That's what friends are for...........

This morning I heard some bad news via an email from my friend Nancy.........Apparently Loretta had called Nancy sometime during the very early morning hours to inform her that "Norma Jean" the gorgeous blond Afghan had come down with what the Vet is calling "Canine Flu" There is also a strong chance that NJ may have contracted this flu at the Harrisburg Kennel Club show a little over a week ago when we were showing dogs there.........She became violently ill sometime during the night and was rushed to the Vet's office...........later this morning when all of the treatment at this Vet's office had be exhausted, she was transferred to C.A.R.E. (Center for Animal Referral) in Langhorne Pa....C.A.R.E is an awesome facility with a very state of the art Emergency Department. After I finished grooming my first client's dog this morning I took a long break and went over to Langhorne to be with Loretta, Larry (L's husband) and Nancy who had also left work early to be there.........I brought Maroo with me for the ride and for moral support since Loretta loves him so! I was able to bring him into the ER and held him in my arms the entire time since I did not feel good about letting his paws touch the floor........You never can be too careful at a Vet's office......too many germs on the floor from other dogs walking about......Before I headed up to see NJ, I stopped at a shop called the "Ave Maria" which sells numerous medals of saints and religious articles.........I found a very beautiful St Francis medal for pets which fastens to a crate or collar.........in addition I also picked up a holy card which had the St Francis prayer for pets on it.......I gave both of them to Loretta when I arrived...........St Francis is an amazing saint........He watches over all animals and especially those who are ill and in need of special care.....I asked the Vet Tech if it would be alright if we attached the medal to NJ's crate and she told me "absolutely"!!! NJ is listed in "critical condition" at the moment but the Vets are doing everything they can possibly do for her right now...........Loretta and Larry are on overdrive, with no sleep since the day before..........I am going to head back up there to spend some time with them in a short while and do what I can to lend a shoulder if needed......During my first visit Maroo sensed where he was and I knew without a doubt that he was feeling the turmoil of other animals which were there in need of help...........He is very much an Empath when it comes to other animals....he can sense when another dog is feeling fear and pain...........I have noticed this many times when I have had him with me at the grooming salon.........It is almost like he wants to comfort them..........considering where he came from and how much he had to depend on his dog family at the puppy mill I am not surprised that he can read the emotions of others. Many folks know about NJ and her illness and are praying for her.....If you are reading this I ask that you say a prayer for her too.....There are never too many prayers as far as I am concerned..........My little man Maroo would pray if he knew how..........I am sure of that :)

Just My Dog.......

JUST MY DOG

He is my other eyes that can see above

the clouds;

my other ears that hear above

the winds.

He is the part of me that can

reach out into the sea.

He has told me a thousand times over that

I am his reason for being:

by the way he rests against my leg;

by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile;

by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him.

(I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not along to care for me)

When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive.

When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile.

When I am happy, he is joy unbounded.

When I am a fool, he ignores it.

When I succeed, he brags.

Without him, I am only another man.

With him,I am all-powerful.

He is loyalty itself.

He has taught me the meaning of devotion.

With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace.

He has brought me understandingwhere before I was ignorant.

His head on my knee can heal my human hurts.

His presence by my side is protection against

my fears of dark and unknown things.

He has promised to wait for me...when ever...wherever--in case I need him.

And I expect I will--as I always have.

He is just my dog.

Copyright Gene Hill. All rights reserved.

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The boy knows how to play!

Recently right before my eyes, Maroo has become "Mr Personality" in the play yard! He has always preferred dog over people from day one but I have noticed that lately he really is spending more time away from the back door and more time in the actual yard interacting with the other dogs.....Of course all of the dogs have been very patient and polite with him since his play skills left something to be desired at first but now it is very appropriate and actually pretty funny! He loves to weave himself under the bigger dogs and then jump on the backs of those he can and ride them around like a circus dog! This is one of the cutest things I think I have seen him do since he has come into my life........Once in awhile he will over step his boundaries and tick one of the girls off by being a bit too enthusiastic but they are never mean to him......It really is great seeing the progress he has been making now that the daylight is much longer at the end of the day and my guys can stay out in the yard playing on a warm spring evening.....Inside the house he has always been pretty good about picking and choosing toys and other dogs to amuse himself with.........But he has had spacial issues outside which are finally beginning to resolve! I could not be happier.........

Luna and Maroo's fabulous adventure.....

Well early this morning my sister and I were off to Timonium Maryland to show Luna at the Mount Vernon Tibetan Terrier clubs regional specialty.....After last week at the Harrisburg Pa show I was a bit apprehensive about bringing Luna back into the show ring again.....but after a weeks worth of training and bonding with me.......the work paid off! There was a huge difference in the show ring then her previous show.........During the ride down to the show site both Luna and Maroo snuggled and slept soundly on the dog bed which was placed securely in the van to avoid and possible injuries..........I always try to secure my dogs when traveling even it is just a short distance across town.........Both dogs seemed to enjoy the ride very much........occasionally Maroo would sit up and look out of the windows to see the world outside while it was passing by outside of the van......The one thing that has impressed me about Maroo is that he has never had any anxiety about riding in a car.......Since he has really had no history that I know of riding in cars I can only assume that this is all new to him..........I do know that when a very large truck passed by and makes that sound that we all know when trucks pass us on the road he does become a bit anxious, but so do I :) Right now I am dead tired from being up so early this morning to prepare and leave for the show........and Maroo is fast asleep at my feet right now............This has been the 4th dog show he has attended with me and each time has enjoyed the day out very much.........He is an excellent ambassador for our breed when I meet other dog folks at the shows and tell them all about his story.........He is learning to accept new people much easier than he did weeks ago.....still has long to go but he has a sparkle in his eyes these days...........and those who meet him for the first time are charmed with his very sweet nature........Oh well time to take a nap just like my boy Maroo is doing right now :)

Love can build a bridge......

I just realized today that I did not officially announce to anyone that I decided to adopt Maroo......Camille from the TTCA had asked me last week in an email if I had decided to adopt him or if I needed more time.........I explained to her that I could not imagine him going anywhere else then right here with me and my other dogs......we all have grown very attached to him and he fits right in to my canine family beautifully.......I do not remember which day it was but I had been thinking long and hard about the progress he has made and how I would feel if I had to let him move on to a new family.........it was then I realized that "I" was his new family and I could not part with him. At that very moment a song came on the radio which I had not heard for some time now........It was very popular back in the early 90s and was written and performed by the country/western group "The Judds" I believe it was the last song that they recorded and performed together as mother and daughter before Naomi had to retire from the business due to health problems..........the lyrics of this song resonated inside of me long after the song ended on the radio..........It was so fitting in relation to how I was feeling about Maroo that day.......If you have been in this situation perhaps you will know how I feel........a bit sentimental, yes.......but sometimes feelings can be very sentimental.....it is all good ......



I'd gladly walk across the desert
With no shoes upon my feet
To share with you the last bite
Of bread I had to eat
I would swim out to save you
In your sea of broken dreams
When all your hopes are sinkin'
Let me show you what love means

Love can build a bridge
Between your heart and mine
Love can build a bridge
Don't you think it's time?
Don't you think it's time?

I would whisper love so loudly
Every heart could understand
That love and only love
Can join the tribes of man
I would give my heart's desire
So that you might see
The first step is to realize
That it all begins with you and me

Love can build a bridge
Between your heart and mine
Love can build a bridge
Don't you think it's time
Don't you think it's time

When we stand together
It's our finest hour
We can do anything,
anything
Keep believin' in the power

Love can build a bridge
Between your heart and mine
Love can build a bridge
Don't you think it's time
Don't you think it's time

Love and only love
Love and only love

The White House has nothing on Maroo.......

With the news today of first family's new dog all over the television and internet, I have to say that I am disappointed that the Obamas did not decide on a "shelter dog" at the end of the day........Oh I understand that Senator Kennedy gave them this adorable puppy as a gift.......and that the PWD is a wonderful breed.......safe for the daughter who has allergies, but there was something about the hope of an unwanted puppy coming out of a life of turmoil to a life of privilege that gave many of us hope as well.

Spending time with the Missouri rescue TTs at the kennel when we visit each week has shown me something that I did not realize I had inside of myself.....or at least I did not think I had inside of me, that is humility....

Having purebred dogs from reputable breeders most of my life and really never taking a good hard look at the unwanted ones or the dogs which came from the horrors of a puppy mill has shown me that I am capable of sharing my life with a soul that has been damaged.......being able to accept love from a being that only knows how to give love because it is so primal to them and comes from the core of their existence.......not questioning this love.......taking it freely....

In the face of all that has happened to these dogs they still can give love to another being.......regardless if it is human or canine.......I have seen this in the way Maroo interacts with my other dogs and with me. The pure joy in his expression when he is happy playing or cuddling ....This is love at is very core. Seeing and feeling this has humbled me........and made me a better person....

This past weekend I purchased one of those magnetic signs for your car which was in the shape of a dog bone.........the saying read "I love my rescue" as I was showing it to my sister she informed me that there was another sign which was for sale..........this sign read "Who rescued Who?" I probably should have purchased this sign from the vendor at the dog show because those words are exactly how I feel right now......Who did rescue who?

Like Father, Like Son....

I am totally thrilled that Susan and Ira decided to foster "Archie" who is the Father of Maroo! This all happened in the blink of an eye between yesterday and today.......During our visit to the shelter yesterday Susan and I discussed the possibility of fostering Archie before he becomes adopted out to his "forever home" She needed the green light from Ira her husband first before jumping into this commitment.....Since Ira knows how important these rescue dogs are to her he agreed to bring Archie into their home.........So this morning with Maroo coming along for the ride we headed out to meet Camille at the shelter......Archie who is very sweet and fairly social greeted us when we stepped into the play yard.......almost like he knew we were coming back for him today! The ride back home in the van went very well......Archie sat on Susan's lap the entire time while Maroo kept giving him kisses every once in awhile......He handled the drive home with ease and did not seem to be distressed at all. After I dropped Susan and Ira off at their home I headed over to my house to begin the grooming process on Archie....His coat was a bit matted and tangled in places and he was in need of a good bath since he had been playing with his other TT family members at the shelter all week.....Once he was placed in the tub and the warm water started hitting his legs and feet he stood there and took the experience in stride.......He was very good about having his head and face washed as well........No trying to jump out of the tub what so ever! Once this part of the experience was completed we headed over to the grooming table to begin drying him with the power dryer......this was a bit unsettled for him because I have the feeling he never had a blow dryer used on his coat before.....with lots of words of encouragement and praise we got the job done! After he was dry I trimmed his feet and face up a bit to make him look more handsome then he already looked :) A stylish bandanna and a spritz of CK9 cologne finished the job! He looked awesome! Coat all shiny and smooth with no mats or tangles left to be found........At this point I decided to introduce him to my TT gang because they were just going nuts to meet this new little boy........in the play yard all went well.......no one got their nose out of joint and they all accepted him as one of the family! I called Susan to let her know how well he had done and then brought him over to the office where both of us needed to work this evening.......At the office Archie was "Mr Personality" with all of the new people he met........showing off his new look and bandanna the entire time :) He eventually fell asleep under my desk on the bed that I had brought here for Maroo when he comes to work with me........Right now he is resting .........He had a very busy day........and the best it yet to come....when he goes home with Susan after our work night is over.