This marks the four-year anniversary of Tessa and Sophie being here. They were nearly feral when they arrived, and began living in our garage with Sophie’s sister Fena. The three girls eventually moved into the house, and got used to having us around, though they were still fearful. Fena improved the most, and we were able to find her a terrific home. We believe Sophie and Tessa would each do much better if separated, because they feed on each other’s fear. Two months ago, they stopped coming back into the house from the yard, so a few days ago we cross-fenced it and gave them a much smaller area, with an entrance only in our laundry room. While they are still slow to return, it’s a small enough yard we can go out and herd them toward the door.

We are actively searching for a qualified trainer who can take a dog into their home and work with her. We would like to place either Tessa or Sophie into that kind of training, and switch dogs after a period of time. We think we would be able to work with a single fearful dog much more successfully. Otherwise, these dogs will live out their lives here in fear. It’s certainly not what we expected four years ago when we agreed to take puppy mill dogs.

Back in November, we placed Laddie in a home as a trial adoption. They have a cat, and Laddie has a strong prey drive. We didn’t think it would work well, but they wanted to try. They tried many ways to train him not to chase, but none were successful. They eventuallly called in a trainer, who said he could work with Laddie to get him to accept the cat, but it would cost $3,000. They told us we should take him back, and as we began lining up alternatives the husband decided Laddie had to go immediately. On short notice, Darlene said she would pick up Laddie and take him to Ellensburg to meet his new adopters, who said they would take him home. We think this will be a much better place for him. They have a pre-planned trip next week, so Laddie will come to live with us for several days. If they decide he is the right dog for them they will pick him up at the end of their trip, and if not we’ll find a different home, but we’re not worried about it. They are previous adopters who gave their boy a wonderful home. After they got Laddie they stopped at the pass to play in the snow, and the pic they sent looks like everybody is happy. As you can see from this photo, the people who had him took him to a groomer who gave him a lion cut. We were unhappy, but it was done before we knew so we couldn’t do anything about it. Our foster agreement will be adjusted accordingly.

We were contacted about a seven year old girl named Elune, who is with a breeder in Alaska. She was purchased five years ago as a retired show dog who had some aggression issues, partly because she was attacked as a puppy. This breeder says Elune has recovered completely and is a wonderful dog now, although she can’t be trusted around cats (a familiar story). We contacted Terry, who is waiting for an older female, and she is planning to fly to Alaska to visit this girl for a few days in March. If this works out, it’s going to be perfect for both Elune and Terry.

The people who have Laddie now were looking at Kona, one of the girls Melissa has been fostering. They originally wanted a male, but agreed to look at Kona when no males were available. We talked to Melissa when Laddie became available and we decided to tell them about him. We think it was a good move, even though it means a little longer that Kona will be where she is. Melissa says that is fine since Kona is doing so well with her.

Shadah has a skin problem that was diagnosed as a food allergy, so Melissa found an alternative kibble that Shadah is on now. It looks like her skin is improving. She fits in well with Melissa’s pack.

Bella is on a strong dose of thyroid meds to keep her thyroid cancer from growing. We thought at first it might be reducing in size, but it is still growing, so we have transferred her care back from the oncologist to our regular vet. Bella is one of the sweetest old girls we have fostered, and that’s saying something. Fortunately, this kind of tumor doesn’t seem to cause pain, so we plan to keep her comfortable and happy as long as possible.

On the verge of their fourth anniversary with us, Tessa and Sophie have regressed. Over the years they have occasionally had spells when they were more afraid, or spooked by something, but for two months we haven’t been able to get them inside except first thing in the morning (for breakfast) and bedtime (for a small meal). They don’t even come inside for their regular dinner in the late afternoon. It means Kathy has to walk them multiple times each day, although they won’t take advantage of it, and they go out in the yard off-leash only after we have dinner. At least that gives them time to run, do their business, and get time to themselves. We are looking into a trainer, since what we’re doing doesn’t work well.

Shadah is with Melissa and Terry, and just had a good check-up with her vet. She has some sort of skin problem, which we were concerned might be sebaceous adenitis. Although it can’t be ruled out completely, the vet is fairly confident it is because of food allergies. Melissa is trying some alternatives to the usual meat products, like duck and moose, and we’ll have to see what happens. Shadah is a good girl, really smart, and not a problem to foster.

Kona is also still with Melissa and Terry. She doesn’t like commotion, and doesn’t do well when unexpected things happen. This is common among puppy mill dogs, which she was, and we’re going to need a quiet home where she can be comfortable.

After Bella was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, we began giving her a large dose of thyroid meds on the advice of her oncologist. She recently went back for a check and it looks like the tumor has shrunk slightly. We don’t know if that means the cancer treatment is working or if it’s really something as simple as a goiter. In either event, we have transferred her care back to our regular vet after getting some less-than-great treatment at the oncologist’s office.

Laddie is still on a “trial adoption” in northern Idaho. They are dealing with his prey drive because they have a cat, and we still don’t know if this will be a permanent new home. They really want him, and are now trying a trainer.

Our progress toward turning rescue over to others is not very fast, but we’re still trying.

The last report of 2021 begins with a new dog in rescue. Her name is Shadah, and she came from a home in Eugene that didn’t want her anymore. She is eight years old and began peeing on the carpet, so the owner called us. We convinced him to take her to a vet first, where she was diagnosed with a UTI (big surprise) as well as a skin problem. After treatment he called and still wanted us to take her, so Shadah has moved in with Melissa. No matter how much we know her life will eventually be better, Shadah doesn’t understand that yet. Melissa said Shadah went out in the yard, over to where the car was that brought her, and sat and howled. When she went back inside, she sat by the window waiting. Things like that are difficult to watch. At eight years old, we’re undecided about getting her spayed. Melissa will talk that over with her vet and we’ll do what is best for Shadah.

Bella has been here since September, and we took her for a check-up to our vet. While she was there, the vet found a lump on her throat that he thought might be a goiter. We took her back for an ultrasound a few weeks ago, and it’s some kind of mass on her thyroid. Since first being diagnosed, the mass has grown noticeably and feels like half a baseball. Bella is going to see an oncologist next week and we’re crossing our fingers it will be good news, but we very much expect bad news. It’s growing too fast for something benign. If so, this will be a harder loss than most because Bella has become a real part of our family in a short time. She is friendly and loves attention, and it only takes a glance her way for her tail to wag. She is at least eleven years old, so the decision what to do will be a matter of balancing age, prognosis, and cost.

Tessa and Sophie have been going through a phase where they don’t want to come indoors. For days at a time they come in when called, and then they decide they are afraid of the door. Kathy has been walking them two or three times a day recently, and we only let them out off-leash after dinner because they always come inside at bedtime. It’s the kind of problem we have been fighting since they got here almost four years ago. When inside, they have been making little bits of progress. Both of them will take kibble from my hand sometimes, although Tessa hangs back. Sophie is more than happy to be next to me if food is imminent, but I still can’t touch her except when she is in her crate at bedtime or in the shower stall where they both hide. Kathy has much better luck getting close. It’s nearly a certainty that they will spend the rest of their lives with us. As you can see, Tessa’s new hobby is excavating holes in the yard.

Laddie has been placed on a “test drive” with a family in northern Idaho. Although he gets along with all the people very well, his prey drive is making things difficult with their cat. We’re waiting for a decision. Meanwhile, Kona has settled in with Melissa and Terry and we’ll see what happens.

Progress continues toward turning over rescue to Erin, Tom, Hans, and Holley. They get copies of emails I write about rescue, and Holley has been responding to online ads about dogs; she has checked most services for at least 15 years, sending listings to the Samfans rescue secretary to distribute to all the Samoyed Rescue groups. Tom and Erin have joined SCA so we can continue to be listed on the SCA and AKC website after Kathy, Melissa, and I are gone. It’s surprising how many details there are. I’m more than confident our dogs will continue to be cared for well into the future.

You might remember Freya, the dog who came from a backyard breeder’s daughter. Freya is the one who had entropion, a condition where the eyelashes grow inward, rubbing on the eyes. When Melissa saw her she called and we decided on the spot to break one of our firmest rules; we offered money for a dog, something never done before or after. She had surgery for the entropion and became a happy dog. Because of her first years she has always been timid, but the home we found was perfect. Anita, her mom, has been nursing her through a diagnosis of liver cancer, and it looked like surgery had caught it. Unfortunately, the cancer has returned, with new nodules that are inoperable. Anita and Freya have been some of our favorites over recent years, and we hope you’ll join us in sending all our best wishes and positive thoughts that Freya stays happy and comfortable as long as possible.

Kona, the girl from northern Idaho, is still with Melissa and doing much better. She is settling down and, after years as a puppy mill dog, realizes how much nicer it is to be indoors. We have a home in mind for her, but we’re taking our time. Melissa says she is no trouble at all considering she is only three years old.

Last report, we were about to look at a 3 year old male in the Spokane area. Darlene went to look at him and picked him up that day. He came from Florida, and when his owner died, he ended up with the former grandson-in-law, who was transferred to Fairchild AFB. We finally traced him back to a Florida breeder, and we will place him here. He’s a nice boy and when we find out how he does with cats, he should have a good home.

Bella is the eleven year old here with us. She is a delight to have here, mellow, sweet, and undemanding. She had a vet visit recently and they found what looks like a goiter. Test results are pending, but she will live out her life here.

On the horizon is an eight year old girl in the Eugene area. She seems to be a bad fit in the house she lives in, and the owner called us when she wet his expensive carpet. We convinced him to take her to the vet to check for a UTI, but he still wants us to take her. We think that should happen soon.

Progress continues on our plan to turn over rescue to new board members. This past month we set up rescue emails for everybody, and now anything that comes to the primary rescue address goes to everybody. In another month or two, perhaps we’ll have elections and decide who will be leading the group into the future.

We had a busy month. First came eleven year old Bella, who was given to us because her humans had a baby and no longer had time for her. Bella is staying with us, and because of her age she will live out her life here. Bella is not only one of the neatest and sweetest old seniors we have had, she is still fairly active. It took a couple weeks for her to get used to the routine here, but now she gets along great with the other dogs and absolutely loves attention. She even likes to be brushed and groomed, and her tail is often wagging. We don’t know how her previous family could let this old dog get away.

Next came Kona, a 3 year old from northern Idaho. She lived in a puppy mill and produced puppies until they decided to get a different dog and turned her in to the shelter. When we called to ask if we could work with them they said no, but we were welcome to send in people to see her. So we did. In fact we sent someone who adopted Kona and brought her to us. She is unsocialized and quite timid, though she is happy to let humans prove they can be nice to her. Melissa is fostering her, and Kona may be there for a while. She is making fairly quick progress, plays with the other dogs now, and has started holding her tail up and wagging happily.

A day before this report’s deadline we heard from a man stationed at Fairchild AFB. His ex-wife’s grandfather died and he got his dog. He realizes his life is not a good fit for the dog and has asked us to take him and find a new home. Darlene volunteered to do an assessment, and we will see how it goes from there. The info we got from him says he was imported from Russia, but there are no papers showing that, and because of the divorce it’s unlikely we will learn more.

Sophie and Tessa went through a spell where they were afraid to come inside except at dinnertime and bedtime, so we went back to hooking cords to their collars when they went out. It’s funny how they are so willing to come back inside when we do that. Because Sophie chews her cords, we have a wire with a clip on it and that works. We would like to find a foster home for one of these girls so they would be separated. Fena has done very well outside their influence, and we’re sure we could make progress on them individually. The problem is that they are extreme flight risks, and security is paramount. We have the yard fenced so if they escape, they are in a larger fenced area. If you have something like that and want an adventure, please let us know.

In early July there was a post on Craigslist from someone in Seattle who wanted to give away her 11 year old Samoyed. There was a new baby and there wasn’t time to walk the dog. We contacted the owner and she was receptive to our help. We have exchanged emails off and on since then and we think we’re close to getting the dog. She was purchased from someone in Portland when she was four years old. We can’t trace her beyond that.

In July we also heard of a dog in Deer Park, north of Spokane. John and Theresa drove to meet her and brought Kenna back home. She settled in well, was spayed, and a problem with her eye was corrected with some minor surgery. We get frequent reports, and love to see the photos of her. This is their third rescue dog; we know there aren’t many homes that good for a Samoyed.

On September 10, a rescue group posted a listing for a two year old female Samoyed they expect to get in about a week from Texas. When a dog is with another rescue, all we can do is send the link. It gives us the opportunity to check in with people on our waiting list and let them know we are still searching for a dog for them. In most cases we never hear back from anyone.

Tessa and Sophie’s progress is glacially slow. Kathy can pet them and do some grooming, but I can’t get close except at bedtime. Then they run into their crates and willingly take food from my hand. We just need to show them somehow that it’s OK to get close to me other times.

Back in 2015, we took in a five year old Sammy girl from a woman who didn’t want her any more. Abby was almost 100 pounds. We found what we thought was a good home for her, but in January this year we heard she was in the Bremerton shelter. I called the adopter and got a caretaker, who said he couldn’t take care of himself, let alone a dog, so Abby had been given away. We don’t know when, or how long she had been running loose, or anything except that she was in the shelter. Kathy drove to pick her up, and she was in bad shape. Her weight was half what it was in 2015, and she was desperate for food. Anytime she thought food might come her way she started barking, and it was continuous until she got fed. At first we thought the discoloration on her back was rain rot from being outside, but as time passed it didn’t get better and we began to think it was an endocrine problem. There was something wrong with her rear, and her back legs slid out to the sides as she walked. That’s often caused by spondylosis, but our vet said it wasn’t in her case. She panted a lot, so we think something hurt.

On the afternoon of August 8th Abby suddenly went down and lost all use of her rear legs. She was in obvious pain, crying out, and there wasn’t much we could do but give pain meds. On August 9th Abby took her final trip to the vet. She left quietly and is no longer in pain.

This is the first time we can remember in many years that we have been down to four dogs. Two are ours and two are fosters who will probably never leave because of their fear of people. Those are Sophie and Tessa, of course, with us for the last three and a half years. They are seemingly content to be here, usually hiding behind the kitchen table or outside sleeping on the lawn. Kathy is able to get close to them and has even done some grooming, but they run from me. Sometime in the past they must have been mistreated by a man, and it is made worse because I use a cane and it frightens them.

John and Theresa, previous adopters and fosters of Nikkee (Nanuk), drove to Deer Park a month ago to look at a female Samoyed who had been listed on Craigslist (thanks to Holley for finding her). They found she was being kept in a large pen during the day and in a garage at night. Her weeping eyes were said to be because of allergies, and she hadn’t been spayed. She was a very friendly girl, so John and Theresa decided to bring her back home to Kalama. Their vet determined the eye problem was entropion, so they set up an appointment to have that corrected, and also to get her spayed and have her teeth cleaned. Her name is Kenna, and just like other dogs who lived with them in the past, Kenna found herself in an experienced home where she is loved and cared for.

We heard of a dog in the Queen Anne area of Seattle, and the owner said she would work with us. It’s an eleven year old female they had for seven years, but there was a new baby and no more room for the dog. After a couple positive emails, things went quiet and we don’t know what happened. That’s a frustrating part of rescue work.

In the past month we received several more good applications, but until we have dogs to place, the apps will continue to pile up. We have a stack of about 40 families’ applications sitting here waiting for something to happen.

A huge thanks to Joy Ritter, who this month retired as the Treasurer of Northwest Samoyed Rescue. In her time on the board she kept us on track financially, and is always available and willing to give us good advice. For now I will add the Treasurer’s duties to my plate, and will continue in that role after others take over the day-to-day operations of rescue. We don’t have a time frame yet for a transition, but it’s definitely coming.

Back in 2012, MidAtlantic Samoyed Rescue took in 33 Samoyeds after a seizure from Linda Wilson and her sister. One of those dogs was Sasha, known then as Delaware-12, as well as “the dog with four front legs.” She had no hip sockets and her rear legs were fused and hyperextended, so when she sat her back legs stuck out between her front legs. I called Danielle, the rescuer who runs MASR, and told her we have a home on a single level, without steps. I said if nobody else takes her, we might be interested. Her answer was “She will be on the next flight.” Although Sasha wasn’t a Northwest Samoyed Rescue dog, she was a rescue who met every dog who came through our rescue group. She was unquestionably the alpha bitch in the pack, letting everyone know she was the boss.

At first, Sasha could run with the other dogs, taking her weight on her front legs while the back legs bounced along behind her. Over time, her front legs weakened, and for the last few years we carried her everywhere with a harness. Last week she faded fast, obviously in pain from something we couldn’t determine, and on July 5 she crossed the bridge. Sasha taught everyone that being disabled didn’t determine who she was. She loved every human she ever met, and she met a lot of the people who came here to adopt. She will be missed.

Holley continues to monitor Craigslist every day, not only our northwest lists but every one around the country. She forwards listings to the rescue secretary to be sent to the closest rescue group. Recently a dog appeared in the Spokane area, so Holley wrote to offer our help. Although it is rare, she received an answer saying they would like to work with us. As a result, a former adopter is going to drive there and meet a girl named Kina very soon. We should soon know if it’s a good match, and if it isn’t they will bringing her back and we’ll be taking her in as a foster. Holley keeps a record of all dogs she forwards, so she could tell us this is the same dog who was on Craigslist a couple years ago in Plummer, Idaho.

Last month we heard from a couple in Snoqualmie whose Samoyeds had passed, and they decided because of their age not to have any more. They offered us all the things they had collected over the years, which included some very nice things (grooming supplies, blower, table, doggie door, etc.). The list is lengthy, and we’re discussing what we will do with it all. Rescue has collected many nice things over the years and we’d like to have an auction. If you are reading this and think you could do that for us, we’d like to hear from you.

I want to give a special thanks to Kathy Timmons for her work organizing and running the agility trial. We especially want to acknowledge the donation she and the club sent to Northwest Samoyed Rescue. It means we don’t need to worry if a Samoyed shows up who needs medical help. Thank you!

It was a quiet month. On the day this report was due we heard about a dog needing help in Spokane, but we haven’t had an answer to our message to the owner. She looks like a young dog, and she is having seizures despite medication. We have to be careful before taking a dog with a medical problem, but if we hear back we’ll ask for a release to speak to her vet. Like all Facebook dogs, we have no idea whether we’ll hear anything more.

Sophie and Tessa are warming up more to Kathy, although I still can’t get close unless it’s bedtime and I’m handing them a bedtime snack while they sit in crates. Here is a recent photo of Kathy sitting on the lawn combing Tessa. When Kathy is in the yard both dogs will approach her for scratches, and seem to enjoy the attention. We expect to visit with Kathi and Fena soon and we’re looking forward to that.

Abby has been on Prozac for a month and has calmed a little when food is around. She still barks, but we have a few more minutes at dinner before she begins her incessant demand to have food. She has some significant health issues; her back legs are getting weaker and she has trouble getting up. She also has a skin problem on her back that may be Cushing’s. Time will tell what happens. It’s getting more difficult getting a dog to the vet, so she hasn’t been diagnosed.

We are still considering one last rescue picnic in late summer. We’ll let everyone know if the decision is made.

Winslow, the Puppyland puppy, found his forever home. Melissa fostered him for a month while we searched for the right adopter. Many thanks to Karen Rochat, who gave us the lead that worked out perfectly. She called them and suggested they submit an application right away. They did, and Natalie Greene took care of the home visit for us. They already had two Samoyeds so they have the experience to take care of a puppy. Their dogs have Hawaiian names and Winslow is now Pono. Both their other dogs have accepted him and reports are positive.

Three dogs popped up online last month. Two mixes in Pasco and Port Angeles, and a purebred listed on Craigslist in Bonney Lake. We sent out the information about mixes to the people on our waiting list who indicated they would take a mix, but no luck there. Holley tried to contact the person in Bonney Lake with the purebred but there was no answer. Ken Granacki got someone to call him, who found out the breeder of the dog was in North Dakota. We then checked with Helen Corlew in North Dakota, and she told us there is a breeder in SE North Dakota she thinks would have been the breeder of this dog. His first post listed a price of $500, which is against Craigslist rules, so it was removed. He posted a new ad changing that to a “small rehoming fee,” which is permitted, but it’s probably the same amount. Since we can’t get the owner to answer, there isn’t much we can do.

Sophie and Tessa are doing well, though they are still fearful. Two of our grand-daughters were here recently and one of them sat with Sophie and Tessa and was able to pet them. It’s men they are afraid of, and we still believe a man mistreated them sometime in the past. White Fire was run by a woman, but she put them in the hands of a man in SW Washington, so we have to believe he was the one. Other dogs from the White Fire seizure were unsocialized but have not had the kinds of fear shown by our girls.\

Abby, the dog from the Kitsap humane society, is not the easiest dog we have ever fostered. She is so food-motivated that if she thinks anything to eat is imminent she starts barking. It means we get 5-10 minutes to eat our meals before constant once-a-second barks begin. Two days ago we put her on doggie Prozac to calm her down. We’ll see what happens.

One of the strangest inquiries we had in the last 20 years came a week ago, when someone wrote asking us to take two dogs and five cats. When I asked for photos of her Samoyeds she replied that one was a Great Dane and the other was a Pitt mix. I presume she wrote to everyone listed on Petfinder without taking time to find out what breeds they take. I wished her luck, while suggesting ways to search for the right rescue.

Having a good relationship with breeders has made our jobs easier for the last 20 years. We call on them for help with dogs, home visits, and other things we need. Twice this year we asked breeders to share people who are waiting for a dog, and both times we had positive responses that resulted in homes for the dogs. We know that good, reputable breeders are responsible for keeping future Samoyeds the same breed we all love.

Our goal is to have a rescue picnic late this summer. No date yet, but we hope everyone we invite will have had their COVID vaccinations by then.