Today's Dog on the Blog: Pickle, The Dog Who Would Not Die!

This is Pickle. The fact that he is still alive is nothing short of a miracle! He came to us from a shelter in the Dallas area, where pit bulls are separated from the general population in a small room, away from the other dogs.

There were four pit bulls in that room when one came down with parvo and died. The three remaining pit bulls seemed doomed, because no one wanted to risk bringing a parvo-exposed dog into their rescue. In fact, we could not even get a transport arranged after we agreed to take them because of the exposure to parvo.

So I drove to Dallas and picked up Pickle, Oreo and Linus, the three pit bulls who had been exposed. Oreo and Linus were adult dogs who had already been neutered -- being neutered meant they had belonged to people who had cared about them at some point, and so they probably had been innoculated against parvo.

But Pickle was a different story. He was still a pup and he was unaltered. The risk of getting parvo was very real for Pickle.

On the long trip home from Dallas, I stopped at a Jack in the Box and ordered all three boys plain hamburgers. Oreo and Linus wolfed theirs down, hamburger, bun and all, but Pickle needed coaxing. He finally ate the hamburger patty when i removed the bun and broke his hamburger into small pieces for him. That was the first clue that parvo may be setting in.

By next morning, Pickle still had no appetite and he seemed listless, so I immediately rushed him to our vet, Dr. John Stern at Needville Animal Clinic. Dr. Stern tested him and confirmed the worst -- Pickle had parvo. Pickle was put on an IV and went into Dr. Stern's ICU, where he spent the next week. Because we caught the disease early and began treating it immediately, Pickle survived the ordeal and beat parvo, under Dr. Stern's excellent care. He came home and we put him in his very own bedroom, because we knew he could shed the parvo virus for a while, even after he was cured. His appetite returned and things were looking up for Pickle...

Until the following week, when he started sliding downhill again. He lost his appetite and became listless and quiet, and he developed a cough. Once again, he was rushed to Dr. Stern where the diagnosis this time was pneumonia! The prognosis was guarded, because Pickle was still so weakened from his battle with parvo. There was another week in Dr. Stern's ICU on an IV, but once again, Pickle beat the odds and survived the pneumonia as well!

Back home, we rejoiced that Pickle had eluded death not once but twice! We looked forward to Pickle's complete recovery so that he could finally go outside to run and play with other dogs.

And then we noticed that he was starting to lose his fur. After a couple days it was clear that he was developing mange. It turned out to be the kind that comes from inside his body. It is unclear which is cause and which is result: does Pickle have mange because his early illnesses compromised his immune system, or did he get the early illnesses and mange because his immune system is already compromised? I guess we will never really know. Pickle continues to battle mange periodically.

But he now has a friend, Gloria, and they run and play and have a ball together in their play yard. In spte of all his physical ups and downs, Pickle is still alive and enjoying every day.

Jay Hellerich, executive director
smiling dog farms
a 501(c)3 corporation
wharton, texas
979-257-3377
www.smilingdogfarms.org
http://smilingdogfarms.blogspot.com



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Today's Dog on the Blog: Buddy - From Feral to Friendly

Baby - In MemoriamBuddy with Ricky

This is a bittersweet story about Buddy and Baby...

Buddy came to us from Dallas. Michelle and Lisa had found Buddy and Baby living in an old truck lot. Baby was more open to human contact, and allowed herself to be taken to safety, but Buddy wanted no part of it or of people in general. Michelle and Lisa had to use a trap to catch him.

After evaluating both dogs, it seemed clear that Baby could adapt and adjust to adoption, but Buddy was just not destined for that. Baby was placed in an adoptive home. Michelle and Lisa brought Buddy to Smiling Dog Farms to live out his life in safety and peace, in a place where he did not have to like people if he chose not to!

Ricky and I were sorry that Baby had not come with Buddy. We believe strongly that dog relationships should be maintained at all costs! But we understood that the goal of rescue is to get dogs into homes, and that was a better situation for Baby.

Buddy spent his first several months living in our bedroom, where we could talk to him and hold him and try to get him to accept human contact. Of all the feral dogs who have come here, Buddy is our greatest success story! Buddy eventually decided that he would trust Ricky. Ricky would carry him outside, singing to Buddy all the while! Buddy will now take treats from any of our helpers, as well as Ricky and me! That is a long way to come for a feral dog! In time, Buddy was ready for his own play yard and cottage.

About six months after Buddy moved here we got a call from Michelle asking if we could possibly take Baby! Her adoption had disrupted! We were thrilled for Buddy and Baby! Of course we said YES!!

One of my happiest moments at the farm was the day Michelle and Lisa brought Baby to be reunited with Buddy. They instantly recognized each other. You could see and feel the love and happiness in both dogs' hearts. From that moment, Buddy and Baby would be together for the rest of their lives!

They enjoyed happy times together in their play yard and cottage, making occasional forays into the house to spend the night in our bed with us. The past few months, however, we noticed that Baby's muzzle was getting very grey. Her step had slowed, as it does with all of us as we become seniors. We knew that Baby was coming to the close of a well lived life with her precious Buddy...

It was a Sunday, three weeks ago, when we found Baby laying still next to her beloved Buddy. She died quietly, peacefully in her sleep. Buddy sat motionless next to Baby, protecting her and not understanding why she would not wake up to play with him.

We will treasure the years that Buddy and Baby had together. We appreciate the sensitivity of Michelle and Lisa who respected their relationship and allowed them to be together.

This past week, we finally introduced Buddy to a new friend, Bailey, an older white German Shepherd. Bailey is quiet and non-assertive like Baby. It seems to be a good match. Buddy has accepted Bailey, and Bailey clearly loves Buddy. For Buddy, it is a new beginning, a new chapter in his life that he is embarking upon with his new friend, Bailey.

We will never forget our precious Baby, who left us all too soon.

Jay Hellerich, executive director
smiling dog farms
a 501(c)3 corporation
wharton, texas
979-257-3377
www.smilingdogfarms.org
http://smilingdogfarms.blogspot.com



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Today's Dog on the Blog: Jack VI , Former "Bait Dog"

The difference between Jack VI today and Jack VI when he got here is pretty stark! (Jack must be the most common name for a dog in America; we already had five dogs named Jack when this little guy arrived, hence the name Jack VI)


Jack VI came to us from a shelter in Georgia. He had been confiscated by the animal shelter because he had been used as "bait" to train fighting dogs.

I will let that horrific image sink in for just a moment.

Jack was part of a group of five "bait dogs" who came to Smilng Dog Farms to live out their lives in safety and peace. These dogs are not adoptable, because of what has happened to them.
They are, not surprisingly, extremely dog-aggressive. Why wouldn't they be? Their only chance for survival was to fight for their lives. The sight of another dog sets them off, because of their horrible memories.

Imagine: your life is limited to a small, confined crate... no chance to play or visit with caring people or happy dogs... when you hear someone coming to get you, instead of feeling joyful for an opportunity to run and play and have fun, you feel only dread and fear because you know what is coming next -- you will be in a fight for your life... and when it is finally, mercifully over, you are taken back to your crate and shoved back in, to nurse your wounds all alone, with no one to comfort you or hold you ... all alone until the next time you are required to "teach" another dog how to fight!

It is almost impossible to imagine that anyone could do this to a dog.

What is even more surprising is how dogs like Jack -- given their background -- can learn to trust people again. I am sure that I would never trust a human again, had I endured what Jack went through.

Jack still has issues with other dogs. But he plays with his toys, is loving to people, and is so very grateful for everything we do for him! And even though he is destined to be an "only" dog, he has a ball chasing the birds as he runs along the fence in his play yard. There is a peace about Jack that would have been hard to forsee when he first arrived -- nervous, worried and underfed.

Jack is truly an amazing dog!


Jay Hellerich, executive director
smiling dog farms
a 501(c)3 corporation
wharton, texas
979-257-3377
www.smilingdogfarms.org
http://smilingdogfarms.blogspot.com



Please become a Smiling Dog Partner to Support Our Work
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Just click on http://smilingdogfarms.org/Donations_Page.html

Today's UN-Dog on the Blog: Alma Cow

Hi everyone... my name is Alma... I told Jay that I was going to write the Blog today, because someone has to remind people that Smiling Dog Farms isn't just for dogs!

That's me on the left with Jay when I was just a baby. I was only a day old when I came to Smiling Dog Farms. My mommy had no milk to give me, and I was hungry! So Jay and Ricky took turns feeding me with a bottle every four hours.

They used to let me come into the house when it got cold outside. And sometimes, they would put me into the back of the station wagon so I could ride in the car with them! It was a lot of fun, but I guess I sort of outgrew it!

You can see from my current photo on the right that I have grown since the days when I would fit into the station wagon. They say I weigh 1000 pounds, but I think they are exaggerating... I don't feel a pound over 800!

I am light on my feet and I can still dance when I get excited -- which is pretty much whenever they bring my cow pellets or a fresh bale of hay for me! I like to rub up against Ricky and Jay, like a cat might do... and I sometimes even give them kisses with my big, scratchy tongue.

So when you think about Smiling Dog Farms, don't forget that we are NOT all dogs around here! Some of my best friends at the farm are donkeys and horses and sheep and pigs.

Jay Hellerich, executive director
smiling dog farms
a 501(c)3 corporation
wharton, texas
979-257-3377
www.smilingdogfarms.org
http://smilingdogfarms.blogspot.com



Please become a Smiling Dog Partner to Support Our Work
Your Monthly Tax-Deductible Gift Gives Hope to the Forgotten,Neglected & Rejected
Just click on http://smilingdogfarms.org/Donations_Page.html

Today's Dog on the Blog: Susie is our Newest Arrival!

Here is the newest resident of Smiling Dog Farms -- Susie, who came all the way from Georgia!

Susie's story is a sad one. She had a wonderful family who loved her and took good care of her. One day, Susie was napping in her own back yard, minding her own business, when the next door neighbor boy accidentally hit his baseball over the fence, into Susie's yard.

The boy climbed the fence -- with his ball bat still in his hand -- and startled Susie from a sound sleep. Seeing someone who did not belong in her yard with what looked like a menacing weapon to her, she did what any dog would do to protect her family -- she bit him! And that got her into all kinds of trouble, forcing her to leave her home and her family.

Here at Smiling Dog Farms, we have a saying: Some people need to be bit.

Susie arrived here Saturday. Everyone involved in her transport fell in love with her. So did we!

Susie is as gentle and non-aggressive as you can hope for in a dog. She is in a new place surrounded by people she does not know, and yet she has not shown any signs of aggression toward anyone here.

She is, however, a sad little girl who misses her family and doesn't understand what she did wrong, and why she cannot go home. We are working with her every day to convince her that she is safe here, and that the people around here love her and want the best for her.

It is our custom for new arrivals to spend their first night at the farm in our bed with us. Susie actually spent Saturday and Sunday nights with us, because we wanted to give her extra assurance that she is safe and loved.

She did perk up when we offered her some apple pie! All three of us sat in the bed eating apple pie together!! And she slept in the middle of the bed, laying up against us all night.

Susie is a wonderful pet and very well mannered in the house. We think she deserves a chance to have another family, in a community where she will not be penalized for protecting her family.

Jay Hellerich, executive director
smiling dog farms
a 501(c)3 corporation
wharton, texas
979-257-3377
www.smilingdogfarms.org
http://smilingdogfarms.blogspot.com



Please become a Smiling Dog Partner to Support Our Work
Your Monthly Tax-Deductible Gift Gives Hope to the Forgotten,Neglected & Rejected
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Today's Dog on the Blog: Sassy Debuts at Petco!

This is Sassy boy giving kisses to Ricky!! Sassy made his debut (and Smiling Dog Farms' debut )at the Sugarland, Texas Petco this past Sunday as part of our New Directions Adoption Program!

Sassy came to us from a kill shelter in another state... Audra and Dawn snatched him from the Grim Reaper's hands with literally only minutes to spare!! They organized a transport and sent him to us at Smiling Dog Farms.

You can see that Sassy boy is loving and cute -- and totally adoptable! It was for dogs like Sassy that we developed our New Directions Adoption Program. Unlike dogs who come to us because they have issues which make them unadoptable, Sassy came here because he had run out of time. He does not have any issues that would prevent him from succeeding in an adoptive home. Our New Directions Adoption Program will give him the opportunity to have a traditional family.

When he arrived, he had serious issues with his teeth! Dr. Stern, our veterinarian, removed a total of 16 teeth!! And once he got those infected and inflamed teeth out, he was a different boy!! Lots more energy!

Dodee Charlow of Princess Annie's Clan is partnering with us to do adoptions through the Sugarland Petco, where we have been approved as a Petco Foundation Partner. We have complete confidence in Dodee's due dilligence on the front end and follow up visits on the back end of adoptions. We want to make sure that our babies are going to better-than-average homes. But Ricky and I just don't have the time to wear one more hat, so it is a huge help to have qualified rescuers helping us with adoptions.

Dodee tells us she already has someone interested in Sassy boy! But it is still too early to know for sure, because she has only begun the process of interviews and vet checks that will be required before she will approve an adoption.

We are hoping to have an updated version of our website this week sometime, complete with an adoptions page showing many of the dogs here whom we think will succeed in adoptive homes.

We have not changed our primary focus, which is to provide permanent homes for dogs who have no other options because they are considered unadoptable for one reason or another. Those babies will always live with us on the farm, in safety and peace.

But we are excited that the dogs who could be adopted will now have that opportunity!

Jay Hellerich, executive director
smiling dog farms
a 501(c)3 corporation
wharton, texas
979-257-3377
www.smilingdogfarms.org
www.smilingdogfarms.blogspot.com



Please become a Smiling Dog Partner to Support Our Work
Your Monthly Tax-Deductible Gift Gives Hope to the Forgotten,Neglected & Rejected
Just click on http://smilingdogfarms.org/Donations_Page.html

Today's Dog on the Blog - California Dogs Reunited!

I' like to share a touching story of a dog family, separated and put in harm's way by humans... but happily reunited, through the auspices of Bound Angels in Los Angeles!

Jose lived with his family of dogs... April and Scotty had three pups, Cowboy, Chapito and Mickey and they all lived with Jose -- until one of them bit someone. Then all five dogs were confiscated and sent to doggy-prison, where they languished since January, 2008, each in separate cells. No habeus corpus, if you are a dog! Jose tried in vain to find someone to help him get his dogs back, because they were scheduled to be killed.

Luckily, he found Robert from Bound Angels who agreed to help. Robert brokered a deal with authorities. Jose was allowed to keep April. The other four could come live here at Smiling Dog Farms. They are once again a doggie family; Scotty and his three boys happily romp and play in their jumbo-sized play yard, just glad to be together again. Jose and April have been reunited and are still living in California.

In all candor, Scotty and his boys are not especially fond of humans. Who can blame them? They were "Jose's Dogs" and are not anxious to let anyone else get close to them. But they have clear and obvious bonds with one another, and here at Smiling Dog Farms, they will be allowed to live out their lives in safety and peace, even if they are not "social" with people.

Please take a few moments to watch this incredible video of these dogs as they make their journey home from incarceration and near-death experience!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxcnBjl8zA0

Jay Hellerich, executive director
smiling dog farms
a 501(c)3 corporation
wharton, texas 979-257-3377
www.smilingdogfarms.org
www.smilingdogfarms.blogspot.com

Please become a Smiling Dog Partner to Support Our Work

Your Monthly Tax-Deductible Gift Gives Hope to the Forgotten,Neglected & Rejected

Just click on http://smilingdogfarms.org/Donations_Page.html