My Life As A Former Foster Dog

Five years without our boy...

2011-06-07T12:52:00.000-07:00

Can't believe it's been over 5 years since Charlie left us. We lost Jojo last August due to heart failure. I still can't work on his scrapbook, I miss him so much. It's hard to leave them to memory and go on sometimes. Jojo used to follow me around like my little shadow. Do I sound full of myself when I say I was his whole world? He would bark whenever Steve would hug me, "None of that, dad, she's MINE!" I still sit awake and night and miss his particular little snore. Another baby waiting for me at the Bridge.

We also had a little girl named Sophie, who has come and gone. She was a 9-year-old little demon with a tennis ball. She came into our lives and was gone in less than a year from an intestinal infection.

We loved them all and it's so hard to say goodbye. We still miss you Charlie!

Judy, from 7 Bells, passed away last October from ovarian cancer. I know that she's probably in Heaven tending to all the animals who never had a home on earth, and I know she's watching over Charlie and Jojo for us until we're together again. I love and miss you too, Judy! You were seriously one in a million and no one will ever be able to take your place!

Happy Birthday Charlie

2007-07-05T09:15:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to let you know I havent' forgotten about you little guy. I"m sure you're just fine,but wanted to let you know you're missed. I hope you're thinking about last year, your birthday cake and the yummy srawberry ice cream and remembering how much we loved you!
Mom

For the Love of Charlie

2007-04-12T11:54:00.000-07:00

Since we lost Charlie we've gone on to adopt 2 more foster dogs from 7 Bells Sanctuary in Missouri. Ben and Jojo came to live with us in January and we love them so much! Please take the time to visit your local shelter or sanctuary and give a dog a second chance to have a good life! I love the sign at our local shelter, it says something to the effect of, "Can't decide between the lab, the sheltie and the boxer? Take them all!" They bring so much joy to our lives, I don't know what I would do without all my babies. We have Charlie to thank for all the blessings that have come into our lives since we got him. We still miss him every day, and his ashes sit on the piano as a constant reminder of our little guy. I still shed tears over our loss, but I've been so blessed to have had him in my life.

Here are a couple pictures of the new guys...

This is Jojo. His name is really Johan, but that's such a mouthful and so solemn for such a happy guy. He's 11 (give or take) and if I wanted to, I'd rename him Velcro. He never leaves my side! He loves Charlie's old bed and lays in it all night while I'm working.

This is Ben. He loves his Bobo! He's a very active 10 year old who loves to run and play outside! He's so funny, I love to hold him in my lap because he mumbles constantly. He's so happy to have a home of his own. He used to live with an older man and when he passed away they found Ben sitting on his lap. I'm sure he misses his old friend, but we're sure glad he's here!

This will probably be the last post on Charlie's blog. His story is over. But we've started a new blog for all the fur kids in our family. You can check it out at http://kurtzkidz.blogger.com We'll see you there!

Happy New Year

2007-01-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

I can certainly say I hope that 2007 is better for 2006! We got Charlie's ashes back from the vet on Friday, as promised. I was surprised it was done on time because of the holidays. It was like reopening a wound. I think if I put all the skin and hair he lost over the past months in a box it would be bigger than the one his ashes are in. So tiny. So sad. I just can't get over how quiet the house is. Charlie had a very distinctive, deep bark, different from the other 3, and I miss it so much. He would bark whenever it was time to be fed - and he was fed 4 times a day, so we heard a lot of barking! He'd also bark to be let in when he was done outside. I've called for him to come twice this week when I let the others in before I remembered he wasn't there. Steve says he doesn't want to get another dog right away, he thinks 3 is enough for now. I don't think you can ever have too many dachshunds. He may feed them, but I'm the one who spends most of the time with them!

I hope all of our dachsie friends have a very happy and prosperous 2007!

Mindi and Steve
Heidi, Ruger, Buttercup, and Charlie Brown - Angel Dog

A Not So Very Merry Christmas

2006-12-26T21:10:00.000-08:00

We got through Christmas and it was okay. Steve loves his train, the one that I had imagined Charlie would be entranced by. Ruger is afraid of it and Buttercup tried to bite it. I don't think Heidi even saw it. She's been hiding a lot in her blanket. Buttercup wants to be held constantly and if you don't pick her up when she wants to be picked up she barks until you do! Ruger is just Ruger, still a nervous Nellie, even more so. Steve is sad too, I know, although like all men he's being stoic. Buttercup has to go have her nails trimmed and her anal glands cleaned - acutally she needs to see the groomer yet, but I just don't have it in me to go to the vet's office. I can't believe it's only been 4 days. It seems like he's been gone forever. His little room still smells like him, even though Steve and I have both scrubbed the floor. I want to repaint the room. It needed it anyway.

We got a sympathy card from the vet's office today. That was so thoughtful of them. Mom and Bob sent another. It's a big thing to lose a fur baby, it really is. Although I'm sure some people think I'm nuts for being so sad about it. I just have to deal with this grief in my own way. Thanks to all my friends from Lovedachs and my e-mail friends. You're all wonderful - but then you're all doxie people, I expect no less...

Thank you

2006-12-23T19:13:00.000-08:00

So many people have said so many wonderful things about Charlie. We can never express our thanks in person to everyone who has taken the time and effort to let us know how Charlie touched their lives or to let us know they lit a candle last night to light his way to the bridge. He touched so many people and he was loved by so many. We'll all miss him. Thanks again. Please feel free to check back on his blog from time to time. As I find older pictures I'll post them.

Mindi and Steve

Charlie's tribute at the Dachshund Memorial Garden

2006-12-23T19:07:00.000-08:00

I'm adding the link to Charlie's tribute so anyone who wants to can visit him. If you'd like to take the time you can look up Oscar Kurtz and Schnapps Kurtz and see Charlie's two olders brothers who went to the bridge before him. I"m sure they're playing and having a wonderful time.

http://home.it.net.au/~opalowl/december2006.html
and scroll down to his name or you can click on this link and go direct, but it takes a bit longer to download
http://home.it.net.au/~opalowl/december2006.html#cbkurtz

Mindi

More Pics of Charlie Brown

2006-12-23T18:42:00.000-08:00

These pictures were taken the night of the 21st, after he had started sneezing the blood. Obviously, we knew he wasn't going to be around much longer. We had given Charlie his Christmas present early, his squeaky gingerbread man, but he wasn't very interested in it.

Some Christmas Pictures of Charlie

2006-12-23T18:31:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures we took for the Christmas card, but obviously didn't use. I'll be adding some more older pictures too. He loved the other hats and reindeer antlers, he thought they were toys to play with!

From Charlie's Mom - A Sad Day

2006-12-23T00:46:00.000-08:00

I write with a very heavy heart today that Charlie went to the Rainbow Bridge yesterday. I think he had been struggling for the past few weeks and we had an appointment with Dr. J earlier this week. We knew he was failing, but decided to wait until after the holidays were over before we made a definite decision. But then fate, as it always does, decided to take control of the situation. Charlie started sneezing and coughing up blood last night and we knew it was time. So, yesterday Charlie had an appointment with the vet (sadly, Dr. J wasn't available) and he went to the bridge to wait for us.

I have never in my life felt as sad as I do today. The house is so empty, remarkably so, considering he was only 8 pounds! I'm trying to work tonight, but can hardly see to type through the tears, and when I pass the little room where he slept for the past 15 months, the grief is totally overwhelming. The hardest thing to bear is that I know Charlie wasn't ready to go. When we were in the office waiting for Dr. S to come in, Charlie was actually crying tears. They were running down his face and I had to wipe them away with a tissue as I did my own. He knew he was loved and he was happy, but unfortunately his abused, battered little body couldn't take any more.

I look forward to the day when Charlie, Oscar, Schanpps, and all my other furbabies that go to the bridge before I do will be reunited. I know this will happen as surely as I know the sun will rise tomorrow, but not matter how long it takes it will be too long. Steve and I are both just devastated by the loss.

For anyone who ever knew Charlie or ever had any contact with him, you know he was one special dog with a presence about him that was just a joy to be around. He was so happy to be finally released from the prison of the puppy mill and I know he thanks Sonja and Grandma Judy in helping him find his way home to us. We're so thankful to everyone who ever had any contact with Charlie and to all of Charlie's Angels for being there for him and us. He will live forever in all our hearts.

If for some reason you have never been to Charlie's blog before and are touched by his story please, please make a committment to never, ever buy a puppy or a kitten from a pet store. The puppy mills would have a hard time staying in business if they weren't supported by pet stores. Please consider adopting a rescue dog or cat if you're looking for a new pet, there are too many dogs looking for homes to have any excuse to breed a dog or cat just to have a puppy or kitten. Senior dogs need love too, as do dogs with handicaps. And please, please, spay or neuter your pets. Do it for the love of Charlie.

We miss you little man. We'll see you again.

Love, Mom

Naked Dog

2006-11-20T15:07:00.000-08:00

I think I'm still losing my hair. Mom and dad were watching a movie with grandma last night and mom was taking dead skin of my back (I know it sounds gross, but it feels so GOOD). All of a sudden a big piece came off and it had hair on it. Mom cried. Jeez mom, it's MY hair! How do you think I feel? I think it's going to be a really cold winter - being naked and all...

I haven't been to see the vet in a long time. Mom says that too, but then she says, "knock on wood". I have no idea what that has to do with anything, but I am glad I haven't had to go to the doctor. Dad was cutting Heidi's toenails Friday night and he made her scream and cry and her toenail was bleeding all over mom's leg. Cool huh? Mom didn't think so I guess, but Heidi got held and petted, and held and petted. It was sickening I tell you, sickening! I wouldn't be such a big baby about such a stupid thing. It's a TOENAIL Heidi, get over it. Geez what a girl she is... (Heidi, not mom.) I saw mom cut her leg in that big bathtub thing once and she didn't cry. She said those words that she doesn't say all the time and she yelled when she said them, but she didn't cry. Mom is NOT a baby.

Dad was gone for a long time last weekend. I guess it was only 4 days mom said, but that doesn't mean much to me. Anyway, when he came home he smelled so great! I just smelled and smelled all the stuff on his pants and boots. Then mom made him take a bath. She said he stunk up the place. I thought he smelled great. I guess he went out with his big gun and shot at some deer and that's why he smelled so good. Or maybe it was 'cause he didn't have a bath for a couple days. Mom made him though. She obviously doesn't know what a GOOD smell is!

I think tonight I'm going to get a bath. I'm not looking foward to it, but mom says I could knock a buzzard off the north end of a southbound donkey and I guess that's a bad thing. I've been trying not to eat so much poop lately, dad's been picking it up and throwing it over the fence so I can't reach it. Not very nice of him, is it? I'll forgive him though, because he got me more rabbit meat dog food. For a while they were buying other food for me. The gravy was nice, but it made me itch, so I got my old food back. Now I don't itch anymore. Guess I'll forgive him for throwing the poop away.

Dad got me some new toys the other day too. He says he got them for all of us, but I know he says that just because he doesn't want the other dogs to know how special I am. It must be hard to be them and never get any new toys. Mom found my favorite peanut treats at the store too. She says if I have to be bald I might as well have my favorite treats. I don't know if that's an even trade - hair for peanut treats, but I'll take them anyway.

Uh oh, dad's home. I gotta get off the computer. Love you all!

Chuck

Hey! Have you Missed Me?

2006-10-31T16:52:00.000-08:00

Mom has a job now where she's gone ALL day and I have to stay in the little room with the other kids. I don't like it one bit, but she says it won't be forever and pretty soon she'll be back home with us during the day. Nothing happens during the day when you have to stay in one little room. Do you know how BORED a guy can get with nothing to do? So far I haven't caused any trouble, but I bet I could if I wanted to!

Mom and dad think I have pemphigus (I don't know if I'm spelling that right or not), so I take prednisone all the time and I also take Imuran. Aunt Missy and her friend Brad think my hair is growing back in on my sides and on my head, but mom's not so sure. Maybe it is. I know my back feels better, the skin isn't so thick and icky. Mom puts lotion on it every night and it sure feels good when she rubs it in, I wiggle and wiggle and wiggle... Last night she put her pajamas on early and went to bed to watch TV and I got to lay in bed with her under a blanket for a long time. It was so nice. I was kind of mad at dad when he put me in my bed, but I have my heating pad to keep me warm, so it was okay. I guess. It's really cold outside. At least none of that wet white stuff is here yet, but it's been wet and cold sometimes and I don't like that. Dad has to carry me outside after dinner because I run for my bed. He says I have to poop after dinner. How does he know when I have to poop?

Tonight all kinds of weird things are coming to our door and ringing the doorbell. Dad gives them candy to make them go away. The other kids are barking and barking, but I think I'll just stay in my bed and hope the monsters don't find me here.

My dad is the best

2006-10-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

Maybe dad finally figured out what was wrong with my back. He thinks I might have something called pemphigus, which is actually and autoimmune disease and is a side-effect of my heart medication (ACE inhibitor). He talked to Dr. J and I'm taking prednisone all the time now and mom and dad think my back is looking better. I don't have any more open sores and it feels good again when dad rubs my back, instead of hurting. My fur isn't growing back, which I'm kind of sad about because that means I still have to wear those darm sweaters, but if I don't have any more sores that's okay with me!
Dad tried to find another heart medicine for me to take, but ACE inhibitors seem to be what I need and we can't find a substitute, so Dr. J cut my dose down to 1/2 a pill once a day. My heart seems to be doing okay with that, so maybe between cutting back the heart medicine and taking the prednisone my back will get totally better. Mom and dad are pretty happy.
It was really cold last week and dad took old the old soft stuff off the living room floor and some guys came in and put in a new floor in our living room. It's like the floor in the kitchen. Mom called them "wood floors". I called them stinky floors last week. Peeeeee Uuuuuuuuuu. It sure smelled bad in here. Mom says it smells better than the old carpet, I guess that was the soft stuff. I have to admit I may have been responsible for that soft stuff smelling bad. Sometimes I guy just has to go and can't quite make it outside, ya know? Mom has to find me a nice soft blankie or something to put in my corner again. It's not quite the same as it was. I haven't even moved my toys back there as a protest about the hard floor.
I'm still loving the heating pad Grandma Judy sent me. Mom has it on low and I sleep on a nice warm blanket in my bed. Better than the hard cold floor any day!
It was raining a lot too in the past couple of weeks, so being the mighty hunter I am, I was catching little snakes that were in the yard and all over the driveway. Dad laughed and said they weren't little snakes, they were only worms. Oh, well. I was having fun hunting them down anyway. Friday I got another bird too. All dad found was the wing and a bunch of feathers. Ha ha! I am a mighty hunter!

I'm the healthy one for a change!

2006-09-12T21:20:00.000-07:00

We've had a bunch of sick babies at our house! I told you all about my sister Buttercup hurting her neck. She's feeling much better, but mom and dad still carry her outside and she can't go down the stairs by herself. Mom says she going to get a hernia carrying her around. What's a hernia anyway? Mom is also talking about diet food - I hope she means for the other guys. I don't think I'd like diet food. Mom says she doesn't.

Then, Ruger ate a LOT of chocolate and had to go to the vet! Boy was mom upset. At first I thought it was because the chocolate was gone, but no, she was worried about Ruger. He ate a whole bunch of chocolate that was almost all cocoa, I guess that stuff is BAD for dogs. First she tried to make Ruger throw up by giving him some yucky stuff to drink, but Ruger wouldn't throw up. Them mom had to take him to the vet and THEY had to make him throw up. He came home later that night, but he wasn't feeling very well. He got in trouble from mom yesterday because she found some more chocolate he hid behind the desk in her office, so he got yelled at. Why would he want chocolate when he always gets the good stuff mom has, like bones and stuff? I don't even get those because I can't chew them, but if I did get them I sure wouldn't be eating any icky stuff like chocolate. Mom said next time she gets a dog she's getting something called insurance. I don't know what exactly that is, but mom made it sound like a good thing. If you can eat it, I wish she'd get it now.

It's been kind of cold outside, so mom put my sweater on me today. It was one of the sweaters that Grandma Carole gave to me last year. I tried to take it off, but it got stuck. Mom couldn't find the camera, but she said it looked like I had a skirt on. Don't girls wear skirts? I think I should be insulted, being the manly dog I am, but I'm not sure.

We found a great big spider outside yesterday. I would have eaten it, but mom actually screamed and grabbed me before I could get it. I guess she doesn't like spiders much. Maybe next time. We had some company at our house and they took it home with them in a jar. I wonder if they're going to eat it? Probably not. Humans don't eat bugs much.

Well, I hear mom coming back, so I better get off the computer. We can't have any more excitement around here. Mom says she had enough, so I don't want her to know I can type!

Love,
Chuck

I've been a resident of Omaha for a year. Can I vote now?

2006-09-05T16:32:00.000-07:00

I've been living with mom and dad for a whole year now! They thought I was sick when they brought me home and that I wouldn't be here long. Silly them! Guess I fooled them all, didn't I?

Mom had people over to our house for dinner yesterday and baked me a cake and everything. She said it was the end of summer and we should all have a cookout, but I know that really the celebration was for me... Because I'm special. She tells me that all the time. I bet she just didn't want to tell everyone that it was for me because then the other dogs would be jealous and mom would be baking cakes all the time for their birthdays and to celebrate the day they came to live with her and dad. It would just get to be too much, so she tells everyone it's the end of summer even though I know it's really for me.

My uncle, Tucker the Cat, has been sick again. He has congestive heart failure and grandma and grandpa have to give him some kind of yucky medicine in the morning and at night. Poor Tucker. Mom says that I have it too, but I don't feel sick, so I don't think we have the same thing at all. Besides, mom and dad don't have to shoot medicine in the side of my mouth. Mom hides stuff in my food sometimes though, but I don't spit it out. I'm not BAD like other dogs I know... Don't worry Buttercup, I won't tell mom that you spit that pill out on the carpet in the living room yesterday. She won't hear it from me. Huh uh. No way and I a tattletale...

Grandma Judy sent me a nice warm heating pad that mom and dad put in my bed and it makes me so warm! I don't have to curl up in a little ball to be warm and I sleep really, really good with it. But, I think grandma told mom to put my water up at night because they don't put it in my bedroom with me anymore. I never have to get up and go pee during the night anymore, but I'm not sure if it's because I'm so warm I sleep really good, or because mom doesn't give me my water. I know mom's glad she doesn't have to scrub the floor every day!

Grandma and Grandpa S gave me a new octopus for my birthday. It squeaks and squeaks and squeaks. I guess maybe it squeaks too much 'cause mom put it on the piano last night. She gave it back to me today though. I guess she never found the Kong though. I'm kind of sorry she hasn't found it because I can't remember where I put it!

I'm going to post some pictures that mom took the other day. I don't want anybody to be upset or anything about my back. Really it doesn't hurt. Even where there's scabs, mom and dad put lotion and medicine on them, so they don't hurt, so don't worry about how it looks okay?

I'm starting to lose some hair on my head now. Mom says I'll look like my grandpa Art if that happens. Uh oh.

Gotta get those pictures posted. I hope you like them.

Chuck

Dog days of August

2006-08-27T00:15:00.000-07:00

Hey, remember me? I can't believe this month has gone by so fast and I haven't had a chance to get to the computer. It was so hot this month, I spent a lot of time just laying around trying to get cool, so I haven't felt much like typing. :-) There really hasn't been too much going on either. Just eating, sleeping, and spending a little time outside. I've been feeling really, really tired lately too, so I've been sleeping a lot.

Life is about as good as it gets I think. Every night when mom has to go to work I go downstairs with dad and watch TV. He spends a lot of time with just me, petting me and putting lotion on my back. What else could a guy ask for? My back was getting pretty sore earlier this month so mom talked to Dr. Jesske and got some MORE pills for me to take. I really don't care though, if I'm really lucky dad gives them to me in a hot dog. If I'm not so lucky he gives them to me in a little chunk of my regular food, but either way I get to eat more, right? I also got a prescription for prednisone, so mom gets to take her medicine back. She doesn't really care though because her doctor said she doesnt have to take it for very much longer. Mom thinks maybe she'll lose weight if she doesn't take it anymore. I hope I don't lose any weight when I quit taking it, otherwise I'd blow away in a strong wind! A kite that pees mom says and then she laughs. Hmph. I don't think it's very funny.

My sister Buttercup is pretty sick tonight. Her neck is hurting her really bad. Mom was crying about it earlier, but dad says not to worry until they go to the vet tomorrow. I guess mom and dad had another fur baby, Schnapps, and he went to the Rainbow Bridge when his back started hurting him, so mom is really worried. I didn't know what to do to make her happy tonight. I peed in the hallway. That's didn't make her happy, but at least it took her mind off of Buttercup for a minute or two. Hey, give me some credit for trying! When mom was trying to get Buttercup to drink some water she took this thing called a heating pad off of Buttercup's back and put it on the floor, so, being the curious guy that I am I decided to lay down on it. Wowser! It was nice and warm! I wish I could have one of those things in my bed. Mom made me get off of it though so she could put it back on Buttercup. I hope she gets me one!

Next week is going to be special for me. I've been living with mom and dad for a whole year! Isn't that great? I can't believe it's been a whole year since Grandma Judy took me in and put me on Petfinder so mom and dad could find me. I've been so lucky! I can't decide what the best part is though, my own bed, ALL the toys, having good friends like Lucy in New York and her human Melissa; Sasha, Roxie and Cosmo in Minnesota and their human Kate; Grandma Judy; all my great friends in Missouri; my own toys; all the cool dogs on Lovedachs; my sisters and brother; my human sister and brother; good dog food; all the toys, my own blanket; applesauce; bananas; my furry cousins, Medusa and Shorty; all my toys; grandma and grandpa Sieborg; grandpa Art; all my toys; going outside and just laying in the sun; chasing the neighbor kids; Mr. Tucker my cat cousin... And did I mention ALL THE TOYS? I wonder if mom will bake me another cake? Ooooooo with ice cream. I love ice cream too...

Well, I think mom is up to check on Buttercup so I better sneak back to my OWN blanket and go back to sleep. Zzzzzzzzzzz

Love ya! Chuck

Hey, I'm Back

2006-08-01T01:41:00.000-07:00

Well, really I didn't go anywhere, but I've been so busy (sleeping) that I haven't gotten around to using the computer. The weather here has been really, really hot. I don't want to go outside, but I don't want to get scolded for going potty on the carpet either, what's a dog to do? I spend most of the day laying on mom's lap while she watches TV or reads, which is fine with me, but the other guys get, you know, jealous or something. Heee hee.

My human brother Matt came over yesterday and I let him give me some banana. He doesn't live here with us and when I first met him he scared me a little. He's really, really tall, even when he stands by mom he's really, really tall, so he makes me feel very, very small. I wasn't sure I liked him for a while. Every time he would come over I wouldn't let him get close to mom, I would growl and show all of my teeth, but he would just laugh. He never hurt me so and today he gave me a whole banana (well, little pieces at a time) so I guess he's okay. I let him pet me today for a long time, but when he tried to pick me up I screamed for mom! I don't want to be that high in the air!

I haven't been to the vet in a long time! When mom told grandma that today she said, "Knock on wood". I'm not sure what that means, but maybe you better knock on some wood, just in case. A few weeks ago mom went to get me some food, but they didn't have the good soft stuff in the can, so she bought some of that dry stuff. Yuck. I wouldn't eat it. How can mom and dad expect me to eat the old dry stuff when I'm used to the good soft stuff. It smells so much better and the taste... Yum! After a couple days of me not eating very much (except for bananas and applesauce) mom and dad finally got the idea and went back to the vet and got me some REAL food. I guess they aren't trained as well as I thought, since it took them 2 whole days. I better work on that some more.

I have a couple more sores on my back, but dad is putting medicine on them every night. I don't like the stuff, it doesn't taste very good. The sores don't really hurt a lot, except when dad touches them so I cry and stuff and then he feels sorry for me. Sometimes I try to lick them when I think mom and dad aren't looking, but they always catch me. How do they do that? Mom always says, "Charlie stop licking yourself like that?" Well, geez, how am I supposed to lick myself anyway? I heard mom tell dad today that they were looking better and I haven't been licking, so maybe she knows what she's talking about...

All the other guys got their nails cut tonight. Haha! I only have 2 nails and they're short most of the time. Sometimes Dr. Jesske cuts them for me. It doesn't hurt, but you wouldn't know that the way the other dogs carry on. Mom has to hold them while dad cuts their nails and Ruger runs and hides as soon as they get done. Even I'm not that big of a baby. Mom said one time Heidi had her nails cut at Dr. Jesske's office and she cried and screamed so loud they had to come get mom to hold her. What a BABY! I guess that's a girl for you.

Well, I think maybe it's going to rain because it started to thunder a little while ago. I hope it rains, we haven't had any good mud or stinky things to roll in for awhile and rain always helps that. Maybe it won't be so hot outside either. I can't even lay down outside by mom's chair because it's too hot. I don't like it when it's like this. It burns my feet on the cement.

Well, I better go. Thank you to all my friends who read my blog. I didn't forget about you, I've just been a lazy dog. I love you!

Chuck

My pictures

2006-07-11T21:53:00.001-07:00

I put some new pictures up from my birthday. I really had a lot of fun. I found a new good thing - strawberry ice cream! Wow! Where have they been hiding that all my life? Mom didn't let me have very much, but it was the best thing I ever ate. She won't let me have any more though, even though it didn't make me itch or anything. Oh well. Grandma and Grandpa came over again and all the people got to eat cake with their ice cream. Doesn't seem fair to me that I didn't even get a piece of my own cake. Does that seem fair to you? Humph. Mom baked a cake especially for me. I put a picture of it down below. Mom thought it didn't look very good, but I thought it was great - it was my very own doghouse! I liked it. Mom is taking a cake decorating class, so I think we're probably going to have lots of cake around the house. I bet I won't get any either. I think mom was going to e-mail our friend Kate in Minnesota to get some good recipes for dog treats. Maybe she'll have something that I can eat too. I remember at Christmas she made some very good peanut butter things, but I don't think I can eat them now.

It's been really nice here, mom had the windows open and I was outside a lot. Then it rained and I didn't like that so much. Now it's hot again and the windows aren't open. I don't like that as much, there's nothing to smell but old inside smells. You don't know how boring it is to be a dog and live inside the house! Mom's glad when I don't like to go out very much, she doesn't want to have to take a bird away from me. All the baby birds are gone now, so mostly I just bark at the ones that come to eat the food that dad puts out for them. Silly things. Dad puts all the bird food in a nice place for them to eat it and they sit in it and flap their wings and get it all over the deck. It doesn't even taste that good. I like to try and eat the corn that mom puts out for the squirrels, but it's hard and I can't chew it. Mom says I'm not supposed to eat it anyway and always takes it away from me.

I still have a sore on my back. You can see it in the picture of dad and me. It just won't go away. Dad puts some medicine on it every night and mom keeps putting lotion on my back, but it's still kind of dry and itchy. I love it when people rub my back - it feels so good! I like the lotion too 'cept it makes me smell like mom! Maybe she can find some lotion that smells like dad. I'm no sissy.

Well, enjoy my pictures. I'll be back with more adventures when I can.

Love,
Charlie

2006-07-11T21:53:00.000-07:00

It was my birthday and I got to eat some strawberry ice cream. Ummmmm, it was better than rabbit!

2006-07-11T21:51:00.000-07:00

This is one of my new toys that Grandma and Grandpa got me. It's a squeaky monkey and I love it! I have it next to the piano right now. My favorite hiding place.

2006-07-11T21:49:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture of the cake mom baked for me, it's it cool? I didn't get any though. I tried...

2006-07-11T21:47:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture of me and dad watching a scary movie. Heid was asleep on the bed, silly girl.

I'm having a birthday party

2006-07-07T10:26:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited! My mom is baking a cake and everything! I don't think I get any of the cake, but I bet I get some kind of other treat! Maybe a whole baked potato. Maybe some more of my rabbit and potato! WOW! I'm so excited.

My real birthday was July 5, but mom had a cake decorating class that night, so we had to wait until tonight, but my grandma and grandpa Sieborg came over and gave me presents anyway. I got a whole bag of potatoes (yum) and a squeaky monkey. I love my monkey. Heidi tried to take it away from me, but I growled really loud at her and she ran away and let me have it. Smart girl, that sister of mine! I'm sure mom will have some more pictures of me tomorrow, so I'll be sure and put them here on my blog.

It's sure been noisy around here! Mom said it was the 4th of July, all I know about that is it's the day before my birthday. Maybe they were making all that noise for ME. If they were, I hope mom tells them I didn't like it, so they don't do it again. I stayed in the basement with dad and watched movies, it was scary going outside. Heidi didn't like the noise either, she hid under a blanket by mom, but silly Buttercup would bark and bark at the noise. Every time there was a big BOOM Buttercup would start barking. Mom said she didn't know which was worse. I don't know if Ruger was scared or not, he was under the sofa like he always is. I don't think he's scared all the time. Well, I don't know, he's kind of a chicken, maybe he is... It doesn't matter I'm brave enough for both of us.

Well, I better go stand around the kitchen while mom frosts my cake. You never know when she's going to drop something good.

THE BEST NEWS EVER!!!

2006-06-26T09:08:00.000-07:00

I'm adopted! I'm not a foster dog anymore! I know mom and dad are really excited too! I'll miss being part of Grandma Judy's foster family, but I really belong to someone now. For the first time EVER I belong to someone who loves me! Mom and dad are really excited too! Woo hoo! Mom and dad are going to get some pictures of all of us together so we can put a brand new picture up - and send one to Grandma Judy of course, 'cuz she'll always be my special grandma! Mom gets paid today so she says we're going to PetSmart, just the 2 of us, and I get a new squeaky toy! That's good 'cuz I've broken all the squeakers on all the other toys. Even Ruger has been hiding his favorite duck from me, it has one squeaker left - I know 'cuz he squeaks it sometimes when he has it in bed with him and I can't get to it!

Isn't that the best news? I'm so happy I'm doing the doxie happy dance!

Please read this...

2006-06-16T08:31:00.000-07:00

This is pretty much the story of my life until someone saved me from the puppy mill and then grandma got me, and from there I came to live with mom and dad. Please rememeber there are a lot more dogs just like me in places like these. These are evil, wicked places where dogs have no fun and we're always afraid.

Born In A Missouri Puppy MillBy Brenda Shoss 6/14/06
ht tp://www.KinshipCircle.orgShe waddles over, a puffy "hair-do" perched upon stubby legs. The four-pound pup nestles against my chest and gives me the goofy sideways glance. I'm a goner. I'll call her Mandy.

I first laid eyes upon this irresistible Lhasa Apso at Flawdogs Adoption, a rescue dedicated to "little puppy mill leftovers" about 45 minutes southwest of St. Louis in Morse Mill, Missouri.

There are no kennels or cages at Flawdogs. A tree-lined bridge leads to a canine Shangri-La where Silky Terriers, Corgis, Chihuahuas and Yorkies frolic amid pools and sunbathing decks in outdoor runs across eight yards. Inside, Shih Tzus, Poodles, Bichon Frises, and Dachshunds tumble over toys and each other. It's Camp Cute, with an army of wide-eyed fluffballs auditioning to steal your heart.

But Mandy's doubtful peer recalls another setting. During her first week home, direct eye contact threatens her. Reaching han ds remind her of harsh hands that once threw her from cage to cage. She pauses before open doors, remembering other dogs smashed in gates when they tried to flee. She freezes on a leash. My gentle tug reminds her of a yank by the head or neck.

Love and a loose leash soon erase Mandy's memories of birth inside a Missouri puppy mill. Yet though Flawdogs had tested and vaccinated her for ailments commonly spread inside breeding mills, Mandy grows anorexic and lethargic. She is treated for coccidia and giardia parasites. Her back legs cave in as she walks. An x-ray reveals the head of femur bone is missing in her left leg. The same bone in her right leg is porous, ragged and dying.

Still, Mandy is one lucky dog. Flawdogs founder Sally Ives, former director of Open Door Animal Sanctuary in House Springs, MO, talks about wire hair terriers salvaged from a puppy mill in northern Missouri. One dog's entire nasal channel was exposed where his face had been torn away in a fight. A Dachshund came with third degree heating pad burns over 60% of her tiny body.

"It's a miracle that dog lived," Ives says. "Those are the heartwarming cases -- the ones who are supposed to die, but insist on living instead."

Puppy mills are profit-driven enterprises that typically fail to provide adequate veterinary care, diet, exercise or shelter. Large sites house up to 1,000 dogs in rusted chicken wire cages heaped three or four tiers high. Urine and feces seep into lower cages. Dogs at the top swelter in the summer and freeze in the winter. Smaller facilities may board 50 or more dogs in squalid kennel runs.

The mass breeder's bottom line is low overhead and high return. So bulk food purchases are often comprised of sweepings from the food manufacturer's floor. Dogs are so nutrition deprived, their teeth rot as young as one or two years of age. Sometimes their jaws di ssolve. Others lose their front teeth from gnawing on the metal bars that contain them.

There are approximately 5,000 mill-style outfits nationwide. Cruelty investigators have uncovered parasite-infested dogs with oozing eyes, ear infections, and fur so matted it forms a cocoon over sores. Mange can transform a puppy's skin into a blanket of red scabs. Dogs in congested quarters easily spread worms, upper respiratory infections, coccidia, giardia, and deadly parvovirus and distemper.

Dogs are found with gangrenous skin where collars became embedded in flesh. Others are balding, blind, emaciated. Some long-term mill dogs have been debarked by shoving a steel rod down their throats to mutilate vocal cords.

Breeding factories function primarily in Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. Missouri leads the way, with an estimated $40 million per year in puppy mill profits.

Ives' relationship with mill managers, mostly women, is unique. On 24-hour call, she awaits their invitation to collect the rejects slated for euthanasia. "They see themselves as professional breeders. I must appear positive and flattering. The few times I've leaked a look of horror, I've never been invited back. My commitment is to any dog I can get out.

"Federally licensed Class A breeders form contractual agreements with brokers, or Class B dealers, who purchase mill pups for resale to some 3,500 U.S. pet outlets. Brokers seek flawless 8-week-old puppies to pile into crates for shipment by truck or plane. According to the Companion Animal Protection Society, a half-million puppies pass from mill to broker to pet shop in the U.S. and Canada every year.

A dog who misses a broker's weekly pickup from the mill may be deemed "too old" by the next collection day and consequently killed. If a broker reaches his sales quota in a region, he has nowhere else to market puppies. In most cases, these leftovers are healthy young animals.A broker's criterion is based on what the public will pay for. "We've saved a lot of Bichon and Maltese pups who have biscuit-colored ears. They won't accept biscuit on a white dog, or any color considered inconsistent, even an odd-colored eye," Ives explains.

Ives rescues any animal a mill will release: Too small. Too large. Undescended testicles. Umbilical hernias. A sparse coat. A short tail.

"How do you pick which ones to save and which ones to pass a death sentence on?" she asks. "They ride quietly in our crowded van. We hold as many in our laps as we can to start the socialization."Mandy was a disposable mill dog. Her twisted back legs were likely injured in a cage jam-packed with puppies. Dogs suffer abscessed feet, hyperflexion, loss of limbs or bones, and deformed or broken legs from trauma inside overcrowded wire encl osures.Mills usually cull puppies with leg defects. Ives acquires many Italian Greyhounds dismissed for luxating patellas. In fact, their wobbly kneecaps arise from insufficient muscle growth. After days of open space and nutritious food, they "run around like lunatics," she says. The "flaw" in older dogs is their inability to produce a viable litter of six or more pups. Mills breed females from six months of age to every heat cycle thereafter. When too worn to turn a profit, dogs as young as two to five years are shot or clubbed in the head. Other throwaways are sold to research laboratories or simply discarded.

Brandylyn, a 17-year-old "chocolate" poodle, was five pounds and pregnant when Ives retrieved her from a mill. Three baths later, Brandylyn emerged as a white dog. "She had been sold, auctioned, and traded so many times, they lost track of her color," Ives says. "Her babies were stillborn."One overbred Yorkshire Terrier arrived with 12 mammary tumors. Ives compares their insides to "cole slaw, filled with adhesions, cysts, and scar tissue. Some are boiling with pyometra (an infection of the female organs) that can fatally rupture.

"While breeders and brokers retain consulting veterinarians, they rarely call upon them. "Their idea of medical intervention is to stick a sick dog in a garage, basement, or barn," Ives claims.Shoddy breeding methods predispose dogs to chronic infirmities such as hip dysplasia, dislocating kneecaps, seizures, eye lesions, liver and heart disease, and autoimmune disorders.

In California, a state financed study revealed almost half of pet store pups were sick or harboring diseases.The Animal, Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) arm of the USDA regulates animal industries. This financially strapped agency employs a relative handful of inspectors to monitor thousands of Class A licensees (breeders), Class B licensees (brokers), Class C licensees (exhibitors), handlers, and biomedical researchers.

Present law categorizes high volume breeders who sell directly to the public as "pet stores, and exempts them from U.S. Animal Welfare Act guidelines. Thus, a breeder who sells animals via a middleman broker, the internet or newspaper ads functions with minimal oversight. Kittens, puppies and other companion animals easily cross state borders with no information about the decrepit surroundings in which they were raised. This loophole undermines a key intent of the AWA and deceives consumers, who are conned into spending huge fees on animals with health complications. When I ask Ives about her role in a system clogged with lax laws, she pauses and then quietly clarifies her mission: "I am their caretaker. I get to touch their lives for a little while and send them bouncing into people's arms. I am upstairs right now, looking over my little dogs in their playhouses, just hanging out the windows. This is grand. I am way too happy.

"Somehow, Ives finds homes for even the most traumatized animals. One family traveled 300 miles to adopt Trina, a blind dog with detached retinas. Mufasa's family adores him, despite undernourishment that left him permanently hairless over most of his body. Tick, an underweight Dachshund who couldn't sustain his own body temperature, is photographed weeks later amid a swirl of shredded paper towels. Once they can wreak puppy havoc, Ives knows they are okay.

In closing I mention to Ives that although I currently have two cats and two dogs, I really want to rescue a beagle. "If I can talk my husband into more animals... Do you get beagles?""Funny you should ask," she drawls. Ives knows I'm already hooked, but offers this advice: "You need to break your husband in gradually."Honey , how do you feel about beagle pups?"

Flawed Dogs
a poem by Berkley Breathed
So in this world of the simple and odd,
the bent and the pain,
the unbalanced body,
the imperfect people and differently pawed,
some live without love...
THAT'S how they're flawed.

WHAT YOU CAN DO1. Boycott pet stores that buy and sell companion animals. Without pet store sales, mass pet producers would be squeezed out of business. Meet and fall in love with your own puppy mill rescue at Flawdogs! Out-of-state adoptions welcome. View animals online and visit Flawdogs (by appointment): Flawdogs Adoption ph: 636-274-2511; email: gnsives@aol.com web: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/flawdogs.html
http://community.webshots.com/user/flawdogs
P.O. Box 99
Morse Mill, MO 63066

In Missouri, Flawdogs is at the Arnold Petco every Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. They are also there on the second and fourth Saturday, each month.

Well, maybe I'm not the mighty hunter after all...

2006-06-16T07:27:00.000-07:00

I woke up the other night and there was something in my bed. I didn't like it, so I barked and barked for mom or dad to get up and help me. First dad got up and thought I wanted to go outside, since I was standing by the gate. I went outside to make him happy, but that really wasn't the problem. Then I came back inside and dad put me back in my room and left me alone with that thing in my bed again. I barked and barked again. This time dad thought I wanted some applesauce, so he got up and gave me some. (I must rememeber that if I bark in the middle of the night I might get applesauce...) Anyway, after I ate he left me alone again. I barked and barked. I think dad was trying to ignore me because I had to bark a LONG time before he finally came back. Mom told him to make sure there wasn't a bug in my bed. Well, it wasn't a bug, it was a big old poop!

Dad took it out of my bed, and flushed it down the big water bowl and then I went right back to sleep. Man, what you go through to get people to understand you!

2006-06-11T18:31:00.001-07:00

Here's mom and her birthday cake. I didn't get any of that either. Do you see a pattern here?

2006-06-11T18:31:00.000-07:00

Here's my dad, Meg and my mom. I guess this graduation thing is a big deal!

2006-06-11T18:29:00.000-07:00

Here's my human sister, Meg, she graduated from college this spring. I guess that's kind of like obedience school, only harder.

2006-06-11T18:27:00.000-07:00

Grandma and Grandpa at their wedding anniversary. I didn't get to go...

The Mighty Hunter Returns

2006-06-11T18:07:00.000-07:00

Finally, mom got off the computer so I could write! She's sick today. I'm sorry she's sick, but she's such a HOG with the computer... What's a guy to do?

I killed another bird today. YES! I even got to eat most of it before dad found out. Mom is totally grossed out and won't let me near her, but that's okay, she'll forget in a little while and then I'll be back on the bed with her. Our weather has been really hot, but I like it. I sit outside for hours. Mom always has to come look for me, and call me, and she isn't satisfied until I come out of my hiding places (under the hostas) so she knows I haven't gotten out of the gate again. I won't do that again. I got scared kind of bad the first time I did that.

Mom was gone taking care of grandma and grandpa's cat this week. How's that for dog neglect? Leaving me home while she takes care of a stupid CAT! And Mr. Tucker doesn't even like dogs. I wanted to go to grandma's but mom said Mr. Tucker would eat ME! Bet he wouldn't. Silly old cat couldn't hurt a mighty hunter like me! (Note from mom - he took out after my brother in law's Irish Setter, so mighty hunter or not, Charlie stays home when we go to grandma's.) Some bad people got into grandma's and grandpa's house while they were gone, so mom had to take care of Mr. Tucker because my human cousin was afraid to stay there. Maybe if she had a guard DOG instead of a cat that wouldn't have happened. I'm only sayin'.....

I found a new treat this week - bananas! Yum! They're even better than applesauce, but mom doesn't share them as much. She says I can't have a whole one, so I can only have some when she has one. The other kids don't like them much. Good, all the more for me.

My back was all healed up, but then it itched me again, so I chewed it open. I don't think it's too bad. Mom thinks it is, so I had to go to the vet - again. I think I should just live there and mom and dad can come visit me. Geez. Dr. Jesske said I look "great". Woo hoo! My mouth is a little worse, I guess I have a fistula, kind of a hole in the bone of my jaw, but they can't fix it. Dr. Jesske said they could, but maybe if I go to sleep I won't wake up again. That wouldn't be too good, so mom said no. Whew! He said they could go to another vet where they have someone watch me when I'm asleep, something like a seezeologist, (note from mom - anesthesiologist) but that would cost a lot of money and even then I might not wake up. I'm not liking that idea too much, so I'm glad mom says no. I'm happy with my soft food and any birds I can find. So I don't think my mouth needs to be fixed - even though the other kids won't drink out of the water bowl after me 'cause there's icky stuff in it. More water for me, the way I see it. Besides, mom fills it up all the time with clean water. They're such BABIES!

Mom is really excited because Dr. Jesske gave her some prednisone for Heidi because she's itching - guess she's 'lergic to something, anyways the prednisone fixed her nose right up. No more scab. She's a pretty good lookin' dog, of course she's my sister though, so I have to say that.

Well, I just heard mom get up so I'm going to go lay in the corner and pretend like I haven't been on the computer. Thanks to all my friends who read this! I love everybody!

Summer, finally summer!

2006-05-28T19:38:00.000-07:00

So, I see my mom's been posting on my blog, huh? Well! She has one of her own, she should leave mine alone! She's right though, I've been having so much fun that I just don't even think about getting on the 'puter and updating this blog. It's so nice out! When I go outside I don't want to come back in, our yard is so big, I just walk and walk and walk, and sometimes I take naps by a tree or in the garden. Mom says the plants are hostas. I don't care what they're called, it's nice and cool under their leaves. A guy could lay out there forever!

We haven't had too much excitement around here. Mom and dad are talking about getting a wood floor in the living room. Mom said she's tired of the way the living room smells. Something about an outhouse? Are all houses outside? I don't get it. But I have a feeling it won't be as much fun to make a mess if there's no carpet! Dad won't have to get that big noisy machine out of the garage either, you know, the one that makes the carpet all wet and icky to lay on. It takes all the good doggie smells away too... Maybe that's what they want!? That's kind of funny.

I've been spending evenings laying in the big bed in Mom and Dad's room. It's very comfortable and I sleep really good there. I wish they would let me sleep there all night, but dad says nothin' doing! I guess I peed in their bed a long time ago and he's not going to give me the chance to do that again. It was so long ago I hardly remember, I think it was right after I came to live here. Geez, I wish they'd give me some credit. I have learned SOMETHING since I've been here. Gosh.

Meghan (my human sister) has been hanging around a lot. I guess she's living back in Nebraska now. She did live in some place called Iowa. I think maybe I was there once in the car, but I'm not sure. Meghan had a thing called a graduation a few weeks ago. She was all done with one college and now she's going to another one. Sounds like a lot of work if you ask me. I guess she doesn't know that if you just look really really cute people will want to take you home and feed you and give you a soft bed. Humans can be so dense at times.

I hear mom, better get off the computer! Later friends!

Chuck

A Note from Charlie's Mom

2006-05-23T09:16:00.000-07:00

Don't worry! Everything is fine, I'm not posting because Charlie can't get to the computer! LOL Anyway, I just wanted to tell everyone what a great spring Charlie is having - aside from being scared to death by the baby gate.

He's been outside a LOT and he's loving every minute of it! I could cry when I think that up until Grandma got him last year in August (?) that he probably had spent very little time, if at all, out of his cell. Yesterday he was in the backyard for about 3 hours! I kept going out to check on him and he was just wandering around the yard and occasionally napping under the tree. I'll have to get some pictures later today if I have time.

On Friday last week he made his first kill! Granted it was a baby bird, but he hunted it down. While I'm not an advocate of killing baby birds, I have to think that this was the first time he's ever done anything remotely like this - he's really turning into a mighty hunter!

As for his everyday life, his ears are looking great! The sore above his leg on his back is getting better and he seems to have a lot more energy and is more playful than he ever has been. Guess he has spring fever too! He still loves his applesauce and his meals 4 times a day of rabbit and potato with a little extra baked potato thrown in for good measure. No hair is growing back anywhere, but we love him more every day - little half-naked doxie man!

Fright!

2006-05-16T22:58:00.000-07:00

Wow, I got the crap scared out of me tonight. Mom was working and dad aws in bed, it was dark outside and I needed to go out. Dad put down some paper for me in my room, but heck, who wants to go on the paper? I found a towel in the corner of the room and decided to go there. Much nicer - for me anyway. Well, I bumped the gate that's in the doorway and it fell over with a CRASH! It scared me so bad I'm glad I just went to the bathroom or I'm sure I would have had to go again. I scurried right down the hall tothe bedroom 'cause mom's office door was shut. I wanted dad to pick me up, but he was sleeping! What's a scared guy to do!? Luckily mom heard the gate fall, so she came looking for me. I was shaking like crazy. I haven't been this scared since I came to live here.

Mom found me in the bedroom and decided that as long as I was up I better go outside... Ha ha! Beat you to THAT mom! Snicker... Anyway when I came back in, I sure wasn't going anywhere near that gate again, huh uh! NO way! I hid behind the ottoman in the living room. Mom went all over the house looking for me - tee hee, I was hiding good. Finally dad got up and came looking for me too. He found me though. I was too scared to even eat my applesauce in the kitchen, I kept going back behind the ottoman, so dad finally put me in my room. Dad put the gate up again, before he went to bed. I think I'll either stay in bed from now on during the night or else be sure to use my papers if I really have to go. I don't need to be that scared again!

I got to go see Dr. Jesske again on Sunday. The infection in my leg isn't getting any better. It hurts and I lick and lick it until mom got worried again. (Gosh, doesn't she have anything else to do besides take me to the vet? It would be fine with me if we could skip going there for a little while!) Dr. Jesske was pretty nice, but he squeezed my back again and it still hurts. Mom learned that when she tried to put some medicine on it the other night and I snapped at her. I think she's still amazed! I wouldn't have really bit her, but it made her jump! I'm still giggling over that. Anyway, I got another prescription. Mom said something about spending as much on my prescriptions as on hers. Wow, I didn't know she took as much medicine as me. Anyway, I hope it feels better pretty soon. It's kind of hot and itchy sometimes, and I don't like the hot washcloth mom puts on it. It makes me crabby and want to run and hide. What a guy has to go through, let me tell you!

If it's not one end, it's the other.

2006-05-08T12:57:00.000-07:00

I had to go to the vet on Saturday and Dr. Jesske wasn't there! It was traumatic, let me tell you! I have a sore on my back, kind of at the top of my back leg. It's been hurting for awhile, but I guess mom thought I had arthritis or something like that. I didn't know what it was, all I knew was that it hurt whenever anybody touched me there. Last week I got a sore there and then the sore got bigger and pretty soon there was another one. Mom freaked out. Told dad maybe I had a "staff" infection or something, so she had to take me to the vet "right away" - like she couldn't wait for Dr. Jesske to work again? Geez.

Anyway, Dr. Matt was nice, but he squeezed my let where it hurt and that hurt really bad, but he said some stuff called pus came out of it, so I have an infection. Again. So now I'm taking medicine for that. Again. Mom says she spends as much money on me as she did Meg and Matt (her human kids). Really, I think she's exaggerating... I have to say it doesn't hurt quite as bad anymore. Mom and dad have been putting ointment on it too, so that helps. I don't feel like biting it anymore, so it must be getting better. I sure do love mom and dad. They had something called an anniversary yesterday, they've been living together and married (what's the difference to a dog?) for 18 years! That's a long, long time. I can't even imagine how long that is. I wish I would have known about this anniversary thing, I would have gotten them a card. Nobody tells you anything when you're a dog! Sheesh!

I have to complain, but I learned something really nice!

2006-04-30T09:45:00.000-07:00

Before I start complaining mom said she found out today when my birthday was! Grandma Judy e-mailed this morning and my birthday is July 5. Isn't that great? I'll be 8 years old this year! Now mom can bake me a potato cake or something to celebrate.

Now, about the complaining. We have lots of trees in our yard. LOTS of trees. Most are cottonwood trees and they have these things that fall out of the tree and they are sticky. Really, really sticky. They stick to me everywhere! They even stick to my feet and get in between my toes. I really don't like that. I have to chew and chew to get them off my feet and that's hard for me because I only have 4 teeth! The other day mom must have seen how much they were starting to hurt because she decided to get them off my feet. Now, don't get me wrong, I love my mom, but I don't like anybody to touch my feet. Ever. For ANY reason. Just leave my feet alone! Well, mom picked me up and put me on her lap and then TOUCHED MY FEET! Yikes! I screamed and cried and wailed. But she didn't put me down. You know what she did? She gave me a big hug and told me she loved me and she would never hurt me. Never hurt me! Can you believe that? I mean, she hasn't hurt me or anything since I've been here, but I really just thought it was a matter of time before she and dad or somebody got really mad at me and hit me or threw a shoe at me or something. But they never have. And now she told me she never would! Can you imagine that? Wow. After that I thought I'd put her to the test, I just sat in her lap and let her try to get those old nasty things off my feet, and you know what? She didn't hurt me? It was a little uncomfortable, but it didn't hurt. All that screaming I did for nothing. I feel kind of silly now...

It's been raining a lot. Every day for 3 days it's been raining. I don't like the rain much, but I figured out that I can go potty in mom's and dad's flower garden. All I have to do is jump from the back stairs across a little space and right into the garden. It doesn't rain over there so I don't get wet. So far so good because she hasn't planted the flowers yet, but I don't know how happy she'll be later this summer. I've had to wear my T-shirt because it's been cool too. You know how I feel about that!

You know what I really like? Dad washes my bed every week. I have a fresh clean bed all the time! It's so nice. Grandma Judy's was nice like that too, but I thought when I came home with mom and dad that they would just leave my room alone and pretty soon it would smell like my old home, pretty bad. That hasn't really happened though. I love dad, he does all kind of good things for me. Mom says she just amazed because every time she tells me to go find dad I do. I go right to him. He usually holds me for a long time on his lap when I do find him and that makes me happy. I love being held.

Yesterday mom was sitting on the sofa with all the other kids laying on her and she was reading a book when I decided I wanted to sit on her lap. She told me no! Can you imagine that? She told he she couldn't pick me up, so I should go lay down in my bed. I couldn't believe it! When she told me no again I started to go to my room, but then I remembered mom had bought me a new squeaky toy last week and it still squeaks so I went to my toy corner close to mom and just squeaked and squeaked and squeaked my toy. Finally mom put the other dogs on the floor and came over and picked me up. If I had known it was that easy to get picked up I would have done it sooner!

Later,
Chuck

My ears are better!

2006-04-28T01:04:00.000-07:00

Mom got some little steroid pills to give me last week. She thinks she's being sneaky by giving them to me in a piece of my food, but I know they're there! I just go ahead and eat them anyway because I know she'll just grind them up and that makes my food taste nasty. I think the medicine might be working, that makes me want to take it too! Yesterday mom was playing with my ears (I don't like that at all - I growled a little but mom just held me tighter and told me she wasn't going to hurt me.) She got a great big piece of scab off my ear - whew, what a relief! I don't have to shake my head so much now since those things are gone. They were really annoying me, but I couldn't get them to come off. I'm sorry I growled at mom now, she sure made me feel better.

Ruger got in the garbage today. Really, it was Ruger. Unfortunately, when dad came home for lunch I was the one who got caught! Dad even yelled at me! Can you believe that? Dad never yells at me, but he sure did today. Maybe it was because I, er, um, I mean Ruger tore the garbage bag open and spread all those goodies all over the deck. Well, they were goodies to us anyway. I can't figure out why they throw such tempting morsels away. Who can figure what humans think? Anyway, I tried to let dad know that Ruger is the one who did it, but I don't think he believed me. Well, maybe he did because Ruger and I both had to stay in the little room this afternoon. It was worth it though - there was hamburger in the trash! Yum!

It rained the other day and I didn't want to go all the way outside to go potty so I went on the back porch, I think dad was upset about that too. What's a dog supposed to do when it rains? I'd like to see HIM go outside to go to the bathroom and stand in the rain. Geez. Buttercup still goes outside into the yard, silly girl. Dad had to go carry her in when he went back to work, she growled at him because she didn't want to come in, but dad just laughed and picked her up! Haha! She wanted to stay outside and bark at the squirrels, but she was outside for a long time anyway. Mom tried her off with a towel when she got in the house - boy was she mad. Buttercup doesn't like mom or anybody to use a towel to dry her off. Good thing she doesn't have to take as many baths as I do. While mom was drying her off she kept showing her teeth. Mom said, "Look at her smile!" I don't think she was smiling, but I wasn't going to tell mom that! Mom made me wear that new shirt she bought me the other day. I showed her, I got out of it right away. She put it back on, I took it off, she put it back on, I took it off. When dad got home I left it on though. I thought maybe he wouldn't believe mom when she told him I kept taking it off. That was a pretty funny joke to play on mom! Well, I better get off the computer. I hear thunder outside. Night everybody!

A long weekend...

2006-04-23T20:16:00.000-07:00

Mom and dad were busy all day Friday and Saturday so we spent a lot of time in our little room. That is SO boring. Heidi always tries to steal my bed and Buttercup and Ruger want the blankets. I've started letting them know they're not going to push ME around! No sir. They are NOT going to get under the blanket if I'm laying on it. They can lay on the bare floor and see how they like it. I think mom felt guilty for being gone so long on Friday so she bought a new toy for us. She says it's for all of us, but it squeaks, so it's mine. Only mine. I've got it in my toy corner and nobody better even think about taking it. Dad got the carpet all wet with the noisy machine on Friday night so he put my toys up in the chair. I can't jump up on the chair, it's too big, so I was pretty mad at dad. I went to my bed and wouldn't come out later to go outside. I showed them though, I left a big mess in the bathroom overnight. I bet they don't don't hide my toys anymore.

We had a lot of company Saturday but there weren't many kids, so I was happy about that. I didn't feel like I had to go and hide. The only one I have to hide from is the one they call "Gabe." He doesn't stand up yet and crawls all over like me. He didn't used to be very fast, but he's faster than me now, so I sat in mom's lap when they were here. Even Ruger hides under the couch when Gabe is around. He's a nice kid, but he's kind of loud and scary to me.

Either mom or dad was home with us all day today - that was much better. Just the way I like it. Mom got some steroid pills from Dr. Jesske for my ears. They were all swollen again. They're doing a bit better I think. I wish I could get the scabs off, but no matter how hard I shake my head they're still there. Dad keeps putting this stuff on them, but they still stay there. I feel like they're always going to be stuck to my ears. It's better than bleeding, I guess.

It so warm and the grass is so much fun to lay in. Mom got me another T-shirt. Bother! The only thing I really don't like is dad has these 2 really big, really noisy toys. The first one is red and he rides on it all over the yard and it sprays grass on me and the other dogs. I don't like it. When I see him open the big garage I go hide. The other one blows loud air and the leaves and grass blow all over. I HATE that one. I don't want to even be outside when he gets that out. What kind of fun can they possibly be? I know they're toys, that's what mom calls them - Dad's toys. I just don't understand.

2006-04-14T12:38:00.000-07:00

Here is Heidi and me in my bed. She got in first, thinking I wouldn't get in because there wasn't enough room. Hey, it's MY bed, sister!

2006-04-14T12:37:00.000-07:00

Here's my brother Ruger, doesn't he sit funny?

2006-04-14T12:36:00.000-07:00

Here I am in all my glory! Am I handsome or what? No... "What" is not the correct answer!

2006-04-14T12:35:00.000-07:00

Here I am sitting on dad's lap after lunch. He didn't give me any of his, either!

I've Been a Busy Boy

2006-04-07T12:43:00.000-07:00

The weather has turned nice! I'm so glad, I can lay out on the porch and enjoy the sun, it feels so good. Now mom is worried though that I might get sunburned so she's going to make me wear my T-shirt when I go outside. I can't win. A sweater in the winter and a T-shirt in the summer. Can't she figure out dogs just like to ge NAKED?!?! None of the other dogs have to wear ths stuff in the summer. It's not fair!

All the other dogs had to go see the vet the other day. They ALL had to get shots too -- HAHA! Ruger and Buttercup had to have their bottoms cleaned out too - Ruger is still complaining about that. I guess he doesn't like that very much. I can't say that I blame him though. They didn't even get to see Dr. Jesske. He's my favorite. Heidi and Ruger told me Dr. Kroeger and Dr. Sternberg are good doctors too, but I've got my favorite and it's not them. Maybe someday I'll get to meet them too.

All my dry dog food is finally gone. Now I get canned food all the time yum! Mom says it better be good 'cause for what it costs we're all going to be eating it pretty soon. I hope she's not serious. They don't share their food with me, I shouldn't have to share my food with them!

Last night we had to spend some time in the "tornado room." I don't know what it is, but I can tell you the floor in that room is cold! Dad put us down there because mom was home and he thought he might have to go out and be a storm spotter. I barked and barked. That was NOT a warm place to me. Luckily mom got home and we didn't have to stay down there. And those awful sirens didn't go off either. Man, I don't like those things!

My ears are kind of hot and fat again. Dad has been putting some kind of medicine on them, so the scabs are almost all gone, but now they're fat again. Maybe I'll have to get another shot. I'm starting to not like shots very much. Well, I hear mom in the other room so I better go before she catches me in here. Bye for now!

2006-03-25T21:10:00.000-08:00

Here's me taking a nap. Mom says I'm about the sorriest-looking loveable thing she's ever seen. Is that a compliment?

2006-03-25T21:09:00.000-08:00

Here's mom's friend, Dorothy, with Heidi and Ruger. No room for another dog?

2006-03-25T21:08:00.000-08:00

Here's a closeup of the end of my right ear. At least it's not all swollen and hot like it was last week. I hope they feel better pretty soon.

2006-03-25T21:07:00.000-08:00

Here I am - my ears aren't swollen anymore, but they still hurt a little. I don't want to put my sweater back on, that's for sure.

2006-03-25T21:05:00.000-08:00

Here's dad with the snow he took off of Buttercupt before mom blew the hot air machine on her.

2006-03-25T21:04:00.000-08:00

Here's Buttercup getting mad because Mom wouldn't let her in until she took a picture. Haha! Mom always lets me in right away...

2006-03-25T21:03:00.000-08:00

This is Buttercup after being in the snow. She could hardly walk, it was so funny!

We had snow and company!

2006-03-25T20:46:00.000-08:00

We had lots of snow this week. I don't like the snow. Mom made me wear a sweater or my T-shirt all the time - that makes me so MAD! I tried to get them off, but mom always caught me. She was right about one thing, it was warmer outside, but I don't like to wear them! The snow was pretty deep so dad shoveled a place for me on the deck to go potty. The other dogs liked to go way out in the snow. Mom said Buttercup looked like the abominable snowdog (whatever that is) - but it must be funny because she laughed about it. Buttercup did NOT like the little machine that blows hot air! Mom had to use it to melt the snow on her legs, but Buttercup was really mad, she kept trying to bite the hot hair. Mom didn't think that was funny but I did! Woof! Then after mom would get her all dried off she would go outside and they would have to do the same thing all over. Silly dog, what was she thinking? I've spent a lot of time downstairs by the woodstove, it's nice and warm down there. I don't even like to come upstairs at night to go to bed. Dad says we're out of firewood, so we're going to have to let the fire go out. Darn! I think he better just go cut more. Doesn't firewood come from trees? We have trees in our yard....

I've been so busy this week sitting on laps and being spoiled. Mom's friend was here from Ohio and she really loved me too! I learned something new this week too, I've decided that if the other dogs can all howl together I probably should to, so I do now! Mom calls it caterwauling, whatever that means, but I have a good time doing it!

The scabs are back on my ears, but they're not hot or fat right now, so I'm pretty happy about that. Ruger had to go to the vet on Friday and have his "glands" cleaned out. I'm not sure what all that entails (pardon the pun), but I'm sure glad it was him and not me. I don't know why he had to go, but I know mom was pretty mad at him last week for dragging his bottom on the carpet. I would never do that - at least not of someone else was in the room to see me! He had to get his rabies shot too. He was really mad at mom when he came home and hid under the sofa all day! He didn't come out until dinner, and he only came out then because dad was going to feed him. I don't think he's mad anymore because he was laying on the sofa with her today when I wanted to get on the sofa! Maybe I liked it better when he was hiding UNDER the sofa instead of laying down with mom.

I was a little sad this week that we had to spend so much time in our room. Mom and her friend were gone all the time, but when they came home they gave us treats so we didn't feel too bad about the whole thing. Hmmm, now that I think about it maybe it was okay they were gone all the time. I got a LOT of potato this week. Yum.

Well, I hear mom coming so I better go for now! I love you all!

Charlie

Good News

2006-03-16T09:27:00.000-08:00

My ears are feeling better today! They aren't so hot and swollen. Mom says she's "cautiously optimistic" whatever that means, but they sure feel better to me.

It's gotten really windy outside today. I'm almost afraid to go outside. Mom says she'll have to tie a string around me and then I'll end up as a furry kite. I don't think that's funny, mom. It's really cold too, well, not as cold as it was a few months ago, but cold enough that I'd rather go to the bathroom in the house. Mom and dad are catching on to me now though, they pick me up and take me out when I first get up so I don't have a chance to make it to the living room. Darn it.

I think Heidi needs to get her own bed. I'm so mad at her. Last night mom and dad went out for awhile and when they put all the other kids in my room Heidi got in my bed and wouldn't get out - even when I growled at her. She's a bed hog for sure. I taught her a lesson though, I got on HER bed and wouldn't get off, even when mom and dad came home. I'll teach her.

Mom has been looking all over the house for that new kong toy she bought us the other day. I hid it from her. The only problem is, I can't find it either. I hope somebody finds it Kate told mom about some other good things to put in it and she wants to try some, but it's lost. I bet one of the other guys found it and are hiding it from me and mom. I guess she'll just have to buy another one.

Well, it's lunch time so I better go eat. I weighed 11 pounds at the doctor's office yesterday. I sure do like to eat!

Visit to Dr. Jesske

2006-03-15T15:08:00.000-08:00

Well, I went to the doctor today and saw Dr. Jesske. I put a picture of him here too, 'cause I really love him. He's so nice to me. I did get a shot (ouch), but I'm okay now. I had to have one of my toenails taken off too, that hurt, but only for a minute. Mom and Dr. J are worried about my ears, so I got a shot for them again and some new medicine to take at home. I hope this medicine helps, my ears are really sore all the time.

Yesterday was a great day for me. Not for mom though. She had the flu, so I got to lay in bed with her all afternoon. Dad came home for lunch and after I had my lunch he put me in bed with mom. I hardly ever get to do that 'cause once I peed on her bed. She was pretty mad. She got over being mad, but she hasn't let me back on the bed since then! So yesterday was my lucky day!

2006-03-15T14:00:00.000-08:00

This is me with my favorite vet, Dr. Jay Jesske!He takes such good care of me. I love him and all the great people at American Animal Hospital!

Checking in

2006-03-13T18:29:00.000-08:00

I've been so tired lately I just haven't felt like getting on the computer. I've been sleeping and sleeping. I must have mom worried, I heard her on the phone tonight making an appointment with Dr. Jesske. I'm just so tired I don't even really want to do anything, even my toys are pretty boring. My ears are hurting pretty bad right now too. Dad came home for lunch today and since it was so cold he thought he'd put my t-shirt on me while I was in the house. It hurt pretty bad and I screamed pretty loud to have that put over my head. I wish they wouldn't do that, but aftewards dad cuddles me for a long time in a fuzzy blanket so I get nice and warm, so I forgive him. I'll let you guys know tomorrow what Dr. J says. I think mom is worried about me, she was crying last night. I tried to let her know I really don't feel that bad. I don't think she believes me though.

2006-03-13T18:28:00.000-08:00

Here's me again wishing they'd just be quiet! What's a guy got to do to get some rest around here? Holy buckets!

2006-03-13T18:27:00.000-08:00

Here's Heidi "singing." Can you believe those two?

2006-03-13T18:26:00.000-08:00

This is Ruger "singing." Making noise is ore like it.

2006-03-13T18:25:00.000-08:00

Here I am taking a nap with Buttercupt. Don't let the Thanksgiving sweater fool you, this was only a couple weeks ago.

Show me the love!

2006-03-10T22:29:00.000-08:00

If you stop by my blog and want to leave a comment, please do. All you hvae to do is click the underlined word "comment" and you can leave me a message. Please?

I don't like the rain!

2006-03-09T12:31:00.000-08:00

It was rainy and cold yesterday. I didn't want to go out much, but mom and dad insisted that I go. **sigh** All I wanted to do was lay in front of the window in the sun, is that too much to ask? Mom went to the vet's office last night and got me some more of my yummy food in the can. The other dogs are so jealous because all they get is that hard stuff. I'm so special!

Mom also bought a toy she calls a Kong. She put some peanut butter in it and when she tossed it Heidi got it and ran to eat it all. I wasn't about to let that happen, so I went over and just took it away from her! Then I went behind the sofa because the other kids know they better not follow me back there. That's MY place. Heidi must have tattled to mom because she came looking for the Kong, but I fooled her, I took it and hid it in my bed under my blanket! She found it, but not until I ate all the peanut butter. She was pretty mad at me for eating it because my ears have been really sore and she thinks now they'll get worse. Why would eating peanut butter make my ears worse? Silly mom.

I heard mom telling dad that if my ears weren't better by the weekend she's going to call Dr. Jesske so I can get a shot of steroids. I don't like shots, but I love Dr. J, so if he says I have to have one I guess I will. Especially if my ears will feel better. They itch so much now and I have scabs on the inside. They do hurt, but I don't want mom even LOOKING at them. Ouch.

2006-03-06T23:31:00.000-08:00

This is a really huge post - Boy, are my paws tired! This is a copy of Grandma Judy's log on Petfinder.com about me. I wanted to put it in my blog, so if she runs out of room again at Petfinder we'll still have the whole thing! (I love you Grandma Judy) So, enjoy reading about my life since leaving the puppy mill and I'll check in again in a day or so.

Charlie

08-22-05 Charlie Brown is a 7 yr. old retired mill dog. He is wild boar in color, long haired, registered, H/W negative, neutered, fully vaccinated including rabies, microchipped. Charlie Brown comes to us from a shelter as he is in the final stages of kidney failure. The shelter manager was tearful as she handed him over to us. She did not want him to die in a shelter environment and she knows we will provide Hospice care for the lil man. We did consult Doc Anstaett this AM. There is nothing he can do for him. He advised us to just feed him, water him, love him & keep him comfortable until his body starts shutting down. We are able to do that! While our Hospice foster home is already full, we have made a special place for CB here in the rescue. What has surprised us already is his happy wagging tail. He evidently does not know he is dying! If you have a very special place in your home and your heart to provide Hospice care, we need more Hospice foster parents. It won't be easy, yet we will be there to help you every step of the way, day or night. The greatest gift you can provide to a dying dog is your presence and love as they cross to the Rainbow Bridge. No dog deserves to die alone in a shelter. We are grateful that the shelter entrusted him to our care. Note: Charlie Brown has only been here a few hours. Already he has been playing with the small dogs in the play area. No pity party for him! He is going to enjoy life to the fullest for whatever time he has. He had breakfast at the shelter, yet ate ravenously his lunch here at the rescue. His appetite is good, his energy level high at this time.

Note 08-24-05--Charlie Brown is just amazing. While we expected him to be rather quiet, at this time he shows no signs of slowing down. He is running, leading the pack in the house, always exploring for a kibble of food that has been dropped. He has several areas on his body that appear to have suffered from frostbite at some time in the past, his toes, his tail, the ears. If you are looking for rugged good looks, a Charles Bronson type, then CB has them!

Note 08-26-05 Charlie Brown has been put on a special lamb & rice diet, special shampoo, & is receiving Rx to keep him comfortable. He eats like a little horse, chases the cat, seemingly oblivious to the death sentence he is living under. What courage! Lil Otto would be proud of CB!

Note 08-29-05 Charlie Brown rode "shotgun" as we picked up 4 dogs this morning. We also stopped by Dieckman Auction Center & CB spent several minutes being held by one of the vendors. He gave kisses and was quiet in Terry's arms and on his lap. CB also got to meet some of the visitors to show them first hand the lack of care some folks give their pets. He will be another ambassador for shelter and rescue adoptions.

Note: 08-30-05 -- Thanks to those of you that called or e-mailed to offer suggestions. We did take Charlie Brown back to Doc Anstaett to have him check for Giardia as several of you asked about. He ran several tests including for Giardia and all were negative. He did send him home with an enzyme tablet to give him at each meal to help with digestion. The other Rx has been helping, yet CB still is failing to thrive. He is a bundle of energy so we are NOT giving up on this lil guy! He weighed in at 7.4 lbs. We shall post future updates as they become available.

Note: 09-01-05 We took Charlie Brown to weigh in at Doc's today. The enzyme Rx is working. His weight is holding at 7.4 lbs. Doc spoke with us at length about CB. Hey may gain some weight now that the diarrhea has been brought under control. He has chronic kidney failure, not acute. There is no way to tell how long CB could live. Heck, he is another that could outlive us all! Further testing will not change the outcome. Thus, we are trusting Doc completely and will not subject CB to any further procedures. He is eating, drinking, playing, going for rides and has quality of life at this time.

Note 09-03-05 Charlie Brown went to the Dieckman Garage Sale Fund raiser today. He ran around exploring the many items for sale, put his little nose in the boxes, ate some of Terry's cookie then later fell asleep in his arms. Later in the afternoon he went with JoAnne to Cobweb Corners in downtown Cole Camp. He sniffed around, came out with some cobwebs on his tiny nose. Yes, Cobweb Corner has cobwebs.

Update 09-04-05 Today Charlie Brown headed to Nebraska with Steve & Mindi, our newest Hospice foster parents. They are quite familiar with dying dogs, having had 2 of their dachshunds sent to the Bridge while at home in familiar surroundings. They will be able to give CB the TLC he needs for whatever time he has left. TLC can make a huge difference.

Update 09-05-05 from Mindi -- Judy - Charlie had a good first night. He slept in his kennel all night & got up with Steve at 8:30 to go outside. He took care of his business, then came in for breakfast. He's loving the treats after coming inside! He's already bonded to Steve. If Steve leaves the room he just sits at the baby gate & waits for him to come back. I'm supposed to be working right now, so all the dogs are in here, but Charlie can hear Steve out in the other room, so he's right by the gate, just waiting for him to come back. He's so darling. I went outside this morning after breakfast & he was just sitting on Steve's lap surveying the backyard. He had a lot of fun with a cricket at a McDonald's in Mound City last night. We were waiting for Steve to bring the food out & he caught site of a cricket in the grass. He'd pounce, the cricket would jump, he'd jump back, the cricket would jump at him. He was having quite a time until the cricket landed in a cocklebur plant. Had to pull one of Charlie's foot, he quickly lost interest after that! He's getting along fine with the other kids. Heidi's method of coping with this little interloper (in her eyes, anyway) is to just ignore him. He tried to get friendly with her last night, but she just runs from him. To Ruger, he's quite the curiosity. Ruger follows him around EVERYWHERE! This morning Charlie was a bit concerned because Ruger stuck his nose in the kennel & Charlie's yellow bone was in there, but Ruger didn't take it, so Charlie grabbed it & curled up in the corner of the crate. Buttercup is friendly, already accepted him as another child in the family, so everything is working out great! Our backyard is about 1/2 an acre, not huge, but it sure keeps him busy checking everything out! We are so blessed to have Charlie in our home. He was quite the ambassador yesterday. One of the workers at a rest stop was quite taken with him - and vice versa. We told him how he we got him & what was going on with his health because he had been a mill dog, etc. The guy just said, "He's so special, just take him home & love him, love him, & love him some more" which is, of course, exactly what we plan to do! Thanks so much for all your hard work & making it possible for us to have Charlie with us! Mindi and Steve Heidi, Ruger, Buttercup, & Charlie Brown

Update 09-05-05 from Charlie Brown himself--- Grandma - Mom & Dad took me to Petco today to buy me a new toy! I had so much fun! I got to see some real like squeaky things - mom says they're ferrets, I can't have one, but then we went to another part of the store & she got me a squeaky toy that I really like. It's a bear & it squeaks a lot! Maybe that's why mom had to lay down when we got him, I don't know... Anyway, I got a new leash just for me & it has smiley faces all over it! A little too cutesy for a macho guy like me, but mom thought it was "darling" whatever that means, so I got that one. I really liked the leather collar with spikes that dad showed her, but she just laughed & I didn't get one. I won't be too mad at her though because she did get me the squeaky that I liked best. We got some stuff mom calls bag balm for my skin, it feels okay I guess we have to wait & see if it helps. I have a big back yard to play in & a brother and 2 sisters! They aren't very friendly yet, but at least they don't want to fight. Mom thinks we'll be great friends before long & I have to agree - how can any dog resist my charm! My other grandma & grandpas & human cousins are coming over tonight. Mom says if they get too noisy I can hide out in my kennel. Maybe I'll do that. I just wanted to tell you that I miss you, but I love you for all the love you gave me! Thanks a bunch! Tell Hans & the rest of the other gang that I said hi, I miss them a little, but I'm having a lot of fun too. Love, Charlie B (That's what mom calls me)

Update 09-08-05 from Mindi--- Judy, I had to take Heidi to the vet today so I took CB along. Everyone immediately fell in love with him. He just has that type of personality. (Even if he did pee in the exam room twice & poop once!) Guess what???? No, guess! He weighs 8.5 lbs! I was so excited! Benny Archuleta (remember, the rescue guy from Florida) was telling me that he had a rescue dog with failure to thrive & so I got some tips from him. We grind up the dry food & give him 1/4 cup of that mixed with warm water & about 1/4 cup of canned food, mix that all together with the panreazyme & let it sit for about 20 minutes before feeding. The pancreazyme starts to predigest the food & it sticks with him a little longer. He's had regular stools since Tuesday. Of course he still needs more fattening up, but his ribs aren't as prominent as they were. Good news! We took his collar & harness off except for when he goes outside. He had sores on his neck that the chain was irritating & one under his front leg that was being rubbed by the harness. He never goes outside alone anyway, so until the sores heal we're only putting them on if we take him out. The vet cut his enalapril to 2.5 mg a day also, we're to watch for signs of congestive heart failure. Dr. Jeske said his heart didn't sound too bad at all today. That was good news too. We've been putting bag balm on his skin & Neosporin on the scabby parts & he's looking not to bad, even if I do say so myself! He's curled up in a blanket by my feet right now. He got a new squeaky toy today at Petco because he had already destroyed the squeaker on the bear we got him on Monday! LIttle con artist... I'm sure he'll get whatever he wants! I thought the other night that the other dogs toys were missing, sure enough, they were in CB's kennel. He was none too happy that I took them out either. But he still has his yellow bone, the bear that doesn't squeak, & his new squeaky hot dog. I tried to explain to him what sharing means, but I think it was lost on him! lol! So, he's doing fine! Anway, we're loving Charlie to pieces! He's just the sweetest little boy. I'm so glad he's here!

Update 09-09-05 from Mindi ---Judy- Thanks for the e-mail this morning. It made my day to know CB is so loved. Let Kerri know that we sat outside this morning for about 20 minutes and I let him know how much he was missed and that Kerri loved him. I think he knows her name, he just snuggled up next to me for more love! I'll continue to keep you posted of course. The vet was thinking yesterday that the black skin wasn't frostbite, he's thinking some kind of hormonal thing. Of course I'm not going to take him to an endocrinologist because it would cost buckets of money, but that was his opinion anyway - just another in a long line! The reason his eyes water so much is because whatever problem he had with the skin around his eyes apparently affected his tearducts also, they're probably pretty much non-existent, but teary eyes are much, much better than dry eyes, so that's a little bit of good news. The black skin also could be signs of Cushing's or thyroid problems, he did take blood and we'll see how that goes. I won't have the Cushing's test, it's $125, but the preliminary tests would give us a good idea if that's the problem. I'll be talking to the vet more this afternoon and let you know. He told me so much yesterday that I just couldn't remember everything. Anyway, the overall news was good, so I was very pleased. He's gone from going to his kennel (with the door open) while I work, to laying on a blanket at my feet. I'd say he's getting comfortable! I'll let you know what the vet says about the blood work later. Take care!

Note 09-09-05 Mindi just called late this evening with some great news. Thus far, the blood tests are coming back with none of the problems suspected with Charlie B. However, more tests are due back in the next day or by Mon. At that time Mindi will give us a detailed report. The enzyme in the food, with a 20 min. wait prior to Charlie B eating has been helping him gain weight. She says he feels heavier in her lap. She is giving him baths with the medicated shampoo & using bag balm on his body & medicated ointment on his neck & armpits. The vet staff adores him & his wagging tail. I know we have a lot of wonderful folks praying for Charlie B. We thank you for those prayers. Please keep them coming. We were happy to get this update from Mindi. She was apprehensive to tell us about the test results thus far as she did not want to offend us or our vets that we missed something. I have assured her that our vets welcome 2nd & even 3rd opinions & we can all learn from this. We are truly grateful for all she & Steve are doing. We have asked her to convey our thanks to her vet.

Note 09-09-05 from Mindi after our call-----Charlie B the wonder dog! LOL! I'm not going to let him know that! He already thinks he's the best, no sense giving him a swelled head! God bless people like this woman (?) who are so willing to help Charlie B get back on his feet! I'm sure the vet will appreciate it. He's our little miracle & I'm so blessed to have him with us. I have to tell you that everyone I've told about his good news at the vet (no sign of kidney failure) has said it's a miracle -even my dad who's not overly fond of dogs & calls my other three a pain in the rear was just thrilled and said it must be a miracle. Charlie has even gotten to him! Now THAT'S a miracle! My son calls him Chuck - just like Peppermint Patty in the Peanuts cartoon called Charlie Brown. He answers to both names. When we first brought Charlie home I think he was a little intimidated by my son, Matt. Matt is 6'5" and you know how little Charlie B is - today Matt came into my office, he was horsing around & lunging at me like he was going to tickle me - Charlie didn't like that one bit! He started barking & barking - it was so funny! Matt had to get down on the floor with him & pet him to let him know he wasn't really going to get me. He's the office boss I think! He has the funniest bark too, not loud & shrill like my other doxies, but low & kind of hoarse, he's a doll! He also moans & groans in his sleep he almost sounds human. He'll circle around then curl up & lay down & let out a long groan like he never felt anything so good! I think my biggest fear in regard to telling you how good his blood work was, was that you would tell us to bring him back (since he may not need Hospice care)! I don't know if I could do that! lol! He's only been here 5 days and he has totally taken over my heart. Even though we have to still watch him like a hawk when he's in the house to make sure he doesn't leave any "presents" I'd be lost without him. I'm so glad you're going to let him stay with us (since he has the heart problem). Hopefully he'll be around for a long, long time. Charlie enjoyed the piece of roast I snuck home from Arby's - the others are mad because they know something really good was in my hand when I went into "Charlie's Room" (formerly my office) and I came out with nothing. They got a Snausage, but I know there was something going on! I'll let you know more when I hear about the thyroid. (BTW, the vet called today about Heidi's thyroid test and it was fine - guess we're going to be seeing the dermatologist. A couple prayers for Heidi would be good, heaven only knows how much THAT'S going to cost). Whatever it is it'll be worth it and we'll do it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. We have to do something because her nose is all dry, cracked, and peeling, now the nostril is getting smaller and smaller and pretty soon she won't be able to breathe through her nose - which of course will make eating difficult. If it's not one thing it's 10 others! Almost like when my real kids were little! Mindi and Steve Heidi, Ruger, Buttercup, and Charlie B (Chuck) LOL!!!

Note 09-10-05 We have received the neatest idea from Tami, one of the readers of these updates - She wants to be one of Charlie's Angels! (Remember the tv series of a few years back?) If you would like to send a care package (treats, sweater, toys) to Charlie B in care of the vet's ofc., they will make sure it gets to Mindi when she next brings Charlie B in to the ofc. You may even add a small note on the return address that it is from one of Charlie's Angels. That will bring a smile to the office staff and Doc that work so hard to care for this little man-dog. He has touched their lives with his cheerfulness! Also, please continue to offer prayers for Charlie B and for Heidi. We do believe in the Power of Prayer. Also, a prayer of thanks for Mindi and Steve for opening their hearts and their home to care for this special needs case. We need more Hospice foster homes like Mindi & Steve, Buck & Mary, Marti, even Becky & Kris, for dogs just such as these. Dogs that are in kill shelters to die. Dogs that owners need to surrender as they cannot take care of them any longer. We can only do this work if we have more foster homes to help us. We are sooo full here. We will be there to help you every step of the way with dying dogs if you can just give them one-on-one TLC. It is NOT easy, yet someone has to do it. Can you help us help them? Please pray about it, then contact us. Thanks.

Update 09-10-05 from Mindi--Judy,. What wonderful, wonderful people are out there. Charlie is so blessed to have such wonderful people praying for him and thinking of him. He went to some garage sales for us today (doing his ambassador work) and he loved every minute of attention he got. What a special spirit lives in that little body. Thank everyone who is thinking of Charlie and sending prayers our way - we couldn't possibly have better people to be Charlie's Angels. Mindi and Steve Heidi, Ruger, Buttercup, and Charlie B (Chuck - that still cracks me up. He's so NOT a Chuck!) PS--What a wonderful idea! Cushing's doesn't seem to be a diagnosis since his alk phos is normal. I'll check with the vet on Monday about the pancreatitis. Oscar had acute pancreatitis once and it was awful, vomiting, unrelenting diarrhea, the whole works. He was one sick puppy. However, chronic pancreatitis is something I could ask him about. Thanks for the thought. Mindi

Note 09-11-05 Tami, who read of the plight of Charlie B and has started Charlie's Angels to pray for this dog, has sent us along this note that we have shared with Mindi and asked her to consult the vet. We all need to learn from this if it will help Charlie B and others like him ---- I am so happy that his preliminary testing is getting good results.I hope that he does not need the Cushings testing,but there is a very specific test to rule it absolutely.As I told you,I lost one to it,and it was a horrible thing to watch.Also the black nose thing....My Sara had this too.My vet thought that it was skin thickening from constant urine burn at the mill,and that it would thin and hair would grow in its place with good nutrition and suppliments.She was right, it did.Her nose looks perfectly normal now.I also read that Charlie moans and makes noises in his sleep.My Sara also did that for a while.We called it having"millmares",and that too,passed in time.That is the thing that I want most of all for Charlie....lots of time.

Update 09-12-05 from Mindi---I got a call from the vet today. He doesn't think the Cushing's test is necessary since all of his blood work, including the thyroid, have returned as normal. He thinks that the possibility that his poor little body was just so traumatized by his living conditions at the mill that that was the biggest problem. He also told me that he heard no murmur on his heart exam, but is keeping him on the Enalapril "just in case". Sometimes apparently murmurs are hard to detect. He's going to reevaluate his heart in a month. In the meantime, I'm certain Charlie has gained more weight - my mother-in-law was surprised when she saw him yesterday because he looked so much better. I'm sure he's gained even a little more weight. The stools are still softer than the other guys, but much, much better than they were. You're right about the urine burn Tami. Dr. Jesske doesn't hold out much hope for hair growing in those areas, but I'm not discounting anything - not after the wonderful week he's had. Dr. Jesske was also thrilled with the idea of "Charlie's Angels" . I asked him if it was okay and he told me it was more than okay, he wants to do everything in his power to make sure that Charlie is healthy and happy! That's it for now I think. More later. Mindi and Steve Heidi, Ruger, Buttercup and Charlie B aka Chuck

7 Bells Note 09-14-05 --- When Mindi first advised us of the good news by phone, she was concerned that she would offend us or our vets. I assured that we nor our great vets take offense. Doc Anstaett is quite interested in the findings too. He may not realize how bad the "mills" truly are. We are also interested as we may get more dogs such as these in and be better prepared to deal with the issues they face. TEAMwork! Together Everyone Achieves Much. We need to work together to save more just like Charlie B.

Note from Mindi 09-20-05 -- Judy - I think we might try and take CB back to the vet later this week because I can't get those sores under his jaw to heal. I've been using Neosporin & that cleared up the one on his arm, but he is constantly scratching the one under his jaw & on his neck & I'm sure that's why they won't heal. Otherwise, he's doing great! He loves to sleep under the bed during the daytime when I'm lying down & so far (keeping fingers crossed) he hasn't made any messes if we let him do this. He is loving the bed Tami sent him - so is Heidi! It reminds me of when Heidi was a puppy. We had a bed like that for her, but my old longhair, Oscar, would get in it every chance he got with his head hanging out of one side & his butt hanging off the other! Heidi isn't as big as Oscar, but she sure wants to be in that bed! CB is having none of that, however, that bed is HIS! I think he's really starting to trust us & bond with us now, he even gives kisses on occasion. Not often, but that's okay, you treasure them all the more when he does! This morning he actually let me hold him like a baby, on his back with his belly up so I could rub his tummy & chest - you know dogs don't like to expose their bellies unless they feel safe, so I was happy about that. Anyway, I guess that's all the news for today! God bless you! I'll talk to you later. Mindi, Steve and the Fearsome Foursome

Note 09-20-05 late in PM -- Mindi called very excited. Charlie B now weighs 10 lbs.! The vet has him on an antibiotic for his neck.

Note 09-21-05 from Mindi-- Judy, just wanted to let you know Charlie had a bit of a setback last night. I think he's allergic to the antibiotic they gave him. He has really, really bad diarrhea again this morning & is scratching his head like crazy. When Steve comes home for lunch we're taking him back to the vet. Anyway, we'll let you know more as soon as we hear.

Update 09-21-05 from Mindi after vet visit-- Steve took him over lunch today. Oh my, what a week! The vet gave him an injection for mites & changed his antibiotic. We'll see how this goes. I feel so sorry for the poor little guy. So far, so good. He also got some ointment for his eye since he had scratched the area around his right eye raw. I haven't put it on him yet, Steve did at noon, I'm thinking he's not going to like that much! Anyway, it appears CB is fine. God was good to us again today. Additional note same evening---- Dr. Jesske wasn't sure about the mites, but poor Charlie is just scratching his neck to a bloody pulp. I made a bandage out of gauze & put it on his neck so it won't be so easy to get to. He thought he'd try the mite injection & see if that works. He didn't see any when I took him in the first time, but he said he was running out of ideas about why Charlie would be itching so bad on his neck & ears especially. I feel so sorry for the little guy. We've started bathing him in oatmeal shampoo for a bit to see if that helps ease the itch too, the Keratolux might just have been too harsh for him. We'll see. You know, the longer I live with CB & see how much care & love he needs I just want to throttle the living daylights out of mill owners. They should all be arrested & shown no mercy. I can't believe how they can treat the poor animals to make a profit. It just makes my blood boil. I wish there were some way to close those (bleeps) down forever. I'm just in a rage about this tonight. I told Steve I've never been a PROponent of mills, but I guess I just never realized how bad it really was.

7 Bells Note - We hope that those reading this will learn what some dogs endure at puppymills. Some breeders take very good care of their dogs & have very healthy dogs. Others, well, Charlie Brown's condition says more than we can tell. Please, if you think of buying a puppy, think of Charlie B. Ask to see the parents of the puppies. Make sure the facility is clean, the dogs are well cared for. Fortunately, Charlie B is very friendly. Other dogs we have received lack any social skills whatsoever and are scared to death of the hand as it approaches. . We thank God for this caring couple that came along to give him the extra TLC he needs. We need MORE wonderful foster homes like this. .

Note 09-21-05 from Mindi -- Yesterday at the vet he told Steve Charlie weighed 10 pounds, tonight Steve actually saw the scale when they weighed him - 10.4 pounds! Woo hoo! A couple more pounds & we'll have to cut him back to 3 meals a day - he won't be liking that! LOL!

Update 09-21-05 late PM from Mindi-- We gave him some Benadryl tonight. He's sleeping at my feet (again) as I work. But he's snoring like crazy, so I think it's a bit of a Benadryl-induced sleep! As long as he's not scratching, I feel better!

Update 09-23-05 We forwarded a message from JoAnne, one of Charlie's Angels, to Mindi about a possible allergy to food. This is Mindi's response--- JoAnne & Judy - That certainly could be part of the problem. I'll have to check out the ingredients & check with the vet. He seems to be itching less with the Benadryl & the antibiotic - thank goodness. Thanks for the idea about the food, I'll have to do some research & see what I find out. I'll give him a hug from both of you!

Update 09-27-05 ----- Judy - Charlie is doing great. He is itching less & less. We put him on a sensitive skin formula dog food, we'll see what happens with that. The others are slowly but surely starting to accept him as one of the pack. Today he & Ruger were sitting out on the deck side by side. I made a noise with the chair though when I stood up to get the camera, so no picture, but it was a welcome sight! He's becoming more & more housebroken too. He still has accidents, but they're fewer & farther between. He got me twice today though, he piddled in my office & then pooped in the living room - right after we had been outside. His stool is just like the other dogs' now, I have to watch him to tell his from theirs. Hooray! Isn't it funny how dog poop can be so exciting? LOL! Anyway, that's it for now, things are settling into an even keel. Charlie isn't too fond of company, whenever we have company he hides in the kennel or under our bed - we'll work on that gradually. I've noticed that he seems to be afraid if you have a shoe in your hand. The other night I was taking off my shoes while talking to Steve & I was holding one when Charlie walked in the room, he took one look at the me with the shoe in my hand & made a beeline out of the room. Today I came into the office holding a pair of shoes & he went and hid under the desk. Makes me think he's had shoes thrown at him or something. Poor little guy. He still cowers when we pick him up, but he's getting better about that. Take care and God Bless!

Update 09-30-05 from Mindi -- Charlie is sure enjoying the T-shirts since the weather has been cooler, but he doesn't like to sleep in them at night. They're okay for a nap, but when I left it on him & put him in his kennel last night he threw a FIT! He whined & scratched at the blankets & banged his head on the side of the kennel. I couldn't figure out for the life of me what his problem was. Once we took the shirt off of him he curled right up & went to sleep. Little stinker! Buttercup is loving the pig's ear-like treats that you got them,Tami - she sleeps with them & acts like she's not going to eat it, but then all of a sudden it's gone. And Heaven help any other dog that goes near it before she eats it! Oh my, that's cause for a fight for sure!

Update 10-13-05 from Mindi - Judy, We're going to take Charlie up to the vet tonight. He's been coughing & wheezing quite a bit today & we just want to make sure it's not his heart. I'll let you know what we find out. He's been doing great - I hope this isn't a setback for him. 7 Bells Note: We called Mindi later tonight. Charlie B weighs 11.2 lbs. Doc said his lungs & heart are ok. No heart murmur was heard. He had quit coughing by the time they got to the hospital. They will be closely observing him for the next few days. If needed, an x-ray will be taken. Please cross the paws for Charlie B.

Update 10-14-05 from Mindi -- Here's the update I promised on Charlie. First of all, he's not coughing or wheezing as much today, but he's sneezing quite a bit. I think he must have gotten a cold, so thankfully it doesn't appear to be more than that. He goes back next week for his next mite shot & another dose of steroids for his ears. I can't believe what a difference that last injection made in his ear swelling. The swelling was down quite a bit & I was finally able to get a lot of stuff out of his ears. He literally had chunks of black stuff coming out of his ears. No wonder the poor little guy was shaking his head all the time! He's been busy this afternoon, dragging ALL the toys from one side of the living room to the other & occasionally taking some down the hall to his crate. I get the biggest kick out of him. He has to squeak it to make sure it works & if it does he takes it to add to his pile of toys. If it doesn't he put it in another corner. He definitely knows what he likes & what he doesn't! He gets a little upset when I don't put him in the bathroom with the other dogs when we go out, but Buttercup snapped at him the other day & I don't want a dog fight when I'm not home to break it up. Buttercup really has her nose out of joint that she's not the "baby" anymore, but the other two are making up to him much better. He & Ruger sit in the grass together & survey the backyard now. It's so cute. Charlie has definitely bonded with Steve more than me. I try, but once Steve comes home I don't exist unless I happen to have food - then I'm all right! He just loves to curl up in Steve's lap & sleep, he's so cute! Dr. Jesske thinks his skin is looking better. I'm not so sure about that, but I'm not the vet, so, who knows! He weighed 11.2 pounds when we were at the vet last night. Dr. J suggested we start feeding him only 3 meals a day now & see if we can't keep him right around this weight. He wasn't very happy about that last night. He knew about 10 o'clock that it was time for his last meal & when he didn't get it he stood out in the kitchen barking. He has a really deep bark, it sounds so funny coming from such a little guy. Steve put him in his crate when he went to bed - he wasn't too happy about that! Bedtime with no dinner! He about inhaled breakfast this morning - you would think that we didn't feed him at all! He absolutely LOVES the peanut butter treats that Tami sent him. I've been looking, but I haven't seen them anywhere, I'll have to do some concentrated searching this coming week and find him some more. The other dogs are so jealous that he gets the soft treats - not that they'd give up their other bones, etc. They're just like little kids, if they see Charlie is having something different than they are they have to pout when they don't get any. I think that's it for now. I know we talked more last night, but I can't think of anything else that he's been up to! I've got to go find some dinner for Steve before he starts barking too! LOL!

Update 10-20-05 from Mindi -- Charlie went back to the vet for another shot of prednisone last night. They're starting him on oral prednisone starting on Monday. We just can't seem to keep the inflammation gone in his ears and hopefully the prednisone will help. We're also thinking maybe once we have a couple good freezes & allergies are excluded as a possible source of his problem they could clear up. I know my allergies have been driving me crazy the past few weeks, so maybe that's part of the problem. Who knows? He's an enigma, my baby Charlie!

Update 10-27-05 from Mindi -- Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. So far so good with Charlie. He's still coughing a bit, but not as bad. He sees the dermatologist tomorrow morning, so I'll e-mail you with an update then. When he got his shot of steroids last week the vet put him on oral prednisone too, 2.5 mg twice a day to start & then tapering down. So far that's helped the swelling in his ears. I'm hoping that now that we've had some freezing nights that if allergies & the cause of his problem he'll be feeling better soon. I'm afraid by the time his ears heal he won't have any ears left! He's just the happiest little guy - he goes around the house piling all his toys up from one corner, to another corner, to another corner, then he takes a break & squeaks all of them & then starts all over with moving them around. He's quite a character. He loves to lay in bed with me at night before I go to sleep. He just cuddles right up & naps until bedtime. Heidi is quite jealous about this, because that was HER special time with mom, so now she goes under the covers & pouts! She gets to stay in bed all night though, so I think she still knows she's special. I think that's about it for now. I'll let you know what we hear at the dermatologist tomorrow. We're having Heidi's nose checked also, whatever is wrong with her nose is starting to affect her breathing. I hope we can do something for her. I'm more than a little worried about her. Note: Update later same day from Mindi- I think this dermatologist must be good. He's flying in from Arizona! I have to take Charlie B to another clinic to see him, but he must be good. We'll see how it goes. I had no idea this guy was from Arizona until his office just called for our vet's number so they could get the background info on Charlie & Heidi. Apparently he comes to Omaha once or twice a month to visit his patients here. Hopefully we can get a diagnosis and then our vets can take it from there. Charlie is turning into a little bit of a barker! I'm so glad he's finally getting into the swing of things around here! LOL! While I'm mixing his food up he stands at my feet & "talks" to me. Not really whining or barking, but more just a "hurry the heck up I'm hungry" kind of noise. It's so deep too, that never ceases to amaze me that such a little guy has such a deep voice! Kind of like Richard Sterban of the Oak Ridge Boys! LOL!

Update 10-28-05 from Mindi- Well, we're back from the vet, poorer but wiser! He seems to think that Charlie may have tick fever (Ehrlicia). He couldn't take a biopsy of the skin because Charlie's been on prednisone & that would change the results, but he did a blood test & 2 prescriptions for him. Hopefully we'll see some improvement. If it turns out not to be tick fever it's probably an autoimmune disease & they would take him off the steroids in order to do a biopsy & get an accurate result. He'll probably need cyclosporine, if that's the case. Today the doc put him on pentaxifyllin & medrol to replace the prednisone he's been on. Prednisone will cause fluid retention & isn't good for a dog with possible heart problems (although we still can't hear a murmur or any sign of CHF), & medrol doesn't. Hopefully, this will be the cure for Charlie! He's lost a little weight, he's down to 10.6, but we had cut out his 4th meal, which we'll be starting up again today! He's still happy & having a great time with the squeaky toys. He did express his displeasure at being at the vet's office however, by leaving a piddle & a HUGE poop! He's not afraid to express his opinion! LOL! So! We're feeling much better about things in general today! Just wanted to update you and let you know how things went!

Update 11-09-05 from Mindi Sorry I haven't checked in before now. My computer is on the fritz. Charlie does NOT have tick fever... So, he's taking Atopica now for an autoimmune disease & I'm actually seeing hair growing under his eyes & the scaly patches are peeling off his skin, so I think at long last (thank GOD!) we may really, really, for sure, be doing something that will work permanently! He goes back to the dermatologist on Dec 5, but I'm seeing improvement, so that's good. Charlie's meds. -- They're about $25.00 for 15 days' worth. He probably won't have to be on them for life, thank goodness. Once the skin is cleared up we should be able to wean him down to every other day, every third day, & hopefully, eventually off the Atopica. The initial vet bill at the dermatologist for Heidi & Charlie was $300.00, but we're going to do everything we can to help them both. I mean it though, if you can't afford it, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT! Really, we'll take care of it. No matter what, these dogs are going to be healthy again if it kills me! LOL! Charlie & Heidi & the rest of the pack are all doing great. Charlie has taken to barking at Steve when his dinner is being fixed. We're feeding him the regular food, not grinding it up anymore, but we do soften his with water for a couple of minutes before we feed him. The whole time we're fixing the other dinners he's barking with that cute, low bark of his. I love him so much, he just such a sweetheart. Heidi's nose is looking a bit better. The dermatologist told us it could be 6 weeks before we see a definite improvement, but her nose is starting to look black again, so I'm glad about that!

Update 11-18-05 from Mindi- Charlie is doing well, growing hair under one eye and on his back legs a little. Mostly "peach fuzz" but I think the real thing will be there someday! More later, Mindi, Steve, Heidi, Ruger, Buttercup and last, but certainly not least, Charlie Brown!

Update 11-22-05 from Mindi-- We're doing fine, Charlie sees the dermatologist next week, so we'll see what he thinks. The little scamp has so much energy it's amazing! Last night he was chasing the other dogs around the upstairs. Buttercups wasn't going for it, she would just growl at him, but Heidi & Ruger were racing right along with him. It makes me so happy to see him act like the other dogs & tear around like the house was on fire. I had a Mary Kay open house this weekend and he stole the show! He did a little spokesdog work against puppy mills & for adopting special needs dogs, so that was great! . I'm so grateful to you & the opportunity we have to keep Charlie in our home, he's such a blessing - a great motivator too, to see how he can keep on thriving after all he's been through. Makes my aches & pains look pretty insignificant! Mindi and Steve Heidi, Ruger, Buttercup, and Charlie Brown the Wonder Weiner

Update 11-30-05 from Mindi-- I just got off the phone after talking to Kate for about an hour! What a wonderful person she is! She's going to make Charlie a real Charlie Brown sweater in yellow with the black zig zag stripe around the bottom. I'm so excited. She's also going to make some sweaters for my other dogs & send some homemade dog treats. I really do have to get some Charlie's Angels certificates of some kind to send to the people who have been so wonderful to Charlie & my other furkids this year. Aren't dachshund lovers the best kind of people to know? He's growing some hair under his eyes, but the patches on his back are still bald. I wonder if he's ever going to have hair there again. br>He's quite the little devil, our Charlie. He went outside this morning & when he came up to be let in he had a "poopsicle" in his mouth. When I made him drop it he immediately ran back out in the yard to find another "treat". He wouldn't come in for anything, even when I showed him the treat jar. I finally had to go outside, in my bare feet and nightgown, in 17 degree weather to chase him down & bring him in. He was determined that these new frozen treats are the just the best thing to ever happen. So, hopefully this afternoon it will warm up a bit (above 20 would be nice) & then I'll go out and do a poop patrol and get rid of his treats. I'm sure he'll eventually forgive me. LOL! He's really enjoying the warmth of the wood stove at night now. He just comes downstairs with Steve & I (he finally mastered the "big" steps) & he just curls up in one lap or the other and take a long snooze. He's such a sweetheart. I had to laugh the other night though. Heidi had a toy that she was rolling all over & getting her scent on it while Charlie just sat & watched. When she happened to roll off the toy he ran over & snatched it and took it to his stash. Heidi jumped up & just looked at him as if to say, "What the ...." It was so funny, Steve & I were laughing like crazy. If one of the other dogs has a toy that he wants he just goes up & barks at them & they give it to him. Unbelieveable. The littlest guy here has turned into the alpha dog, much to Buttercup's dismay! Thanks for everything! I'll send pictures when we have the Charlie Brown sweater. I can't wait! Thanks again.

Note 12-08-05 We spoke with Mindi by phone last night to see how the visit with the specialist went. Mindi will send a detailed report later. Charlie B had a skin scraping done, has been put on a special rabbit & potato formula to help with allergies. There is definitely joy in this household.

12-08-05 Just got a message from Mindi, with a pic. of the sweater made by Kate & sent to Charlie B. Yellow with a black stripe, just like the cartoon Charlie Brown -- Now, the note from Mindi------- The sweater and treats arrived this afternoon! He looks darling in it! The treats are a big hit with the other kids - Charlie is on a rabbit & potato diet - I think I told you that, so no doggie treats for him. He is getting potato chips though, so who gets the raw end of the deal, really? LOL! Thank you, thank you, thank you Kate! You truly are one of Charlie's angels!

Update 12-21-05 from Mindi-- Here are the Chrstmas pictures of our babies this year! I ran out of pictures & then I ran out of cards! We're all so grateful to you for all you've done for Charlie & the other kids. Charlie is doing great! He has decided that he likes to sleep by himself in the little bathroom, so we've moved his bed in there. I think it's because it's really warm in there, he likes that. His ears are looking great - I hate to jinx the good that's been done, it seems like every time I say he's doing well something else goes wrong, but the ears really are looking goo. As of today he has no scabs on his ears at all! Hallelujah! I'm hoping we can keep the vasculitis gone so we won't have to even consider the option of cropping his ears (as opposed to having them fall off a little chunk at a time - ugh. Anyway, I just wanted to share these pictures with you. I'm so grateful to Tami also for all the good things she's done for Charlie. I have to get a picture for her of him in his nest of toys in the living room. He's quite the character. Merry Christmas& God bless all of you for the wonderful, wonderful people you are. We're truly blessed to have known all of you.

Note 12-22-05 We usually post just updates from the foster family or an adoptive family. However, this update comes from Tami, who tells of the way this dog has touched her heart. Charlie is looking just wonderful. Amazing what time & love can do. I thank you greatly for giving him both. There is no gift in the world any greater to me than to see that little guy thriving. You just can not put such things in a box. Those things are called miracles, & he is. Charlie is a mill survivor. What we humans can learn from them. They live lives too horrible to imagine without even the basic needs of life met such as enough food & shelter, yet they bear no grudge & still have the ability to trust & love. Charlie is lucky that he made it out. We are all lucky that one lttle canine has touched so many hearts. My heart melted looking at one little photo of the wonder dog. I have contributed to many a dachshund in my life, but none have touched me as deeply as Charlie Brown. I am so very thankful that he will have a Christmas for the first time, & that he now knows what a full belly feels like while lying in a warm bed full of the toys he loves. Mostly, I thank you two great ladies for giving him that as well as everyone that cares about the little man. Merry Christmas Charlie Brown!

Update 01-01-06 Just received this note from Mindi- (Not a great way to start the new year for Charlie Brown)-- We just got home from the vet - yes it is 2:30 in the morning. He hadn't been feeling very good today, he was kind of lethargic & Steve said he vomited this morning. I wasn't really concerned since all the other dogs have gone through a bout of loose stools in the past week. However... Tonight we had company, so Charlie was in the "little room" where we keep him so no one bothers him (since he's still pretty shy around company). When we went to check on him about 11 he had had a couple loose stools, but when we checked him a little after midnight he had had a GIANT totally liquid stool & there was blood in it. I immediately phoned the emergency vet (of course OUR vet doesn't work on New Year's Eve) & we had to take him in. Well, we spent almost $400 on blood work, IVs for hydration, medicine to calm his stomach & a shot for nauesa. His heart murmur was also back with a vengence tonight, but that could be because he is sick. I'll have to check with Dr. Jesske about that when they're open again. Charlie had to spent the night too, they're a little worried, as was I, about the blood in the stool. Keep the little guy in your prayers. I'l. update tomorrow. -- Mindi, Steve, Heidi, Ruger, Buttercup, and Charlie Brown (one sick puppy)

7 Bells Note: Please pray for Charlie Brown & also for Mindi & Steve. They have done wonders for this little guy. He has been thriving under their care. Later update PM of 01-01-06 from Mindi- Well, he's home. Still not feeling up to par, but definitely much better than last night. Poor buddy, he was so thirsty he drank too much & vomited it right back up, but no diarrhea so far. Got that mess cleaned up & he's in the little room with his blankie. I'm trying to decide if I should wash all of his squeaky toys or not. I'm not sure that it wouldn't ruin the squeakers if water got in them & that would be a tragedy, in his eyes at least. I'm going to see if I can get him in to see our vet in the a.m. Will let you know more when I get back from there. Update 01-02-06 Mindi left a message on the answering machine Charlie is somewhat better, an intestinal bug, rather lethargic yet they are most hopeful. Thanks for those prayers by Charlie's Angels.

Note 01-02-06 PM from Mindi- Charlie is feeling much better tonight. He's still sleeping quite a bit, but when he's up the tail is going 100 miles an hour & he wants to EAT! Tonight he's back in his little room, but earlier tonight we took a nap together with him lying on my chest under a blanket, which is a big improvement for him, he's usually terrified of things covering him, he's not a burrower like the other kids. Steve said Charlie got down, ate dinner & then went back into the little room to sleep. Earlier this afternoon he carried 2 of his toys back with him, so I think he's feeling much better. God bless everyone who has taken the time to read his profile & say a little prayer for Charlie, I think he's going to be fine! Thank goodness, I think I'm dehydrated from crying so much the past few days!

01-03-06 Update from Mindi- Charlie Brown seems to be doing much better this morning. He's still sleeping a lot, but what dachshund doesn't sleep a lot? LOL. He's been eating about 2 tablespoons of the canned food the vet gave him every 3 hours or so & he hasn't had any vomiting. He finally had a stool that wasn't bloody last night, & it was partially formed, so I think we're on the road to recovery. I'm keeping him in the little room today while I work a bit & he gave me a dirty look when I put the baby gate in front of the door a while ago, so I think he's ready to come out & be master of his domain again. Maybe later this afternoon! Thanks to everyone for their prayers & good wishes!

Update 01-15-06 from Mindi- Nothing new to report for now, except the fact that he won't eat his dry kibble anymore. He was on a canned bland diet while he was recovering from his gastroenteritis & now that's all he wants! LOL! Luckily the rabbit and potato is available in a can, but it's a little bit spendy. We're treating him a couple of times a day, but the other times he's getting the kibble soaked in water until it's soft and then we add some chopped cooked potator. So far he's eating that, but if he try just soaking the dry kibble by itself he just turns up his nose & walks away. Little stinker! Not so long ago he ate anything & everything! Guess that's what happens when you spoil them, huh? LOL! He's outside right now, romping around with the others. It's supposed to be near 60 today, I don't know what happened to winter, but it seems to be taking a break from Nebraska this year. He's loving the sunshine! That's about it for now, I think. He's just loving & being loved, & that's just fine with me!

Brief Note 01-17-06 from Mindi- Charlie spent the whole night from 7 to 10 sleeping on my chest. I'm working on getting the weight back on him, he's so skinny again, even through he eats like a small horse (smile).

Update 02-02-06 from Mindi- I just wanted to let you know I took Charlie in today for a checkup. I just felt he wasn't gaining weight after this last bout of flu/pancreatitis. Guess what? I was right! He has actually lost a whole pound. Now for me that's nothing ;-) but for Charlie it's a tenth of his body weight. No wonder he was shivering all the time. Poor little guy. He was also losing the hair on his ears in clumps. :-(. Just when I think we're doing something right all, it just seems to go south on us... Anyway, Dr. Jesske (I love him, he's so WONDERFUL with Charlie) put him on Simplecef (the antibiotic) again & we're also going to start adding the pancrezyme again to see if we can't get him fattened up some more. He thinks the bacterial skin infection is back, hence the antibiotics. He said Charlie may well need to be on antibiotics on a continuing basis, which is fine, we just have to change antibiotics every so often so he doesn't become resistent to it. I'm cool with that. He's eating a can of food a day & we're mixing some dry in with it. He loves it! We love you & are grateful every day for the blessing you gave us when you let us foster this little guy. Mindi, Steve, "Chuck" And the other rugrats!

7 Bells Note: We ask for continued prayers for Charlie & for this great family caring for him. Please join with Charlie's Angels, say a little prayer for him and them!

Note from Mindi following all the prayers sent on behalf of Charlie Brown Please tell Carl & Kerri & everyone who has ever sent good thoughts & prayers for Charlie, thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts! We are so blessed to have Charlie's Angels praying for him. I know that's what keeps him going sometimes! We don't feel like we're doing anything special. We're just loving a little guy who has us wrapped around his little paw! All we do is what anyone should be doing to all of God's creatures. (except spiders - I still think we should smash the daylights out of them!) LOL! I have to be funny or I'll cry. I can't believe the generosity & love that comes to Charlie every day!. Thank all of YOU for that! Update 02-13-06 - Thanks for all those that still pray for Charlie Brown. As you read this, you will know that it was only prayers that saved Charlie B today! Now, the story as told by Mindi- CB gave us quite the scare today. I was working all afternoon & after I got done working I went to lay down on the couch. Charlie is usually napping in his room or behind the couch, so I didn't think too much when I didn't see him. Then I thought I heard him bark, but I couldn't find him. I tore this house apart, I looked in store rooms, closets, bathrooms, everywhere, & I couldn't find him anywhere. By this time I'm pretty frantic, I called Steve at work & asked him if he knew where Charlie was. He said he let him in after lunch & I told him he was not in the house anywhere. Steve got home in record time, but before he got here I went out back thinking Steve had forgot to let him in & he was stuck somewhere. No Charlie. Then I heard the other dogs barking at the gate so I went up there. Charlie was in the front yard! We don't have a fence in the front & we live on a pretty busy street. I couldn't believe it. The only thing we can think that might have happened is that Charlie snuck out between Steve's feet when he left for work. In that case, he had been outside for 3-1/2 hours! I felt so bad, I can't tell you, I was on the verge of tears. This has never, ever happened before. I'm so thankful that his guardian angels were hard at work keeping him close & away from the street. I had even gone out front & gotten the mail & hadn't seen him. I have no idea where he was for that length of time. He's so afraid of strangers that even though he had his collar on with our phone number & your phone number I doubt anyone could have gotten close enough to check his tags. He absolutely screams when someone he doesn't know tries to pick him up. That's it, when I work they're going to be in the office with me & I'm doing a nose count to make sure! I was so scared when I couldn't find him. I'm running around the house yelling, "Charlie want a treat?" because that would bring him out of a coma, I swear, & still no Charlie. I have a lot to be thankful for tonight! Mindi and the Renegade Charlie Brown

Note 02-22-06 from Mindi- Charlie is back on atopica, his ears have just ballooned up over the past couple of days, the vasculitis is back. Augh. Took Heidi to the vet today for a lump under her front leg, if the antibiotic he gave her doesn't work he'll have to operate late next week or early the week after. He said he removed a similar lesion from an older dog a week ago & it was cancer, we'lre hoping this is just a cyst. Prayers would be great. Thanks

03-01-06 Note from 7 Bells - We are posting a note from one of Charlie's Angels, Kerri, that shows how much this little guy & this special family caring of him has touched lives Judy, Have to tell Mindi & Steve that even though they think they are doing nothing out of the ordinary they are special people in little critters eyes. In my opinion God has a special place for them!! If only everybody could LOVE like they do! So often I see & hear of people bring little critters home with welcome arms & than after the new wears off they discover that just can't handle it anymore which if funny because they were able to handle it for the first couple of months. I really wish people would REALLY consider what they are doing before they go on a wimp and think "This will be so much fun!" I have also discovered through my own experience how each critter that has came into my life how they are loved differently one is not love more than the other JUST DIFFERENT LOVE FOR EACH which makes me reflect back to all those little ones that have came & went. AAAAAHHHHH even as a child we had rescued a duckling that got lost from his mom. The whole family was sitting outside by the fire pit only to discover a little duckling that wondered up to get warm I remember us caring for him & he slept in my mothers hutch which had a bottom light on it we cleared the bottom hutch of mom's precious belongings & made it duck proof so QUACKERS would have a safe & warm place to sleep. ANYWAY I could go on & on about all the little critters, but I must get back to work. GOD BLESS ALL & of course last but not least Little CB. Kerri

Wow, now a note from Tami, Charlie's Angel, also 03-01-06. She adopted a puppymill dog, so knows only too well what it takes to get them healthy- Thanks for forwarding the email about Charlie.I know that Mindi must get discouraged at times,although she is doing all possible for him.You can not undo years of neglect quickly,regardless of how much you love them.Were that possible,he would be the healthiest canine on earth!It is so wonderful how those two love that little guy! I remember when we first got Sara,it seemed that we lived at the vet for the longest time.Antibiotic after antibiotic,weekly enemas for weeks,one thing cleared up,another thing infected or more bleeding from her spay,or something else new, so here we went again,back to the vet.She did get as healthy as she can be,but I remember the long road to there so very well. Yes,in a perfect world there would be no Lil Hans,Hoppys,Saras or Charlie Browns,whom have their lives & health stolen away for the almighty dollar for the miller,when they should have had loving homes from the get-go.Although it absolutely infuriates me,I can not help but be thankful that they lived long enough to make it out.The past can not be undone,but luckily,they all have a future. Bless Mindi & Steve for Charlie Brown.Bless you for Lil Hans & Hoppy,and the numerous others that I do not know. I understand how this Kerri feels.Our canines are family,and we would no sooner get rid of one than we would each other.We commit for life to our canines and do not understand those that do not.They ARE our children and rely on us for their needs.They also give as much love as they get.Unconditional love...

2006-03-06T23:26:00.000-08:00

I guess I should introduce the rest of the kids in my family. Ruger is in the red sweater, he's 6, Heidi is in the light blue sweater, she's 7, and Buttercup is in the purple sweater, she's 5. Looks like mom has her hands full, doesn't it?

2006-03-06T23:24:00.000-08:00

Me again! This time I'm in a sweater that Kate knitted for me. She's one of my Charlie's Angels who lives in Minnesota. She has Sasha and Roxy, so she knows all about how cold we get. Especially when you don't have any fur!

2006-03-06T23:22:00.000-08:00

This is me and my dad in the denim jacket that Tami sent. I look so cool!

2006-03-06T23:20:00.000-08:00

This is me in the bed that Tami, one of my "Charlie's Angels" sent to me. I love this bed!

2006-03-06T23:18:00.000-08:00

This is my grandma Sieborg holding me. I'm getting a little better looking, don't you think?

2006-03-06T23:16:00.000-08:00

This is me when I first came to live with Mom and Dad. Pretty skinny huh?

A peom for Rescue Dogs

2006-03-06T22:52:00.000-08:00

My grandma Judy sent this to mom. Even I liked it.

My Foster Dog
Author Unknown

My foster dog stinks to high heaven.
I don't know for sure what breed he is.
His eyes are blank and hard.
He won't let me pet him and growls when I reach for him.
He has ragged scars and crusty sores on his skin.
His nails are long and his teeth, which he showed me, are stained.
I sigh.
I drove two hours for this.

I carefully maneuver him so that I can stuff him in the crate.
Then I heft the crate and put it in the car.
I am going home with my new foster dog.
At home I leave him in the crate till all the other dogs are in the yard.
I get him out of the crate and ask him if he wants "outside."
As I lead him to the door he hikes his leg on the wall and shows me his stained teeth again.
When we come in, he goes to the crate because that's the only safe place he sees.
I offer him food but he won't eat it if I look at him, so I turn my back.
When I come back, the food is gone.
I ask again about "outside."
When we come back, I pat him before I let him in the crate,he jerks away and runs into the crate to show me his teeth.

The next day I decide I can't stand the stink any longer.
I lead him into the bath with cheese in my hands.
His fear of me is not quite overcome by his longing for the cheese.
And well he should fear me, for I will give him a bath.
After an attempt or two to bail out he is defeated and stands there.
I have bathed four legged bath squirters for more years than he has been alive.
His only defense was a show of his stained teeth, that did not hold up to a face full of water.
As I wash him, it is almost as if I wash not only the stink and dirt awaybut also some of the hardness.
His eyes look full of sadness now.
And he looks completely pitiful as only a soap-covered dog can.
I tell him that he will! feel better when he is cleaned.
After the soap, the towels are not too bad, so he lets me rub him dry.
I take him outside.
He runs for joy.
The joy of not being in the tub and the joy of being clean.
I, the bath giver, am allowed to share the joy.
He comes to me and lets me pet him.
One week later I have a vet bill.
His skin is healing.
He likes for me to pet him.
I think I know what color he will be when his hair grows in.
I have found out he is terrified of other dogs.
So I carefully introduce him to my mildest four legged brat.
It doesn't go well.

Two weeks later a new vet bill for an infection, that was missed on the first visit.
He plays with the other dogs.
Three weeks later his coat shines, he has gained weight.
He shows his clean teeth when his tongue lolls outafter he plays chase in the yard with the gang.
His eyes are soft and filled with life.
He loves hugs and likes to show off his tricks, if you have the cheese.
Someone called today and asked about him,they saw the picture I took the first week.
They asked about his personality, his history, his breed.
They asked if he was pretty.
I asked them lots of questions.
I checked up on them.
I prayed.
I said yes.

When they saw him the first time they said he was the most beautiful dog they had ever seen.
Six months later, I got a call from his new family.
He is wonderful, smart, well behaved, and very loving.
How could someone not want him?
I told them I didn't know.
He is beautiful.
They all are.

My very own blog!

2006-03-06T01:01:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited! Mom told me that my rescue grandma, Judy, had run out of space on petfinder.com for my profile, so she decided to help me set up my own blog! I'm so excited to share with you what's going on in my life. I think we might use some of grandma's stuff from Petfinder to tell my story up to this point and then I'll add stuff when mom is sleeping and I can get to the computer. She's such a computer hog!

Love Charlie aka Chuck