined this was the same dog. There is an established policy already in place which requires the former owner to apply and go through a home check the same as any other applicant. Our only interest is the welfare of the dog. The home did not have a fence and Lola was allowed to run loose; this was not the first case where she ran away. They didn’t begin searching until a week later when she didn’t return. Melissa spent a great deal of time with the man, explaining the need for a fence. He promised to put one up and she told him Lola would come back after the fence was built and she had been spayed. Fortunately he was good to his word, and the fence was built. After hours and hours of education, Melissa recommended Lola be returned. Lola, whose real name is Snowy, went back home late last month.

Keno was a surrender to a shelter in northwest Montana. His family said he was two years old and not good with children. We heard about him when a fellow rescuer in northern Idaho said his time was almost up and he needed to get out. We subsequently heard that the shelter manager had decided to euthanize all the dogs and “start over.” According to our source, one of the shelter workers took six purebreds and quit in protest; Keno was one of them. Whether this is accurate we may never know, but it’s the sort of thing we hear about in rural areas. We put out a call for help in the rescue community and put together a transport all the way from the shelter to Portland. Our lucky break was finding a Malamute volunteer taking a puppy from Portland to Spokane and driving back empty. She picked up Keno in Post Falls, and Melissa got him the next morning. That was early this month and Keno has now had a bath and is settling in. By the way, the Malamute transporter has two young children and she said Keno got along fine with them.

Nicky came to us several months ago after he was found as a stray. We found his original owner who said she gave him away, but were not able to find where he has been the last few years. Fortunately, since we have permission from his only legal owner, we will be able to place him. Nicky is an uncommon Samoyed, one who instantly got along with all the dogs in our pack. He is the only dog we ever fostered who never had to be told his place by our alpha male Charlie. We thought we had a perfect home lined up for Nicky, but they decided after meeting him that they better not adopt a dog because their home has too many cats. He is not cat-aggressive but we think he would chase one if provoked. For now he is happy here and we have no problem with him staying until the right home comes along.

April 2009

NW Sams on April 11, 2009

Cody and Sierra are two Samoyeds who came together from eastern Oregon. Their former owner, who thought he could get rich breeding dogs, stopped trying a couple years ago and these two were his last two Sammies. They were seized when he was taken to jail for shooting a neighbor, and animal control called Cathie to turn them over to rescue. They were a real mess after spending years in an outdoor pen; Sierra was terribly overweight at 95 pounds and Cody was timid for lack of human companionship. Sierra was put on a strict diet (and had two baths) and both were shown the luxuries of indoor living. They gradually built up muscle tone and got comfortable with people, and on March 29 they were visited by a couple guys from the Renton area who offered to give them a new home. The two dogs were able to remain together and their new dads will get the satisfaction of seeing them blossom and really come out of their shells.

Lola was found as a stray in the LaCenter area just north of Vancouver. The finder put an ad on Craigslist and we contacted her to suggest she take them to the shelter in Vancouver where Melissa has a good relationship with the management. Lola spent three days there but nobody came looking, so the first morning her stray hold was up, Melissa was there to pick her up. That was the day of a pet expo in Portland, so Lola was company to Melissa, Kathy, and Jim at a table showing off our breed. She was a great Sambassador and made lots of friends.

As Melissa fostered her she became more and more convinced Lola was less than a year old. She was taught how to be civil to the feline population (by the cats as well as Melissa) and she settled in. Then, on April 9, another ad appeared on Craigslist, this time for a lost Samoyed. After checking it was determined this was the same girl being fostered by Melissa. We have a policy already in place for a case like this, which involves checking out the former owner before automatically returning a dog. In all things to do with Samoyed Rescue, the welfare of the dog is most important. In this case, Lola was an outdoor dog not allowed in the house; there was no fence and it was a week before they decided to look for her after she ran off chasing a car that was leaving the house. We feel this is a home where people simply don’t understand our breed, and Melissa is planning a home visit. Even if they build a fence and promise to keep her indoors the fact remains that they took a week before they began looking for her. As you can see, rescue isn’t always a simple thing.

Nicky’s first owner wrote to us to thank us for caring for him. You may remember from last month’s report that he was given away, then ran away, and we can’t account for his life for the last three years. He was found in the Buckley area and no amount of checking, by us or the shelter, could learn anything about him. Because he was chipped the finder was able to find his first owner and tell her what happened. She was unable to take him but said she appreciated knowing he is OK.

We all know how mellow a Samoyed can be, and how friendly and easygoing they are. Even so, it’s rare to see a dog with all the good traits and a great personality but none of the problems we can encounter. He is submissive to other males but not intimidated, and automatically respects females. Even our alpha male Charlie has accepted him completely and he coexists with the pack like he always lived here. We’ve been slow to place him because we are frankly enjoying having him around. There is a home lined up for him and if he can be shown to be safe with cats he will get to go there. He seemed fine with the vet’s cats but a veterinary office isn’t a true test because all dogs are a bit stressed there. If anyone knows of a home with cats in the Olympia area that would allow us to test him, please let us know.

Our big event this past month was the return of the puppies! Two years ago we picked up a Samoyed mix named Katie from the Seattle shelter. She looked pathetic, with her entire back bare from digging at herself as a result of a severe allergy. She also had kennel cough which delayed her spay appointment, and only a few days before she would be spayed we found out she was pregnant. Five days later she delivered four puppies by c-section, three of which survived. We would have been lost without the help of Bobbie LaFortune, who loaned us all her whelping supplies and gave the advice and support we needed so badly.

We found homes for all three puppies; one with Sue and two with Laura and Bill and their boys. We nursed Katie back to health and after a year of trying to find her a home we decided she already had one. A month ago Sue wrote about the possibility of bringing her puppy back for a visit for her second birthday, and we were able to arrange for ALL the puppies to be here at the same time. It is striking how identical the two girls are, and how much the boy looks like Katie. We all had a great time.


SAVE THE DATE! The Rescue Picnic is July 11, 2009.

March 2009

NW Sams on March 10, 2009

Blizzard was taken to the Jackson County Animal Shelter in southern Oregon in January because her family couldn’t keep her from running away. We heard about her and contacted the shelter, but they declined our help, saying they wanted to place her locally. They placed her twice, and both times she was picked up as a loose dog and taken back to the shelter. In the first case the people had no fence, and in the second the new owner fancied herself a trainer and thought three days of training would keep Blizzard from running. Two times we referred adopters to the shelter who tried to adopt her but were refused; either they didn’t live close enough or didn’t have adequate fencing. Both were experienced with Samoyeds but someone at the shelter was convinced she knew best. After calling again to offer help and being refused, we finally asked Debbie Morse to go in and adopt her and pay the fee. They wouldn’t let her have Blizzard because she wouldn’t bring her other dog to visit, so Debbie left and her husband went in and adopted Blizzard. That finally got Blizzard on her way, and after two nights of travel she made it here.

On her arrival we scanned and found a microchip, registered of course to the people who surrendered Blizzard. We called AVID and asked for information, which yielded a vet clinic in Jacksonville. We requested her records, and after a day for them to call the previous owner for permission, they faxed everything to us. Records included her birthday, date of spay, and also the breeder’s name. We contacted her and the breeder immediately said she would take Blizzard back. The following weekend she drove from British Columbia, gladly paid all our expenses, and Blizzard is once again a Canadian Samoyed. She since found a perfect new home in Saskatchewan where she is an only dog in a great family, and her breeder has kept us in touch with her progress. Despite the shelter, Blizzard’s story had a happy ending.

Diva came from Stanwood because her family didn’t have time for her. She hadn’t been spayed because they couldn’t afford it, which was curious since they dropped her off on their way to a weekend at a water park resort. Diva went to live with Melissa and Terry while we all looked for a new home for her and she wormed her way firmly into their hearts. She was good with cats, so we thought about an applicant in Moscow, Idaho. A pre-vet student at WSU was enlisted for the home visit, and it backed up our impressions this would be the right home. They took a day off, drove all the way to visit her, and on March 1 Diva moved to Idaho. Her new family is keeping in touch with Melissa and Diva is doing really well with everyone, even the cats.

Nicky was found as a stray, and by tracking his chip the finder came up with the name of his original owner as well as the breeder. The first owner said she gave him away, and the second owner said he ran away three years ago. He is the product of a backyard breeding by someone who has never been part of the Samoyed community. After listing him in the newspaper and at the shelter, nobody came forward to claim him. We have now satisfied the legal requirements and will be able to find him a home. From the first day he arrived, Nicky has been one of our pack. Unlike most intact males he has no desire to prove himself and he gets along with everybody. He is a bit larger than most Sammies. He is five and a half years old, which we think is a perfect age. He is mature, loves attention, and quite athletic. He doesn’t demand attention although he soaks it up whenever it is offered.

The day after we got Nicky, two more dogs arrived from eastern Oregon. About eight years ago a man in the LaGrande area bought two Samoyeds from a Utah puppy mill so he could go into business as a breeder. Since then we have helped numerous dogs resulting from that mistake; he apparently had no idea how to qualify a buyer (or didn’t care) and people found out the hard way it takes a lot of time and effort to raise a puppy. A couple years ago we heard he had stopped breeding, and in January this year he went to jail for shooting a neighbor. Animal control seized the two remaining Sammies and called Cathie to turn them over to rescue. Cody is a five and a half year old male who has never been socialized, and Sierra is a five and a half year old spayed female who has eaten her way to 95 pounds.

Cathie met Melissa in The Dalles with the two dogs, and they suspended the transport for an hour to trim off some of the worst of Sierra’s backside so they could stand to be in a car with her. Even so, both of them drove with windows down because of the smell. Kathy met Melissa at her house and brought Cody and Sierra back here. The next couple days Kathy worked hours and hours to get them combed out and was finally able to bathe both of them. Now that they are white they are two very nice looking dogs, bonded absolutely with each other, and starved for human attention. We’re gradually getting Cody to venture out of our utility room, while Sierra is content anywhere she is. She could barely stand on arrival and has made good progress getting some muscle tone. Both dogs were confined in an outdoor pen before they got here

We used a baby gate to separate them from the other dogs for the first few days until we determined they would all do well together. They now have the run of the house but stay mostly in one area where it’s quiet. We usually adopt pairs into separate homes so they will bond better with humans, but in this case we want to find one home for both of them. They will both bond with humans, but Cody will benefit from Sierra’s presence while he learns he can be a part of a human family.

Special thanks this month go to all the people who helped us transport dogs. Cathie, Debbie, and Rita all helped get dogs here and we appreciate their time on the road. Our rescue family continues to grow, both in the number of new adopters and the volunteers who give their time helping Samoyeds.

February 2009

NW Sams on February 11, 2009

After this many years doing rescue work, there are dogs who stand out; dogs we remember because they were unique. Some have been beautiful purebred Samoyeds who might have won in the ring if they had the chance. Others had special personalities, while some have been through bad times. One of the special dogs is Rio, who found her home in January. Rio came to rescue from the Pasco area along with Honey, a Samoyed mix we think was probably her mother. Rio had only a little Sammy in her, if that, but was accepted because she came with Honey. Given the area she came from, she might even have been part Coyote. Rio is timid, slow to warm up to people, but also extremely affectionate after accepting someone. While she was here she loved to curl up on the sofa next to people, and is the only dog who thought lap time and nap time went well together. Fortunately she is a small dog.

After listing her on Petfinder, Rio was adopted along with another dog to a family in Edmonds. Unfortunately, a cat was killed by one of the dogs and both were returned. We listed her again, and we were contacted by a family who thought she might fit in well with them. They came to visit, Rio liked them, and the feeling was mutual. She now lives in the Redmond area and her new Mom has begun obedience class with her so they can bond even better. We’re told that she likes small cubbyholes, quiet places, and oddly she likes to snooze on the back of the sofa.

Kayla was with us since November, the result of a visit from a landlord to an apartment that “wasn’t supposed to have dogs.” She originally came from the Midwest at age six and had been with her owner for four years. We accepted her as a hospice dog because she had a number of medical problems, and truly we didn’t expect her to find a home of her own. That was OK with us because she was an exceptionally nice old girl. Then Celine called us and said she would like to talk about offering Kayla a home with her and China, a Samoyed she adopted a while back. Kathy drove Kayla to Portland where she met Cheri, who drove her to her new home in Coeur d’Alene. Senior Sammies make the most heartwarming adoption stories.

Around the first of the year, Melissa heard from a couple north of Seattle who wanted to find a new home for Diva. They said they didn’t have time to give her the attention she needed. It took about two weeks to put things together, and the people met Melissa at Ron and Kathy’s home to make the transfer. Diva was scheduled for a spay appointment later that week, and is now getting close to the time she can be placed. She is a small girl, the product of a puppy mill and pet store, but exuberant, loving and well mannered all at the same time. Several people have asked about adopting her and we’ve been busy getting home visits arranged.

More time and effort has been spent on a dog from southern Oregon than any recent rescue. The Jackson County Animal Shelter listed a beautiful purebred Samoyed, and the messages came pouring in from rescue friends all over the country. Paul Martin offered to go check on her, and he found the shelter preferred not to work with rescue groups because they wanted to place her themselves. A brief history of Blizzard shows she was surrendered because she couldn’t be kept in the yard. She was adopted to a family and picked up twice again as a stray, then placed with another family who thought she was safe off-leash after three days of training. Again she went back to the shelter. A family with a Samoyed tried to adopt her and was refused because they didn’t have a good yard. Another applicant was turned down because she wouldn’t bring her other dog, an elderly Chow, to the shelter to see if Blizzard would get along with him. His health was bad enough they couldn’t risk it. The people at the front desk labeled her a problem dog, but still refused to let her go to rescue.

Finally a friend went to the shelter and insisted on adopting her. She spent that night with Debbie, who brought her north to Hillsboro, and Rita kept her the second night. The next day Rita drove to meet Kathy, who brought her the rest of the way north and she is now happily in rescue. She is not an alpha, she gets along with all the other dogs (and the dogs in the homes where she stayed while en route), and doesn’t seem to be an escape risk. Admittedly she is a sneaky dog who would love to bolt out an open door, but that’s a Sammy trait we’re used to. This is a dog who didn’t deserve to spend most of a month in a shelter that doesn’t understand Samoyeds.

Melissa and Terry are fostering a dog from NW Washington while Ron and Kathy are fostering a dog from southern Oregon. Life isn’t always logical, but it proves how well it worked to combine Washington and Oregon rescues into Northwest Samoyed Rescue. It gives us the flexibility not only to work together, but to give each other breaks when needed. Next on the horizon are a couple dogs from eastern Oregon, which we have been told are probably going to be coming soon, although we don’t have details yet. We appreciate our volunteers and friends more with every passing month. Thanks to all who help!

Save the date! Our Rescue Picnic this year is July 11.

January 2009

NW Sams on January 11, 2009

“The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men, Gang aft agley…”
– Robert Burns

Last month we were happy to have found a home for Nanook and Rio together, two young dogs who enjoyed being together. They were settling in well, but two weeks into their stay one of the resident cats was found dead outside. It happened many hours earlier and it couldn’t be determined which dog was responsible, so both of them had to come back to rescue. This wasn’t the fault of the dogs, but of circumstances. The adopters asked us to keep the adoption fee because they want to support rescue.

Fortunately for Nanook, he found a terrific home in Vancouver and has great parents and a new canine brother. For him this is probably an even better home than he found before. He gets exercise and companionship with a young family. They understand that he still has muscle strains from incorrect exercise in a previous home, and they will work with him to take care of the problem.

Rio is still here, waiting for her home. We admit if she had not arrived with Honey as part of a pair we probably wouldn’t have her in rescue now. We believe Honey is her mother, and if she is a mix then Rio is not more than a quarter Samoyed. She is smaller than the average Sammy and more active. She is also timid and slow to trust people. Even after a month we have to be careful not to frighten her although that’s getting better by the day. She asks for affection and her most relaxed moments are sprawled across a lap getting petted. She is as overtly affectionate as a dog can be, frequently sitting next to a chair and reminding you she is there. In the right home she could be a once in a lifetime dog.

Honey, our three-legged dog, healed beautifully after her amputation. We listed her on Petfinder and received a large number of inquiries and applications. After looking through them we went to visit an older couple in Centralia; the man had a recent stroke and his wife thought his recovery would be faster with a dog. Although still relatively young, Honey will do well in a home where she is not pushed too hard physically, and she is a dog who prefers curling up on the sofa next to a human. When she was introduced she went immediately to the man and sat with him, telling us she agreed it was the right home. We are thankful to Erin and Tom, who fostered her since November and through two surgeries.

When we heard of a Samoyed named Sophie at the Seattle Animal Shelter we asked for help because of the driving conditions, and Doug & Michelle Manis said they could pick her up and keep her for a few days. We arranged for her to be spayed the next day by the shelter, but when they called to see if she was ready she hadn’t been spayed. In fact she couldn’t be spayed because she was a very rotund neutered male. The somewhat embarrassed people at the shelter said he was ready to go and they picked him up. The day after Christmas he came to Ron & Kathy’s house.

We originally planned for Melissa to foster him, but we had an applicant in Tacoma who was very interested and was planning to see him soon. Despite having three fosters in the house already it seemed better to keep him close. What we got was a 96 pound boy, as round as he is tall, who has a handsome bear face. We tried the usual names and he instantly answered to Sammy. We checked his microchip and found he came from a puppy mill that uses chips as a sort of inventory control, but doesn’t register them. That made it impossible to trace him. Lucky for Sammy, he found someone who sees him for the wonderful companion he is, and he now lives in Tacoma with another Sammy who also came from the Seattle Animal Shelter about five years ago. Many thanks to Michelle and Doug for getting him to us.

Kayla is still with us, waiting for a ride to Coeur d’Alene to live with Celine and her other Sammy girl China. Kayla recently had minor surgery to deep clean her right ear, which has a chronic yeast infection that narrowed the ear canal so much it couldn’t be cleaned normally. Kayla thinks that was a great idea and no longer feels like shaking her head constantly. She is definitely a senior dog but in great shape, and yesterday actually chased her own tail for three or four turns. If we mention food she jumps up on her hind legs like a puppy.

Twice this past month we had requests to take owner-surrender dogs, but one was placed privately and the other still is in limbo. A third dog will probably be coming from central Oregon and Melissa is working on that. After listing three dogs on Petfinder recently we’ve been swamped with applications and trying to keep track of everybody. People who apply wanting to be on the waiting list tend to stick around, but if they want a certain dog and it’s not available they disappear. That makes it harder to keep track of our waiting list.
Our fundraiser is over for the holidays and it looks like we earned a good amount for rescue. Sales were definitely less this year because of the economy, but for the first time we offered t-shirts as well as sweatshirts and that helped. We also have calendars from Wolfpacks (thanks, Paul!) and they are still available on our website: http://www.nwsams.com/.

You don’t have to be crazy to do rescue, but it helps.
Eleven dogs at once, indoors, during the heavy snow.