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Martha was sitting in her living room watching television this Christmas Eve, alone as she had been for the last five years. All of her children had married and moved to the four corners of the nation, her youngest, a surgery resident at the Vet School across the state had planned on coming home, but had been assigned to work the emergency clinic and couldn't find a replacement. Martha told herself that having Sally working to help the sick and injured animals this Christmas Eve was worth being alone, besides, Sally would be driving over for Christma s dinner the next afternoon.
All the animals had been fed and now were safely in either the kennel building or lazily laying around the house. Martha had to stop to
think how many dogs she had at her house this Christmas, she sighed when she realized there were 16. She did rescue and the number of
dogs was always changing with some dogs being adopted, and new abandoned dogs coming in. Feeling overwhelmed by the number of dogs
she had and all the dogs still left in shelters to die because there was no room for them in rescue, Martha seriously wondered if she
should stop working rescue. If she didn't have all these dogs, she could have flown to any of her other children's homes for the Holidays to be with family. Besides, the heartbreak of seeing each dog in such need was beginning to really weigh on her.
Tonight she had a new dog, brought home that day. Martha didn't really plan on adding another dog but on her way home from the store she saw a dog lying on the side of the road. Certain the dog was dead, Martha stopped, to pick up the body and take it home for a burial. As she got closer, she recognized the shell of an Alaskan Malamute, the breed she rescued. Covered by cuts and festering wounds, what fur was left was matted and filthy, it was so skinny that laying there you could see each rib and it's hipbones were the widest part of his body.
With tears in her eyes, mourning for what once had been a majestic animal now reduced to almost a skeleton she reached down to give the poor dog one last pat on the head. "Oh, you poor boy, what a way to end your life. Well, at least I can name you and give you a decent farewell." As her tears fell on the dog's head, one eye slowly opened and the tail gave a single wag.
"You're alive! Everything will be OK now, I'll take you home and you will have a soft bed and food tonight." She said, tears streaming down her face, this time from happiness.
The rest of the afternoon was spent cleaning the dog's wounds and making sure he was able to eat and drink water. Martha set up the
large run in the kennel building for him. A soft blanket and a thick foam pad was to be his bed, fresh water and food beside him. Papers for his 'necessary functions' were placed at the far end of the run. He lay there watching every move she made.
Martha left the dog resting on his bed, somewhat surprised at the reaction of the rest of the dogs in the kennel. Pandemonium usually broke out with all the other dogs wooing and barking when a new dog was brought in, tonight all the other dogs just stood and silently watched as Martha cared for the new dog. Thankful the other dogs were not disturbing the new boy, Martha went to the house to finish preparations for tomorrow's dinner.
Later that evening Martha went down to the kennel to check on the new boy and feed the other dogs. As she walked in the door the new boy shakily stood to greet her. As she was straightening up the kennel after feeding and exercising the dogs, she saw her microchip reader. "Well, this will be a waste of time" she thought as she ran the reader over the dog's body.
BEEP! The reader had located a chip! Writing the number down, she hurried to the house to call the chip registry and report the found
dog. As she suspected on Christmas Eve, all she got was a machine.
Very late that night, the phone rang. Martha answered and a strange voice was on the other end. "Did you find a dog with a microchip?" "Yes, are you the registry needing more information?" Martha asked. "No, the registry called us and told us you found our dog!" and then the man broke down crying. After composing himself, he continued.
"The dog you found is BISS AM/CAN/INT CH Wasilla's Ice Sculpture, WPD, WTD, WLD, TT, CGC but to us he is our heart, the love of our life, Icy. Three years ago Icy was stolen from his exercise area in our back yard. We did everything we could think of to find him, but lately we had almost given up hope of ever seeing him again. This is a miracle. We are leaving now to come pick him up. We are about 14 hours from you so we will see you and Icy in the morning."
Martha was crying, indeed it was a miracle! And the new dog now had a name, his own name and his people were coming for him. What a
wonderful Christmas gift.
Martha hurried down to the kennel to let Icy know that his humans had been found and they were on their way to take him home. As Martha walked up to Icy's kennel he stood to greet her, "Icy, yes, I know your name and I have spoken to your people. They're coming to take you home." As she was talking to Icy, she heard the old clock in the building s trike midnight.
Much to her amazement, Icy said "Thank you."
Martha thought, now I am sure I have been around dogs too long, I could swear I heard Icy speak.
Icy continued "Martha, yes I am talking to you in human language, you see, at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Day, all animals can
speak. Let me tell you what happened to me today."
"I have been kept in a dark barn for a long time by some very mean people who beat me and often forgot to feed me. Two days ago I found a loose board on the barn and was able to escape. I walked as fast as I could, looking for my people, or at least for some kind person to feed me and give me a warm place to sleep before I died. I was in the middle of a big field when I couldn't walk or even crawl any more, I laid down, knowing I was about to cross to the Rainbow Bridge. As I stepped onto the Bridge, an Angel came towards me."
"Icy," the Angel said "If you agree, He has a job for you before cross the Bridge. There is a very kind human who needs you today to
restore her sprit."
"Of course I agreed to help a human -- that is what Malamutes do. The Angel picked up my body and carried it to the side of a road and laid it down. The next thing I remember is you were scratching my ear and talking to me and your tears were falling on my face. You have cared for me this day."
Martha heard a chorus of voices all about her. To her amazement she was surrounded not only by her dogs, but dogs she had rescued and sent on to forever homes, all voicing stories how Martha had cared for them and restored them to health and loved them, thanking her for her love.
The first Malamute Martha had rescued many years ago stepped to the front of the gathering and said, "Martha, you took us in to your home, cared for us, healed us both in body and spirit then, even though it broke your heart, sent us on to our new forever families.
This gave us a life we would never have had without you. Others of us here, never were adopted and lived out our lives with you, loved and cared for as if we were your own dogs. In our hearts we are your dogs. Thank you."
Then one small mixed breed puppy stepped forward from the back and said, "Miss Martha, you never held me nor fed me, you see I am
speaking for all the shelter dogs and cats gathered here for which you did all you could. We understand that you can't save us all, but
you read our shelter stories, knowing we would cross the Bridge without knowing a home of our own, and you cried for us. We thank you
for that. You see, we knew you cared and loved us, too. And that love helped us as we crossed. We thank you and all the other Rescuers for that small act of love."
Icy looked at Martha and told her, "It is getting late and you will have many people here tomorrow to celebrate Christmas. And you have your rescue work to continue. Our time to be able to talk to you is growing short, but always remember what happened tonight. What you do for the animals is a gift to us and to Him, the Father of us all. Each of us, animals of every species, needs people like you. Please keep on helping. You are doing the work of Angels."
At that point all of the dogs in unison said "Thank You," and their voices blended into a joyous howl which echoed from the heavens to
the ends of the earth.
Humbly offered as a Christmas Gift to all who love animals.
Christmas 2007
(c)Bilinda Marshall 2007
SKUNKED has your dog been skunked????
Here is the BEST recipe for skunk odor removal, and a web site that explains why this works and why other home remedies only mask the odor.
1 qt 3% hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup baking soda
1 tsp Dawn dishwashing liquid
Bathe in mixture, leaving it on for 5 minutes. Repeat, if necessary.
DO NOT LEAVE IN CONTAINER IT WILL EXPLODE!
If you live where skunks are a problem and a risk for your dogs, post this recipe on your refrigerator and make sure you ALWAYS have the ingredients on-hand. This truly works!
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One By One.... unknown author
One by one, they pass my cage. Too old, too worn, too broken , no way. Way past his time, he can't run and play. Then they shake their heads slowly and go on their way. A little old man, arthritic and sore. It seems I am not wanted anymore. I once had a home, I once had a bed, a place that was warm, and where I was fed. Now my muzzle is gray, and my eyes slowly fail. Who wants a dog so old and frail? My family decided I didn't belong, I got in their way, my attitude was wrong. Whatever excuse they made in their head, can't justify how they left me for dead. Now I sit in this cage, where day after day, the younger ones get adopted away. When I had almost come to the end of my rope, you saw my face and I finally had hope. You saw through the gray, and the legs bent with age, and I felt I still had life beyond this cage. You took me home, gave me food and a bed, and shared your own pillow with my poor tired head. We snuggle and play, and you talk to me low, you love me so dearly, you want me to know. I may have lived most of my life with another, but you outshine them with a love so much stronger. And I promise to return all the love I can give, to you, my dear person, as long as I live. I may be with you a week or for years. We will share many smiles, you will no doubt shed tears. And when the time comes that God deems I must leave, I know you will cry, and your heart, it will grieve, and when I arrive at the Bridge, all brand new, my thoughts and my heart will still be with you. And I will brag to all who will hear, of the person who made my last days so dear......
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In this House
(Author unknown)
Here in this house...
I will never know the loneliness I hear in the barks of the other dogs "out there".
I can sleep soundly, assured that when I wake my world will not have changed.
I will never know hunger, or the fear of not knowing if I'll eat.
I will not shiver in the cold, or grow weary from the heat.
I will feel the sun's heat, and the rain's coolness, and be allowed to smell all that can reach my nose.
My fur will shine, and never be dirty or matted.
Here in this house...
There will be an effort to communicate with me on my level.
I will be talked to and even if I don't understand, I can enjoy the warmth of the words.
I will be given a name so that I may know who I am among many.
My name will be used in joy, and I will love the sound of it!
Here in this house...
I will never be a substitute for anything I am not.
I will never be used to improve people's images of themselves.
I will be loved because of who I am, not someone's idea of who I should be.
I will never suffer for someone's anger, impatience, or stupidity.
I will be taught all the things I need to know to be loved by all.
If I do not learn my lessons well, my teachers will blame themselves, not me.
Here in this house...
I can trust the arms that hold, hands that touch...knowing that, no matter what they do, they do it for the good of me.
If I am ill, I will be doctored.
If scared, I will be calmed.
If sad, I will be cheered.
No matter what I look like, I will be considered beautiful and known to be of value.
I will never be cast out because I am too old, too ill, or too unruly, or not cute enough.
My life is a responsibility, and not an afterthought.
I will learn that my humans can almost, sometimes, be as kind and as fair as dogs.
Here in this house...I will belong.
I will be home.
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A man wrote a letter to a small hotel in a Midwest town he planned to visit on his vacation.
He wrote: I would very much like to bring my dog with me.
He is well-groomed and very well behaved. Would you be willing to permit me to keep him in my room with me at night?"
An immediate reply came from the hotel owner, who wrote:
SIR: "I've been operating this hotel for many years. In all that time, I've never had a dog steal towels, bedclothes, silverware or pictures off the walls. I've never had to evict a dog in the middle of the night for being drunk and disorderly. And I've never had a dog run out on a hotel bill. Yes, indeed, your dog is welcome at my hotel. And, if your dog will vouch for you, you're welcome to stay here, too."
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Adopting A Friend
Our adoption donation is $375 for a vetted,spayed dog. The cost for adoption is based on the best vet care available. In some case our vet cost for some very ill dogs has exceeded $1000. The average cost to us before any dog is adopted out ranges from $358 to $598. This can be higher if more services are required such as teeth cleaning. However our adoption donation will remain the same.
All dogs receive initial vetting before arriving at Minnie and Moe's Pups. Once in rescue all of our dogs are seen by our vet to ensure that the dog is healthy and protected. They are given additional vaccinations as needed, they are checked and treated for parasites and placed on heart worm treatment if age appropriate.
Most adult dogs will be spayed and/or neutered prior to being placed. Dogs younger than 6 months of age and not spayed/neutered must be spayed/neutered by the new owners. Their adoption fee is usually $275. This can change depending on location of the new home.
We require an application for adoption, we do vet and personal reference checks. Home visits are scheduled once a prospective family has been selected. After the new home has been chosen, an adoption contract is also required along with a spay/neuter clause in the contact if applicable.
Completing an application or having a home visit does not ensure that you will be eligible to adopt one of Minnie and Moe's Pups. We look for the best match for each dog. Please make sure that you have made the decision to adopt a dog before completing an application. We take this very seriously and spend a lot of time on all applicants. IF YOU ARE WORKING WITH OTHER RESCUES, PLEASE LET US KNOW. WE SPEND HOURS WORKING WITH CLIENTS ONLY TO FIND OUT THEY ARE LOOKING AT FIVE OTHER DOGS WITH FIVE OTHER RESCUES. PLEASE LET THE OTHER RESCUE YOU ARE WORKING WITH COMPLETE THEIR PROCESS. Our time is valuable too. If we think you want to adopt a Minnie and Moe's pup, we might overlook another excellent candidate only to find you have already taken another dog.
Who We Are
Minnie and Moe's Mission Statement: Our goal is always to provide loving, forever homes to wonderful dogs in order to ensure their well being and lasting happiness.
We are a group of dedicated volunteers working to save the lives of wonderful pets who may have been abandoned, dumped or surrendered by the people they loved and trusted. Their only problem is that they don't have a forever home to go to.
Spring 2013
March and April are the usual times to plan your annual heartworm check. Your vet and many of the larger pet store chains to HW testing now. Don't forget to schedule that in soon!
It's time to re-stock your flea and tick preventative. Frontline Plus does not seem to be working as well as it used to for flea protection, Many have switched to Advantix II or Advantage if you do not have a tick problem. Hint: Original BLUE DAWN will kill fleas on contact if you have a problem and need to bathe before treatment. Any treatment should be applied THREE (3) days after the bath. Ask your vet about Comfortis and Capstar for immediate treatment of fleas. A flea infestation could lead to a tape worm problem so please treat those fleas ASAP!
MoeMoe
Come Visit Us
All Minnie and Moe's Pups are home fostered in experienced, loving homes by volunteers who evaluate the dogs to find the best match for a forever home. They are not kept in a shelter or kennel. All appointments to see any of MK&M's Pups dogs are made at the convenience of the foster families.
