May 2021
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.