To truly appreciate Willow's journey from puppy mill rescue to family pet, we are keeping a few of the earlier pictures & pupdates on her personal page. We hope to receive lots of pictures & "Willow-Grams" from her new family [hint .. hint].
Willow's 1st day at lLong Hill Kennels [Hillsborough, NJ] ~ September 28th ~ She and her sisters stayed here for a few days while they were vet checked, brought up to date on shots, spayed, etc.
Now compare with pictures taking during 2nd week in foster home .... see ~ a sheltie is emerging :)
The Willow-Gram ~ #2
A lot has happened since the first edition of The Willow-Gram. When I left you last, Willow had just discovered the basement. It’s cool and quiet down there, and she relaxes on the couch with Paige, while Rita watches her recorded shows.
Thursday we took a trip to the vet so Paige could get bloods drawn for her teeth cleaning. It was quiet when we went, and Willow was quite at ease. She spent her waiting time sniffing, checking out the staff, and staring at the House Cat.Our turn came and Willow followed Paige into the exam room. The staff & Dr. Ruderman thought she was a beautiful girl. Willow watched as Paige got examined and had blood drawn. Little did she know that tomorrow would be her turn. The rest of the day was uneventful. They ran in the back yard, watched Survivor, the usual stuff.
It started out as a normal Friday. Then Willow watched as I left with Paige and came back alone. She was visibly uneasy. After being reassured that we would pick her up in a little while, we had breakfast. Willow was reminded that Friday is laundry day. So far, she’s kept her involvement down to some cursory sniffs, and kept a close eye from a distance on that cool, sometimes noisy box that eats the clothes. This was also our first outside walk alone. Willow wasn’t sure if this was a good thing, but she remembered the spots to sniff that Paige had taught her.
It was getting close to VET time, and I lied through my teeth and told Willow we were going to get Paige (well, we were going to come home with her).Willow took her time going into the vet’s office. This time she had to smell all the bushes and grass as we went in. There were some fellow canines waiting their turn. Willow was unphased. She had more interest in smelling the stack of dog food than interacting with anyone else. She did stop and sit to watch the House Cat walk across the counter. Our turn came and we went to the exam room. The vet tech took his time and Willow got weighed. That fluffy little Sheltie is 31 pounds.Dr. Ruderman came in (he’s an advocate of rescue) and examined her. She took to him right away.
Eyes, ears, nose & throat. Front legs, back legs, top and bottom. All the joints were oiled and greased; the teeth and gums looked nice and neat, drew blood.She received a complete clean bill of health/including lab tests. We picked up Paige and home we went. As soon as we got there, you guessed it, they ran for the yard. They both collapsed after dinner and rested comfortably until bed time.
We’ve had a few more surprises on Staten Island. Saturday, Willow started to mark territory on our walks around the block. Laura Flynn came for a visit. It was the first time she had seen Willow since the rescue in Lancaster. We all had a wonderful time. Laura told us the whole story of the rescue of the “Lancaster 11”. She also took a bunch of pictures.
The girls are getting much closer, Willow is now puppy bowing when she wants to play. The Willow Bark/Howl was heard in all its glory.
The rest of the week moved slowly forward. Willow will greet you upon coming home with about 6 healthy Willow Barks. She will nose nudge you when she wants something. She is running up and down the stairs at will, although the basement is off limits except when a human is there. She likes to hear herself bark, but when Paige barks at the mailman or the garbage trucks, Willow can be found upstairs, lounging on the bed. Our walks, depending on the weather, are 2 to 3 times a day for 30 to 45 minutes. We usually pick the quiet times of the day, sometimes standing on the corner so Willow can get use to the traffic noise. She spends most of her time inspecting all the smells she can find. Little Doug stopped by to play with Willow. She is trusting him more. I showed Doug the first Willow-Gram, and all he said was I spelled Peppi wrong. Peppi is spelled Peppy. Now how would Pepe Le Pew look if spelled the other way. Kids, what do they know??!!
But the big news is today. I let them out the door first, then snap their leashes on. When Willow saw the leashes in my hand, she ran to the gate and tapped, looked at me, and tapped again. This is GREAT. But even better, we’re about 20 minutes into our walk and Willow walks onto the grass and squats. Yup, her first full outside on-the-leash pee. Oh, Happy Days. Roast Beef and Greens for dinner tonight!!!
More to come in the next issue of The Willow – Gram
Best Regards to all,
-Rita & Ray
Pictures received March 16, 2008 ~
Willow & Paige
Willow, Mom & Paige
Paige
February 27, 2008 ~ "Willow-Gram" ~ sent from her new family
About 10 days ago, Willow made her trip across New Jersey to Staten Island with her new “parents”.
We had a fun drive. Willow was quite curious and spent her time between looking out the window & trying to nap. (which was near impossible because the guy driving wouldn’t stop talking and singing to Willow).We finally arrived home and Willow got to “inspect” her new back yard. She took her time looking around and smelling the grass.
After 10 minutes of alone time, we heard a little Sheltie bark coming around the corner.It was Paige galloping at full speed. Suddenly everything stopped. Paige looked at Willow, and Willow looked at Paige.Then Paige looked at me. “Well, at least it’s a Sheltie”. They cautiously scrutinized each other. Tails started to gingerly wag. Nose to nose they stood, sizing each other up. They ended up laying in the grass at opposite ends of the yard.As we went into the house, Willow followed Paige through the door.
After some treats and a thorough house inspection, Willow stretched out on the couch and made herself at home. After a while, I picked her up and sat in “MY” chair with her. Under the watchful eyes of Paige, Willow curled up on my chest and went to sleep. This chair has now become “HERS”; she can be found here if you look for her. Rita came home about 3 hours later and woke all of us up. Paige was very excited to see Rita, and Willow, although super cautious, got herself scratched and petted. She seemed to be a Happy Sheltie.
Then came dinner. After a little confusion and correction from Paige, Willow found her own bowl filled with fresh green beans, chicken, and (yuck) Canidae. The girls went outside for a romp in the yard, and Willow chose her own “favorite spot”. We settled in for a quite night; Paige seemed indifferent, and Willow moved around exploring comfortable spots. Bed time came after another trip outside, and Willow & Paige made themselves at home on the bed and have slept there ever since. The next few days were uneventful; the girls were getting use to each other, sometimes playing together or a short burst of ‘chase me’ played outside. Willow is getting use to the ‘house noises’ and isn’t as jumpy when she hears them now. She will come running when she hears Breakfast and Dinner noises. Willow made quite a few trips on the leash, first half way down the block, and then all the way.
Then it SNOWED. I hate snow, but after watching Willow, I’ve changed my mind. She followed Paige out into 8 inches of snow in the yard and dove in like it was water. She rolled and barked and jumped and ran. I got tired just watching her. Soon Paige joined the fun. That seemed to be a bonding point; they are now joined at the hips. Where one goes, the other follows. I love HAPPY SHELTIES. Willow met Paige’s friend ‘Peppi’, a little Maltese that lives next door with her 10yo Dougie. They have visited a few times and Willow quickly took to both of them. However, Willow likes to watch Paige and Peppi play, and prefers to hang out with Doug (he sneaks her treats). Who said Shelties weren’t smart! Willow has her “leave me alone ~ “I’m taking this all in” times, but they seem to be getting shorter. She actively seeks human contact, loves to have her ears scratched, neck rubbed, be within visual range of her humans, and generally just have an acknowledgement of “I’m Here”.
We tried walking outside again, but Willow wasn’t happy not seeing or walking on grass. She made it very clear by turning around and leading the way back home. I think Willow is a musical Sheltie. When Rita plays the guitar, Willow will jump on the couch and curl up behind her. Paige will lay at her feet. It is so cute to watch. We had a big day yesterday. Willow went down the basement (finished) steps on her own. Although she runs up & down to the bedroom, this was a first. We were more excited than she was. Willow also discovered mirrors, but I don’t think she knows what to do with what she sees. Friday is going to be a big day for Willow. She gets to meet Dr. Ruderman, our family vet. We’ll have to wait and see how this goes. (Maybe bring some Ham & Roast Beef) More to come in the next issue of The Willow – Gram
Look ~ I have a garden :)
What do you think it is? I don't know.... what do YOU think it is ???
Willow & Paige
Web Art Courtesy of Clan Duncan Shelties www.kennelcity.com
