The Paw Patch

06/29/2024

03/22/2024

For those of you who know me… this”Author Unknown short”.. explains ME!

Many don’t understand how I do it...or why. Read this...because I am NOT ALONE. There are many who feel like I do but not enough of us in this world to help them …

WHEN I AM OLD

When I am old...

I will wear soft gray sweatshirts...

and a bandana over my silver hair...

and I will spend my social security checks on my dogs.

I will sit in my house on my well-worn chair

and listen to my dogs breathing.

I will sneak out in the middle of a warm summer night

and take my dogs for a run, if my old bones will allow...

When people come to call, I will smile and nod

as I show them my dogs...

and talk of them and about them...
..the ones so beloved of the past

and the ones so beloved of today...

I will still work hard cleaning after them,

mopping and feeding them and whispering their names

in a soft loving way.

I will wear the gleaming sweat on my throat,

like a jewel, and I will be an embarrassment to all...

especially my family...

who have not yet found the peace in being free

to have dogs as your best friends...

These friends who always wait, at any hour, for your footfall...

and eagerly jump to their feet out of a sound sleep,

to greet you as if you are a God,

with warm eyes full of adoring love and hope

that you will always stay,

I'll hug their big strong necks...

I'll kiss their dear sweet heads...

and whisper in their very special company....

I look in the mirror... and see I am getting old....

this is the kind of person I am...

and have always been.

Loving dogs is easy, they are part of me.

Please accept me for who I am.

My dogs appreciate my presence in their lives...

they love my presence in their lives...

When I am old this will be important to me...

you will understand when you are old,

if you have dogs to love too.

-Author Unknown

When I read this.. I realized how much it described me..

I am constantly hearing.. you are getting old… you need to downsize.. you need to get rid of some animals..
I will NEVER be without a dog.. or 10
Too many are suffering at the hands of humans. I wish I could have enough money to fence in all my acreage, have enough money for an “on staff vet” and keep a HUNDRED.
They are the gift that keeps giving!

These days, with THOUSANDS of Euthanasia’s happening in our shelters across TN/NC/VA ALONE.. it’s VERY HARD to say NO to them all. My heart hurts EVERY day.

It’s not just dogs, it’s cats, livestock, birds, rabbits, small animals that you see EVERY SINGLE DAY being abused and neglected in our now .. “Throw Away society”.

So many people have lost the ability to have compassion, empathy and any kind of morals when it comes to animals and even other human beings. Their OWN CHILDREN!
If everyone who had morals…would work with just one rescue...foster just ONE animal…spay and neuter our pets that need it we would not be in this situation.

It would not then fall on the few people who tirelessly give their time at local shelters, working hard as Hell trying to find rescues that have room or fosters to keep these souls off “the table” that these volunteers have to work every week with no relief. Saying goodbyes to gentle loving animals from puppies to seniors. Good dogs, loving dogs dogs that show aggression ONLY because they have been displaced into a TERRIBLE, noisy scary place that brings out fear aggression.
I can’t say enough about these volunteers who see the most AWFUL things every week and go home at night to cry, stay up all night seeing images of the worst nightmares...while computer typists type... PLEASE SOMEONE! Save him! As they sit back doing nothing but complain about our system of injustices. There are many who pledge for rescues to pull dogs to cover the financial end... which is a HUGE help and without them so many would die! There are 501c3 groups that work the shelters, posting and marketing these animals but not enough volunteers to actually be able to run it efficiently. But it’s FOSTERS that are most needed. Every approved foster saves a life and most rescues pay the bills! The food! It’s not that hard to take in just ONE! Help it live!

03/05/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/85iBHY6RUnh2zf8C/?mibextid=oFDknk

Emergencies: what defines an "emergency" and when do you call your veterinarian? Here are the main situations you should be aware of:

* Trauma, such as being hit by a car or attacked by another animal

* Consumption of a toxic food or other substance

* Increase in breathing rate or effort

* Any vomiting or diarrhea in a puppy

* Vomiting repeatedly in an adult dog

* Multiple episodes of diarrhea in an adult dog

* Repeated retching (dry heaves)

* Blood in the urine

* Straining to urinate

* Red, painful or swollen eyes

* Swollen or distended abdomen

* Bites from snakes, or stings from wasps or bees

* Not eating for more than 48 hours

* Uncontrolled bleeding

* Pale gums

* Weakness (sudden onset)

* Pain, such that your pet is unable to move or rest comfortably

* Seizures

* Collapse or loss of consciousness

* A sudden onset of coughing with respiratory distress

* Swelling of face or eyes

Sometimes you can wait on a symptom, such as one episode of vomiting. If your dog or kitty has eaten something that is not appropriate, he or she may vomit once or twice, because this is the body's way of getting rid of toxins. However, repeated sessions of vomiting can bring about dehydration and may signal a more serious issue that should be checked out asap.

If you have a pet who is under the weather, please do not force it to eat. Nature knows best. If the inappetence lasts longer than 24 hours, especially if there are other symptoms present, please have your pet seen before attempting to push food.

03/04/2024

FOSTERING SAVES LIVES🐾🐾
"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 hand. His fear of me is not quite overcome by his wish 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 dog 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 away but also some of his 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.
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 he asks to be petted. He chewed up part of the rug.
Eight weeks later his coat shines, he has gained weight. He shows his clean teeth when his tongue lolls out after 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 adopted him today... 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".
Fosters change the world, so please consider opening your home to a dog in need 🙏🐾
Author
- EVERY RESCUER ACROSS OUR COUNTRY -

02/05/2024

https://youtu.be/mwGnCIdHQH0?si=8pFNI8eelafZMw_7

12/17/2023

MERRY CHRISTMAS from
🐾🐾THE PAW PATCH🐾🐾

12/06/2023

SNOW DAY AT THE PAW PATCH❄

12/05/2023

It’s cold out there. Please be kind to opossums. Many of them find a cozy place to combat the cold. (So many are missing parts of tails, ears, toes, due to previous frost bite) and your garage or porch may be the only place they have. They won’t hurt anything, we promise. And shooing them out may be certain death due to lack of shelter. They are Northern America’s ONLY marsupial. These precious souls eat fleas, ticks, and other pests.

Please be kind to these wonderful animals. 🐾❤️