Northwest Samoyed Rescue Blog

November 2024 Rescue Report

Maureen Farrar on December 1, 2024

November was a busy month for the rescue. We saw a significant influx of surrender requests after a relatively quiet few months.

Kodak’s owner reached out to us to help her find him a new home. His family was moving out of the country before the Thanksgiving holiday and needed to place him quickly. Due to Kodak’s reactivity towards other dogs, we needed to find a special home for him – one without other animals and with a family prepared to manage his needs. Fortunately, we found an incredible foster, who is bringing out the best in Kodak. Kodak has space to run around and has even played well with another dog. We’re so excited to watch him thrive.

You may remember Nika, one of the three dogs who was surrendered earlier this year when their owner went into Assisted Living. She was adopted this summer and has been living an amazing life. Unfortunately, she has developed a health condition that requires more care than her owner can manage. We are taking Nika back into our care and have lined up a foster for her until we can find a new home for her.

We also received a request to help rehome Finley, a young, energetic 13-month-old Samoyed. His family was heartbroken to make this decision, but Finley’s exuberance proved to be a bit much for the other dogs in their home. Fortunately, they were able to find a solution within their family, with the owner’s son offering to take one of the other dogs into his home. This change in dynamics allowed Finley to stay put.

We were contacted about rehoming Powder, a sweet 4-year-old Samoyed whose owner had already moved out of the country. Powder was living with a friend of his owner, and their young children had quickly fallen in love with him. While it seemed like caring for Powder alongside their busy family life might be challenging, they ultimately decided to make him a permanent part of their family.

Back in October, Fabio‘s owner contacted us about the possibility of surrendering him. Her circumstances had changed, impacting both her finances and the time she could dedicate to Fabio’s care. While she initially expressed interest in rehoming him through our rescue, we unfortunately lost touch. This month, however, Fabio’s owner reached out again, ready to place him in our care. As luck would have it, we had an approved foster home blocks away from Fabio. He’s now settled in with his new foster family, and we’re happy to report that things are going smoothly.

September 2024 Rescue Report

Maureen Farrar on September 23, 2024

Six months ago, our sweet Judi found her forever home! Nicole, her new mom, recently shared that Judi has been seizure-free for three months and is thriving in her new family. It’s heartwarming to see how much she’s settled in and is enjoying life. We’re so grateful for Judi’s happy ending!

We also have an update on our distinguished old man Chalky, who was adopted at the end of July. His family says that Chalky has settled in so seamlessly, it feels like he’s always been part of the family.

Chalky’s been thriving in his new home. He’s put on weight, his fur is looking lush, and he’s a creature of habit – he even lets everyone know if dinnertime is running late! The little guy loves his gourmet food options and enjoys hanging out with his furry friend, Magic.

Daily walks on wooded trails and meadows have strengthened Chalky’s legs and given him a chance to explore. He’s also a real people-person, often choosing to be by his family’s side, whether they’re working or relaxing.

We also have an update on Suzi, our sweet, affectionate, and energetic Samoyed wannabe. Suzi is settling in wonderfully! She’s adjusting well to life and has been keeping herself entertained with plenty of walks, toys, bones, and food puzzles. Her family has also started working with a trainer to help her learn good puppy manners.

Suzi’s family fenced in their backyard for her, so now she can run and play freely. We’re so excited to see her in her new home.

Aspen was adopted last week, and we couldn’t be more excited for him. He is still settling in, but here’s his “gotcha day” photo.

Ron Manor Memorial Rescue Picnic – August 17, 2024

Hans Bjordahl on August 12, 2024

On August 1, 2024, we lost a giant of rescue, Ron Manor. Among Ron and Kathy Manor’s many contributions to Northwest Samoyed Rescue over the course of 23 years was to host the annual Samoyed rescue picnic at their home near Centralia, Washington. It was a great opportunity for the Samoyed rescue community to gather and see the success stories in person, a collective impact made evident by the group photo taken midway through the picnic.

In recent years, health challenges personally and the COVID pandemic more broadly conspired to take the picnic off the calendar. Ron’s family thought there would be no better way to celebrate his life than to gather rescued Samoyeds and their people together for one last “arooo” at Ron and Kathy’s, scheduled for Saturday, August 17th from 12:00pm to 5:00pm. The big group photo will be taken around 3:00pm.

Whether you knew Ron personally, or just know the effect of his work and dedication (which if you’ve adopted a Samoyed from Northwest Samoyed Rescue in the last 23 years, you definitely do), please join us. To RSVP and get the specific address, contact us and we’ll respond promptly with the details.

Ron Manor

Hans Bjordahl on August 7, 2024

“It’s all about the dog.”

Ron Manor ran Northwest Samoyed Rescue starting in 2001, and while he was quick to attribute that quote to his predecessor, he would go on to fully live its credo for the next 23 years.

Ron didn’t do it alone, but he was the clear leader of the Northwest Samoyed Rescue pack, and led by example — handling surrenders, adoptions, fosters, administrative details and occasional drama (whether dog or human). When things got challenging, he’d remind everyone involved that “it’s all about the dog”, and that generally cleared up next steps real quick.

Ron was willing to do the hard work of NWSR, and also the harder work: taking in the hard-to-place dogs, the older dogs, even the dogs that did not play well with others and required separation to manage. Some of those dogs were clear “permanent fosters,” but Ron and his wife Kathy (herself a longtime and essential force of Rescue) took them in, and once they were in the Manors’ safe haven, those dogs would often prove to be their most rewarding foster experiences.

The apex of each “rescue year” was the annual Northwest Samoyed Rescue picnic, held each summer at Ron and Kathy’s place in central Washington. In addition to being an avid dog rescuer, Ron was an avid photographer. Those passions blended beautifully at each event, with the lineup of people and dogs whose lives had been changed for the better by Northwest Samoyed Rescue requiring an extra-wide-angle lens to capture.

Ron’s affinity for being behind the camera means that photos of him are surprisingly hard to find, now that he’s gone. Ron’s passing on August 1 was not unexpected, and Ron, ever the planner, was early to see around the corner to the day when someone else would need to take Northwest Samoyed Rescue forward in his stead.

The problem is that the core premise of “replacing Ron” is flawed. There is no replacing Ron. It’s taken the full engagement of several board members to even come close. The validation came, however, once Ron confirmed he liked the progress he saw, and was confident that Northwest Samoyed Rescue would continue its work beyond him. It does feel some days like we’re all just standing on each other’s shoulders doing our best to work the superhero suit, but the expectations set by Ron’s legacy are high: If there were a Mt. Rushmore for heroes of dog rescue, Ron Manor would be on it.

Ron would, of course, want any tribute to him to ultimately be “all about the dog” and to direct that energy to improving the lives of Samoyeds at whatever moment they need it most. In Ron’s absence, the thing NWSR could most use is committed foster homes, then committed adoption applicants, and then contributions, pretty much in that order.

Ron’s family will be hosting one last rescue picnic at his and Kathy’s place later this month in his honor. If you’d like to attend, please contact us for details. We’ll all have different appreciations to share for Ron and what he’s done for Samoyeds during his life, but there’s one thing we’ll all know for sure about his passing: There were a lot of appreciative Samoyeds waiting to greet him on the other side.

July 2024 Rescue Report

Maureen Farrar on August 1, 2024

Catch up on the latest news for Northwest Samoyed Rescue in our July update.

June 2024 Rescue Report

Maureen Farrar on June 10, 2024

Last month, we forgot to mention that Nika was adopted! She is one of the three dogs who came in to rescue together when their owner had to go into an assisted living facility (the other two were Kaya and Karma). Nika found a new home after a short stay with a foster family in Seattle. She’s now splitting the duties with another dog (her new best friend) as the official greeter at a massage therapy practice. She’s also benefiting from plenty of doggie massages herself!

Early in May, a woman contacted us about surrendering her 3-year-old Samoyed, Harry. Harry was having some behavioral issues like resource guarding, and they weren’t having a lot of luck changing the behavior. The situation was complicated by the fact that her son had some health issues, and he needed to be the priority. She reached out to us to see what help we could offer, and after putting her together with a behaviorist, it was determined that the best course of action would be to rehome Harry. We thought he would be a challenge to place, so we decided that a foster home might be a good option while we evaluated his behaviors and gave him a quiet place to land temporarily. The couple we reached out to (who are previous adopters from NWSR) didn’t hesitate to take him in. In fact, they immediately committed to adopting him instead of fostering him. “Happy,” as he is now known, is living the good life in Oregon with lots of land to run around on and four feline siblings.

Stella came to us in early June. This 7-year-old girl was the center of her owner’s universe until she had a special needs child 18 months ago and could no longer give Stella the attention she deserved. A few months back, her owner’s brother transported her across the country to step in and help, but that situation hasn’t worked out as well as he hoped. She is a sweet, snuggly girl, but she loves being outside, chasing squirrels and whatever else grabs her attention. If she’s bored, she’ll try to entertain herself by digging or barking, so she’s going to need a home that knows how to keep her engaged. Stella is currently being fostered in Oregon and is looking forward to finding her perfect (and permanent) home.

One of our volunteers found a listing on Petfinder for Suzie-Q. According to the shelter manager, this sweet puppy is only about 7 months old and was bought at a flea market. They needed help placing her, so we picked her up, and she went to her foster home this weekend. Unfortunately, she’s not housetrained yet, and the strain and stress of her situation have made her a little wild. We’re hoping that she starts to feel safe and settles in so we can get a better sense of her personality. We will also get a DNA test on her because we’re not sure she’s 100% Samoyed. We will share more about her soon.

The great news is that Tessa has a new home! Our former “Iowa dog,” who has been generally fearful, found that unique person, who is undaunted by her challenges. She had a meet-and-greet with a woman who has experience with a dog like Tessa. Her other dog used to be so afraid of men that he’d cower and urinate, and she “brought him out of his shell to be a happy and talky dog,” according to one of our board members, who supervised the visit. Tessa and her new owner sat together for a couple of hours, allowing Tessa to get increasingly comfortable. She also walked Tessa and her new dog together, and that went well. We are so excited for their future together.

Tessa and Alex — Tessa is getting to know her new owner.

Chalky, however, is still looking for his new home. With his skin condition under control, this sweet old dog just wants someone to love on him for the rest of his days. He is affectionate and energetic and doesn’t require much more than some snuggles and good belly rubs.

If you see a dog you are interested in fostering or adopting, please fill out an application. You can also drop us a note at rescue@nwsams.org if you have questions.

And if you would like to donate, you can do so here.

May 2024 Rescue Report

Maureen Farrar on May 11, 2024

Fortunately, it’s been a “quieter” month with more dogs going out than coming in to rescue.

Mochi, the owner-surrendered puppy who was too much dog for her previous owner’s home, was adopted a month ago. She has a new BFF sister to run around with, which is great for her energy levels (but maybe not so great on the amount of grooming her owners now have to do!).

Moko, our 12-year-old senior girl, found her new home, too! She joined a family with another Samoyed and a Husky, and she gets lots of love from all.

Moko leaving her foster family to go to her permanent home.

It’s a great month for our senior dogs because Kaya, our sweet 13-year-old, who came in to rescue last month with two other Samoyeds was adopted today. Her new owner grew up with a Samoyed, and she’s excited to have one back in her home. Kaya and her new terrier sibling got along well, so we’re excited for her new life.

Kaya heading to her new home in North Idaho with her new terrier sibling

After trying everything over the last year, Chalky’s itching (and scratching and cone) has finally ended. The only thing that has worked is Prednisone, so we called the vet and asked if we could put him on it for the rest of his life. After all, he is probably 13 years old. The vet agreed, and the combination of the Prednisone and another flea treatment completely stopped his itching. We have been able to remove his cone for the first time since he arrived nearly a year ago. It’s hard to describe what a difference this has made. His rear legs are beginning to give out, so there is no telling how much more time he has. We will enjoy him as long as he is here.

Since Sophie died, Tessa has been without her partner in fear. She is coming into the house without as much hesitation, and we are forcing ourselves on her a little more. Son Jeff picked her up, and we removed a number of mats near the base of her tail. Recently, his wife took Tessa to their home to give her a different place to explore. We’re also giving her a treat when she comes in, which probably helps her come inside. If we could find a home with only women, ideally an older woman, we think it would be a successful adoption.

We have also found an amazing home for an owner-surrender male Samoyed. We are waiting to finalize all of the details and then we’ll post more about that next month.

If you see a dog on our site that you are interested in fostering or adopting, please fill out an application. You can also drop us a note at rescue@nwsams.org if you have questions.

Recently, we’ve had a lot of expenses for fostering and transporting dogs, so if you would like to donate, you can do so here.

April 2024 Rescue Report

Maureen Farrar on April 10, 2024

This has been a busy month with many dogs coming into our care. In February, we were alerted to three dogs that needed to be rehomed. One of their previous owners had passed away, and the other needed to move into assisted living. After some back and forth with the owner’s son, it was determined that we would wait to take them until he sorted everything out with his mom. During that time, the dogs were moved into a boarding facility, where the change in food and location stressed them.

We were finally able to take the dogs in mid-March. Kaya, 12, Nika, 9, and Karma, 6, were all taken to Melissa’s house, where they could decompress and relax for a few days. It was not ideal, though, because, in addition to her own dogs, Melissa was also fostering 12-year-old Moko, whose owners surrendered her due to a move out of the country.

Fortunately, Karma met with a fantastic family who quickly fell in love and adopted her. Nika is currently being fostered in the Seattle area, and Kaya is now being fostered in North Idaho. All three dogs are getting health checks and grooming and are settling in.

Meanwhile, Moko is still with Melissa, and we are looking for a home for her. She is a sweet dog in excellent health with the energy levels of a dog half her age. Initially, we thought she would need to be the only dog in the home, but as she’s adjusted to her new environment, it turns out she’s opening up and engaging with other dogs. We have a couple of people interested in Moko, so we’re crossing our fingers.

Six-month-old Mochi, who was surrendered because she was too much puppy for her previous owner and her toddler, is still being fostered and is looking for her new home. She is getting comfortable with crate training and has a ton of young dog energy. She needs to be physically and mentally engaged, so she will do best in a home with another dog, particularly one who can show her the ropes and keep up with her energy. Her foster said she shows all the markers of being a good agility dog, so she’ll be a great match for someone interested in participating in dog sports.

We’re so excited that Judi has been adopted! This blue-eyed girl came a long way from being the dirty, flea-infested dog with seizures. Now her seizures are under control, and she is a happy girl.

There’s good news about Anna, the Seattle dog, who lived with an older woman with dementia. After she was seized by Animal Control and taken to the shelter, she landed in a foster home and was eventually adopted.

We took Sophie, Fena, and Tessa into rescue in February 2018. They were nearly feral and spent much of the first year hiding in the garage, eventually coming in the house. We found Fena a good home, but Sophie and Tessa were still so fearful that they were unadoptable. They became part of our pack, but only Kathy could get close to them.

Last year, Sophie developed a perianal fistula that made it hard for her to poop. We treated her with Cyclosporin and antibiotics and then a laxative. A couple of days ago, she became lethargic and quit eating. A trip to the ER vet showed her colon was remarkably full, and they said it was like a firehose trying to empty through a tiny hole. A stricture made it even worse. They tried enemas, which didn’t work, then gave her the liquid humans get before a colonoscopy. Surgery would have been impractical. Our only option to avoid a life of pain was to help her cross the bridge, so we went to be with her as she left us.

We are working with Tessa now, hoping she will improve now that she won’t feed off Sophie’s fear. She really is a nice dog who deserves a home with a woman since she is afraid of men.

Chalky has been in the rescue since August of last year. He has a skin problem we haven’t diagnosed yet; we requested at a veterinary dermatology clinic several months ago and were told to wait until they have a slot open. We’re still waiting. Meanwhile, a mobile vet visited and put him on Apoquel, which has been marginally effective. Steroids work well, but he can’t be on them for at least a month before he sees the dermatologist. In the past month, his rear legs have weakened, and he has trouble standing. He is at least 12 years old, possibly 13, and we took him as a hospice foster. Chalky is the kind of dog you wish you had his whole life. He is a truly special, friendly, loving dog.

If you see a dog you are interested in fostering or adopting, please fill out an application. You can also drop us a note at rescue@nwsams.org if you have questions.
And if you would like to donate, you can do so here.

March 2024 Rescue Report

Ron Manor on March 11, 2024

Judi is a challenging girl. She has made great strides since she first came into rescue back in November. She had been bounced between owners, was overweight, and was having seizures. The last owner didn’t give her the meds she needed, but now she is stable as long as she gets her twice-daily pills. She is a gorgeous dog, with beautiful blue eyes; only the second blue-eyed Samoyed we have seen in over 20 years. As she learned she was safe in her foster home, Judi’s personality emerged. She is friendly, gets along with other dogs, and enjoys walks. She loves toys and treats and being close to her people. She is losing weight and gaining strength with exercise. It probably goes without saying that Judi needs the right kind of home, because she absolutely has to adhere to a twice-daily medication schedule. And lots of walks. There is someone interested in meeting Judi later this month, so cross your fingers.

Mochi is a 5 month old typical Samoyed puppy; spunky, sassy, energetic and super sweet and cuddly. She was surrendered to rescue because the previous owner had a toddler at home, and Mochi was too much puppy for them to handle. What we can tell you since she’s been with us is that she is very smart, picks up tricks very easily (good and bad tricks), and does all of the normal puppy stuff — barking, playing, running like a crazy dog, and being super affectionate when she stops to think about it. She is still working on potty training. She mostly is successful but occasionally has indoor accidents. She also has made a good start with crate training while she’s been with us. She will sleep through the night in her crate but doesn’t love it during the day. Mochi loves other dogs and has oodles of energy, so she would do best in a home with other young-ish dogs to play with and a yard to run around in. We think we found someone who will meet all her needs, and they get together soon.

We heard of a dog in the Seattle area living with an older woman who has dementia. The dog has been kept in a crate and not given exercise, and is generally in terrible condition. As we followed the story, Animal Control was convinced to visit, and the dog was seized and taken to a shelter. We are following closely and have been in contact, but we can’t give more information than that. If we get this dog, we will foster for a while and make sure she is rehabilitated for adoption.

Sophie and Tessa are former puppy mill dogs who have been with us for a little over six years, and are still fearful. If we can split them up, we believe either would be a good candidate for a home with only women (they are scared of men), with a yard that is super-secure.

If you see a dog you are interested in meeting or adopting, please go to our website at www.nwsams.org and fill out an application to adopt. You can also drop us a note at rescue@nwsams.org if you have questions.

February 2024 Rescue Report

Ron Manor on February 10, 2024

Judi had been through a lot when she arrived in our care in November. A previous owner had considered surrendering her to Northwest Samoyed Rescue in July, but ended up sending her to a new home that turned out to be with an animal hoarder. The animals were seized, and by the time Judi made it to the shelter, she was severely overweight, manifesting seizures and had growled at the vet. It wasn’t clear that she could be saved. We decided to take a chance.

She got cleaned up, brushed, and treated for fleas. The vet and her foster family worked together to treat her infections and got her seizures under control. The mental shock of her ordeal started to abate, and her personality started to emerge. The “real Judi,” it turns out, loves walks, and hikes and toys and treats and comfy beds and being near her people. She gets along well with her two Samoyed roomates. Her body is starting to catch up with her spirit as she loses weight and gains strength. Judi is just 7 years old and has a lot of life ahead with the right forever home.

Not just any forever home will work. While her seizures are controlled, they are a lifelong condition and require a strict medication regimen to keep under control. She likes dogs and people, but they have to be careful not to surprise her from behind or try to take a treat from her. Her new home will require structure, patience and presence. We think the ideal would be a two (or more) person household, a retirement or work-from-home situation, and a rock-solid option for Judi’s care during trips away. And of course, walks. Lots and lots of walks.

Maeve is a sweet dog who came to us from an apartment environment, where city living wasn’t really her cup of tea. She delights in the great outdoors, and loved running around the large yard at her foster home dashing after birds, squirrels, rabbits – anything that provides a good chase. If she’s already chased everything out of the yard, she’ll start nosing the bushes in the hopes of flushing something out for another round. Fortunately, her chase instinct doesn’t extend to cats, and she gets along well with other dogs as well. She’s particularly loving and affectionate with her humans, and loves to be petted, brushed and fussed over. She is quick to obey basic commands.

The noises of her previous urban environment set off rounds of barking, which could sometimes escalate Even small things could get her wound up, so Maeve is on anti-anxiety medication. When her new family came to meet her, she ran around excitedly and barked a lot, but they understood. It was obvious Maeve liked them and they liked her, and when they left she jumped in the car and wanted to go home.

Koda is a very vocal dog and eager to tell you that he wants to be a part of the family. He loves to sing along with car alarms, guitars, and likes to have conversations about treats, car rides and stuffies, which he knows by name. He loves blueberries, bananas, and treats and takes them with a very soft bite. He’s also a big snuggler and loves to curl up on the couch with his people. He was much loved, but he couldn’t go with his family on a move. We decided Koda would be a good candidate for a direct adoption.

Koda is all about his humans, but not so much about sharing his household with other dogs. He’s not neutered, so once he’s neutered (which was a condition of adoption), his reliability with other dogs will likely improve. He has some separation anxiety, so we looked for a family who was home most of the time. While we were waiting, Koda moved to a great new foster home for a couple weeks. He was adopted on February 3, after 15 days in foster care. Shortly thereafter he had a trip to the ER vet, where he was diagnosed with gastroenteritis. Rescue reimbursed the adopter for costs.

Chalky continues to have severe skin problems. If his cone is off he immediately begins chewing on himself. We are on the waiting list to see a dermatologist, with no real idea how long it will be. We expect another month. We found a vet who does house calls, who came to visit Chalky, Sophie, and our dogs Rowdy and Lily. We can’t have Chalky on Prednisone (the only drug that helps him) for a month before his dermatology visit so we are going to try Apoquel for a while. We already tried Cytopoint, which didn’t work, so we can only hope the Apoquel has some effect on the problems. He already set a record for the longest any foster dog has worn a cone. Chalky is such a great old boy, and so sweet, we want to help him.

We asked the vet to check out Sophie because she was diagnosed with a perianal fistula last year and it never healed properly. The mobile vet’s advice was to get him to a specialist surgeon as soon as we can; it’s another vet we know in Olympia, and we’re waiting for an appointment. Meanwhile we are giving her a laxative to make her life easier. Her cousin, Tessa, is physically healthy but mentally she is so fearful of everyone we haven’t had any luck trying to place her. This month marks six years since Sophie and Tessa arrived. Tessa turned 8 last October, and Sophie will be 8 next month.