October 2008
This was a great month for Samoyed Rescue. Cody and Samson, both in rescue since May, are now in their forever homes. Jasmine, who is still in a foster home, has a home ready for her when we can get her to western Washington.
Samson came from The Dalles, where the shelter shaved him because of the severity of the mats all over his body. He spent several months with Melissa where he discovered the kindness of humans. Reports are that he was tied out for many years before he got there, so it must have been quite a revelation to him. Samson was also “bad with cats” until Melissa taught him they could be part of his family. We had an application from a family in Brier looking for an adult dog, and when they met each other it was a great match. We all had a scare a week ago when Samson was found on the bed, seemingly paralyzed in his back legs. After a trip to the ER and an overnight stay, he was diagnosed with a sore back; he had simply chosen not to stand and put weight on all four legs. It was probably hard play with his new brother Prince that caused it. With something for pain and swelling he is now back to normal and they are limiting his activity.
Cody spent his first few days with Melissa and then came to Ron & Kathy. He is the dog who killed part of a litter of piglets and was taken to the shelter as part of the settlement. Cody will probably always be remembered as a dog with unlimited energy, an ability to jump, and (fortunately for us) the only true Samoyed retriever we have known. He chased tennis balls – and brought them back every time – until his tongue was hanging so far we thought he would trip on it. A few days ago he went along with Kathy on a home visit where the people thought he was perfect. They were willing to handle his need for exercise and he thought they were great. They report now that they are taking him for a run three days a week and a bicycle trip around the neighborhood on the other days. He has settled in without any problem and loves to go for car rides with them.
Jasmine was in a shelter in Kalispell when we called Sandy Nelson to ask if she could look at her. Sandy picked her up and took her home to foster, and recently gave her a good grooming and a bath. Jasmine is a beautiful dog, probably a Samoyed/Sibe mix, with one brown eye and one blue eye. We have an applicant in Snohomish who would like to adopt her, and we’re trying to work out the transportation for her to her new home.
We are also listing Esau, a senior dog in Oregon whose family would like to find him a new home. At 12 years old he has started having accidents in the house and they think it’s because their work hours have changed and he has to be left home alone. Esau will stay there until someone is willing to adopt him. He is a handsome old boy and deserves to be with someone who understands he needs a little love and understanding in his old age.
Gloria, a mostly Samoyed girl, is another old dog looking for a home. She is in rescue at Old Dog Haven, a wonderful group of people in Arlington, and in a foster home in Kent. If you would like to 
consider a senior dog in your home you’ll be rewarded beyond anything you could expect. She is listed at http://www.olddoghaven.org/ and we put her pictures on our website.
We had an experience two weeks ago that worked out better than it might have. Holley checks Craigslist every day for Samoyeds, and she forwarded a listing from someone who wanted to place a young Sammy. We routinely do a search on rescue e-mail when we get the name of someone with a dog, especially in this case because it sounded familiar. It turned out to be a former applicant who had written back to us to say she was getting a puppy, and told us who the breeder was. That enabled us to make an immediate call to let the breeder know, and despite her being in Kansas for the National the story ended well.