Jessie River Shih Tzus

04/07/2024

05/06/2024

Remember our beautiful Miss Dolly, Gene's sister? She had a birthday party yesterday also.
Happy 2nd Birthday, Miss Dolly.
It makes my heart so happy to know she has such loving & caring parents. Thank you, Larry & Bobbie, for being so good to Dolly. She's a precious beautiful, sweet pup 💕

04/06/2024

Happy 2nd Birthday to Gene Kelly 🎂 Hard to believe 2 years have passed already. He has been a funny, happy, goofy dog. He's a sensitive dog. Sweet as can be likes to cuddle.

20/05/2024

Our rescue dog, Miss Lilly

20/05/2024

They told me...
That my house
Smells like dog... 🐶🐾
And I asked them...
Do they know what a dog smells like..
A dog smells like
Gratitude...
Loyalty...
nobility...
Honey...
Pure and Unconditional Love...💙
and despite all they have suffered they don't smell a grudge....
So...
I feel blessed
My house smells like dog. 🐾💕

18/05/2024

Just a dog.
From time to time people tell me “chill out, it’s just a dog” or “it’s a lot of money just for a dog.” They don't understand the distance traveled, the time invested, or the costs incurred by "just a dog".
Some of my proudest moments have occurred with “just a dog.”
Many hours have passed being my only company "just a dog", but not for one moment did I feel despised. Some of my saddest moments have been because of “just a dog,” and on those gray days, the gentle touch of “just a Dog” gave me comfort and the reason to get through the day.
If you also think “it’s just a dog”, then you’ll probably understand phrases like “just a friend”, “just a sunrise” or “just a promise.” “Just a dog” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust and pure unbridled joy. “Just a dog” brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.
For "just a dog" I will get up early, take long walks and look forward to the future. So for me and people like me, it’s not “just a dog,” but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the memories of the past, and the absolute joy of the moment. “Just a dog” brings out the good in me and takes my thoughts away from myself and daily worries.
I hope one day they can understand that it’s not “just a dog”, but the one that gives me humanity and keeps me from being “just a human.” So the next time you hear the phrase “just a dog”, just smile because they “just don’t get it”.-

“Just A Dog,” by Richard A. Animals.

18/05/2024

We are vegans but someone gave us a bone with meat on it for our 4 dogs to take turns chewing on. Jessie James was as happy as can be. She didn't want the other dogs to have a turn.

13/05/2024

Mr River Monet doesn't like his red flower 😅

13/05/2024

If you have a house, a yard, etc., & could make room for one senior dog, PLEASE DO. It won't change the world but it will change the world for that one dog. 🐶
______________________________
Yesterday I adopted the oldest dog from a shelter!
I will never forget his eyes... When I walked through the shelter, he didn’t bother to look at me as if he knew I wouldn’t even see him! curled up in the corner,accepting his fate.
Animal shelter caretakers asked me... Are you sure you want to do this to yourself? What about the vet cost? The care ? Who knows what he has already experienced? He won't be with you for long, then another goodbye comes...

But yeah! I just want this dog!

I opened the cage Suddenly he looked at me as if he saw an angel... I hugged him and told him: I'm here!
Later he fell asleep in my arms... Probably the first solid sleep he's had in a long time.
"You'll never be alone again, I'm here for you now!" "

THIS IS A CALL TO ADOPT A GRANDPA or GRANDMA. YOU CAN STILL SHOW THEM WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE LOVED IN THE LAST YEARS OF THEIR LIFE.

-Author Unknown

26/04/2024

Our Miss Lilly enjoys her daily walks on the beach.

10/04/2024

🛇 Use your Manners! 🛇
The Sniff test - Stop doing that!
The sniff test - a badly engrained habit that society has been taught, without a clear understanding of what they're actually doing.

🚩When you reach out towards a dog, you are using body pressure AT them, giving them no time to assess whether you are safe & whether they require further investigation to pick up your information. You are forcing an interaction of a relationship that hasn't had time to develop. To some dogs, this is quite rude & the reason a lot of dogs snap at or bite people. This can cause alot of behavioral issues because of layered stress due to forced interactions.

🚩If they are on lead, they have no where to go if they are sensitive to spacial pressure, so can end up shutting down, shying away or snapping at your hand so you back off. This is an example of how a dog is now using pressure to turn off pressure & make you back off so they aren't so stressed.

🚩People think by offering your hand it can give the dog time to sniff to know you're friendly... they can sniff without being forced to sniff your hand.Their noses are far more superior than ours & they don't need close contact forced upon them to smell you.

🚩Some dogs might not want to know you. You have no relationship with them and that's perfectly fine. They aren't your dog so you don't need to touch them or steal pats for your own satisfaction.

🤔 If you are meeting a dog, what should you do?
⚠Ask the owner if you can interact with their dog. Not all people want strangers touching their dogs. Especially strangers who you are unlikely to see again.
⚠Stand up straight & relaxed, with your hands at your side.
⚠Ignore the dog & talk to the owner.
⚠Don't stare at the dog & don't try to force an interaction by going in for a pat. If the dog wants to know you, it will come up to you & sniff around. Usually they will move away & then come back for a second sniffathon. Some dogs will bunt your hands & wag their tails, which are good signs that you're likely an accepted new friend. Give them a few slow pats down their back (NOT THEIR HEAD) & then stop. Is the dog happy? Has it accepted your interaction? This will determine whether you can give it more pats.

🐶This is a more stress free option for dogs & a reason why in consultations we can develop a good level of trust, especially with fearful dogs & aggressive dogs, without a bunch of negative side effects from forced interactions.

09/04/2024

🐾🐾No dog ever abandoned their person because they were old or sick or inconvenienced their lifestyle choices.

Only a weak person will come up with unjustifiable reasons to break a dog's heart so that their lives can be a little easier.

07/03/2024

Miss Jessie James says hello 🐶

25/02/2024

We received this beautiful picture of little Dolly. She is doing well. Her parents who love her so very much.

We appreciate getting updates.

20/02/2024

Mr River is doing well. He enjoys his daily 30 minute walk.

16/02/2024

Dogs love frolicking in the surf, but there’s a danger lurking in the ocean that Chris Taylor knows about all too well. His 7-year-old labrador retriever nam...

09/02/2024

25/01/2024

Please consider adoption

09/01/2024

NO RAISINS........

I'm off of Facebook for 2 weeks, however, I wanted to pop on & remind all dog owners of something I had forgotten.

Do NOT feed your dog raisins. I've had animals for 51 years. I knew raisins/grapes are toxic to dogs. Some dogs eat them & don't get sick, where others dogs eat raisins & can die, experience kidney failure, etc.

I had made vegan banana 🍌 raisin bread. My dogs are big time beggers when we are eating. I gave each of them 2-3 raisins & a bite of the bread. Sarahs dog, Jessie James, almost never wakes us in the night to go potty but Thursday night she had us up many times in the night. At that point we had not yet thought about the raisins. All day Friday she was not herself. She's usually the most loud & aggravating dog we have but yesterday she was quiet most of the day. We could see she didn't feel well but thought it was just something that would pass. She faced the wall, she tried to hide, wouldn't wag her tail, she kept trying to vomit & she didn't want her favorite treat. At 5pm I decided to take her to the vet, which is usually open until 6pm. Just my luck, the one day I need help, the clinic closed early due to sickness. I ended up having to take her to the animal ER, which is within 10 minutes of where I live. They immediately took her to the back.. This ER doesn't treat without payment upfront. Two hours and $1,291 later, I was on my way home & Jessie spent the night at the hospital.

This morning the vet told me Jessie did eat breakfast & her morning x-ray looked good. They are going to do more lab work this evening to check her kidneys again. If all looks well, she can come home tonight.

Please don't make the same mistake we made. NEVER give your dog raisins or grapes. Our other two dogs were not bothered by it but Jessie was..

I'm so thankful we have an all night animal ER. They've helped us through the years with two other dogs we brought there. ER for animals is expensive though. I hope to get established with a local vet so that, perhaps, future emergencies won't be as expensive.

Thank you to our Oklahkma friend (you know who you are ❤️) whom I always consult with when I have dog issues. You are the best veterinarian. I trust & value your advice, opinion & knowledge. My Jolene loved you & that always meant something to me. Thanks for being there to answer our questions, though I'm sure your days are busy with other animal emergencies.

30/12/2023

Wishing you all a happy, healthy New Year 🥳
Love,
Jessie James, River Monet, Gene Kelly & Miss Lilly

22/12/2023

A reminder this holiday weekend......

21/12/2023

Received a nice picture of Dolly! As always, she looks great. Happy & healthy. I appreciate that her Mom & Dad keep us posted on how she's doing.