This story was sent to me by the same animal rescue advocate who sent in the story about Tiva (below). Flynn really got lucky when Linda saved him. It's a heart-warming story that is the perfect remedy for the stressful times we are living in - and a testament to the resiliency of animals!

   Linda's tale: Precious Flynn is now almost 7 years old. He was given to me by Tina at the Las Vegas, NM animal shelter on March 14th 2014 when he was only 9 days old. 
​   At 10 oz, he was so tiny! He was found under a shed; he had 2 siblings who had already died from exposure and he was barely hanging onto life. Mom was nowhere to be found. He was quite weak and his body temperature was falling; on the way home from the shelter, I held him against me and massaged his little body and talked to him constantly. 
   Several times I was pretty sure he wasn't going to survive the 45 minute trip but we finally got home. I warmed a one liter bag of sterile saline a vet had given me and tucked it up against him while I hurriedly got his first meal together. He wasn't moving much at all but when I got the bottle to him, he figured out right away what it was for and made short work of his dinner. His strong response gave me hope that I wouldn't lose him. 

   I held him and kept him toasty throughout that first night and well into the next day. I had gotten a litter of 5 pups the previous week that were 3 weeks old but they were so much bigger, so I decided to keep Flynn isolated from the group. Every meal gave Flynn strength and I was able to leave him to sleep in a small cat carrier with his "heating bag" late the next day. He opened his eyes on day 12 and my first reaction was, "Oh! He's so cute!" He was completely and totally black, not a light colored hair on him anywhere and not much bigger than his baby bottle.
   We spent a huge amount of time together that first week because I was still afraid to take my eyes off him for long. Gradually, he got stronger and was able to control his body temperature. There didn't seem to be anything unusual about him until he tried to walk. At first, I thought he was just clumsy due to his harrowing start in life but as time went on, I noticed he seemed to trip and fall much more often than any other young pups I'd fostered. His legs and feet seemed to have a mind of their own and they would cross all willy-nilly and trip him as he tried to move forward. When he was able to stand on his front legs, his back end would collapse and vice versa. His legs just couldn’t seem to support him for any length of time.
   Still, although his body was tiny it wasn’t disproportioned in any way. I decided to have a vet look at him when he was 3 weeks old. He said that Flynn may have a compressed nerve in his neck or spine and suggested I take him to the emergency vet clinic to see their neuro-specialist who x-rayed his neck and spine, but he then said that it was too early to tell. He suggested that I take precautions to keep him from falling and to bring him back in 3 weeks. 

​   Flynn got to meet his older foster 'siblings' but I didn’t allow them to interact much. So, Flynn got his very own and VERY padded play area but, it was a constant fluctuation between letting him get up and play - which was Flynn walking and tripping and crashing - and trying to keep him quiet and relaxed. He was just too full of energy and curiosity to keep this boy down for long. The only times I got a real break was when he decided to take a nap.
            At six weeks of age, Flynn again visited the neurologist who took more x-rays and said that, “whatever it is” he would probably grow out of it.
            He was such a happy curious puppy; it didn't seem to faze him that his feet would trip him up almost every time he tried to run. And run he did! Once he learned to walk, albeit with many accidents, it wasn't long at all until he turned up the speed. As time passed, Flynn's coordination improved so that he doesn't face-plant anymore but he sure does have an odd gait! When he walks or runs, he slaps his feet down loudly enough that one can hear him coming from other rooms in the house. His gait reminds me of that of a Tennessee Walking Horse; his front feet naturally turn inward when he raises them and he 'prances' with forelegs and his hind legs are raised higher than normal. It's unusual but it seems to work for him - and he rarely walks anywhere. He runs and runs and runs.
            Flynn is also super curious and super smart! I began taking him and the other pups to a dog lover friend of mine so she could help me feed them all. It didn't take long for her to fall in love with goofy Flynn. When it came time to transport him at 8 weeks to Lifeline Puppy Rescue in Colorado, my friend said “Ah no, he's staying with me.” So now, I get to visit my strong, filled-out 45 pound oddly galloping Flynn any time I want. His strange condition has never been officially identified, but it doesn't matter because he is a member of a 5 dog household where he is loved and adored on a daily basis. Flynn is AWESOME.

Another kind animal advocate in Santa Fe, NM shared her rescue story with me and it is compelling.  Linda recounts how she came to adopt beautiful Tiva after this pup had a terrible start to her young life:
    In Linda's words: This is my Tiva, who arrived in my life when she was less than one year old. I had been assisting a woman, Terry, in Burns Flat, Oklahoma, by transporting dogs that she often pulled from the local animal shelter because they had a policy of euthanizing pets after only three days. The idea was to transfer these animals to other shelters, some in New Mexico, that would give them a second chance by try placing them in new homes. Terry said that this pup had been thrown out of a pickup truck on the very dangerous I-40 ​interstate, but the people in a car in back of this truck stopped to pick her up. 

    She had minor injuries,  but the folks who undoubtedly saved her life couldn't keep her, so they went to a small town nearby, (more like a whistle stop) and dropped her off at the shelter. Once Terry retrieved her, I found that the shelter where I had planned to take her was full, so I agreed to keep her for “a while”.
    I was running the Santa Fe Community Farm then, and after she recovered from her bumps and bruises, I took Tiva to work with me every day. She was so thin and terribly afraid of everything and everybody, so I let her stay in the car under a shade tree, where she curled up into a tight ball on the floor. Several times a day I got her out to stretch her legs and I tried to socialize her, but she would jump and cringe at the slightest sound - plastic bags, a sneeze, a car door closing...
    Every weekend, she and I would go to adoption days sponsored by Bridging the Worlds Animal Sanctuary, but she spent hours cowering under my chair and wouldn't even try to sniff outstretched fingers. After about a year of this, I just gave up and told her that she had a home with me. I had 3 other dogs then, 2 of whom would attack her at any chance. So, I had 2 dogs in the bedroom and 2 in the living room for many years. She and Joy, however, my Katrina-rescued pittie, were best buds. Joy usually hated all female dogs, but I think that she accepted Tiva because she was still a puppy.
   Gradually Tiva has improved, but she has never gotten over the terror of unexpected sounds or new people - especially men. She likes the few people that she has met more than once but she is still very timid. I named her Tiva, which in the Hopi language means dancer, because of the way she  stands and hops around on her hind legs with excitement at dinner time. She loves food!

​
  The cute little guest-star for these and other cards was our neighbor, and sometimes house guest over a period of four years while we lived in Maryland. Her family lived just across from us and we were all good friends. The three children desperately wanted a puppy and they often found reasons to come over to play with our dogs, but one child was thought to be "allergic" to dogs. Mom, Stacey, researched "allergy-proof" dogs and found that Bichons, poodles, and a few other breeds should be safe. (This is because these type of dogs have very little dander which causes allergic reactions. Frequent bathing also helps.)

 Had Stacey talked with me first, I would have told her to try rescues for those breeds instead of buying a puppy, but I still use Maggie's story for one very important reason. Our own rescue, Angel, whose blog post (scroll down) was on 12/03/20, was a "designer "dog. Her story of being bought in a pet store (puppy mill), surrendered to a shelter at the age of 10 months, and being nearly euthanized was not a fate that would ever have occurred with Maggie. 
   In bringing a pet into their home, Stacey and John planned everything with the children. They all knew that it would be their choice when they visited the breeder and that they would all be responsible for feeding, walking and training their new puppy. Needless to say, these were excellent parents and they were raising three delightful and responsible children. So, I use Maggie's story to illustrate the way that people should go into an adoption of a pet - with their research done, their plan figured out, and their children understanding that a having a pet comes with responsibilities and commitments.
   We've had many other friends over the years with dogs and cats we've truly loved, but Maggie has been the only exception to our rule of featuring only rescues. We are deeply committed to our cause, which is to promote Adopt, Don't Shop, but Maggie's story gives us a chance to inform our readers about breed rescues and about the need to make the care and training of a pet a project for the entire family.     ​

       This is another kitten that was saved by dear friends Linda and Jim, who split their time between Santa Fe, NM and Montana where the rescue took place. Linda wrote a great story about how she captured this little critter, so I am posting it in her own words:
​    One summer afternoon while trying to pull out a very prolific and noxious weed from our 6 acres outside of Helena, Montana, I spotted a tiny black kitten.  I immediately panicked thinking of this little creature trying to survive in the forest, abound with predators.  

​     I called the Humane Society, asking for the loan of a live trap and set it out that night. Unable to sleep I checked on it at 5:00 the next morning and from afar knew I had a much larger animal trapped, not the kitten, who was meowing loudly from the tree nearby. Low and behold, the neighbor’s tomcat flew out of the trap when I opened it.  One more night of the trap set and I had the kitten.
     She was wild but obviously very sick, and I dared not touch her. I took her to our kind-hearted vet who diagnosed her as “wild” and “very sick,” unable to truly examine her. His advice, “Go to Murdoch’s, buy a big cage, and I will help you get her into it, and then put this medicine in her water and hope for the best.”
     We took her home – gave her a “room with a view,” played music for her and talked to her often during the day. She seemed to get better each day, but would hiss at us mightily from the back of the cage at each feeding; however, on the 10th day a miracle – she came to the front of the cage and rubbed against my hand.
    Knapweed was with us for 17 years – the sweetest cat we have ever brought into our family – and we’ve had a whole “clowder.”

   These two Yorkies were rescued by Mary Lou - a long time animal advocate who, up until her adoption of Wilson, always adopted cats! Wilson was very tiny, very frightened and probably about eight years old when he was found wandering the streets of St. George, Utah, in the winter of 2011 by a local rescue group. He was not neutered and in terrible health - especially his teeth. He had most likely been a puppy mill dog judging from his behavior and condition.

​  Dawn and her husband Peter have made it a practice to adopt their pets for nearly twenty years. When they relocated to Santa Fe from New York, they brought Tessa, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that they had adopted from a breed rescue, but they were very open to finding a second dog to keep Tessa company. When they met Phoebe, they knew that she was a perfect fit for their family.
​   Phoebe, a two year old Maltipoo, had faced a rough start in her young life. She and another dog were being “housed” 24/7 on an outdoor balcony in Albuquerque, NM. They had been terribly neglected, ​​​malnourished and ignored. A caring delivery person knew of the situation and reported the owners to Argos, A Shelter Dog Rescue, a well respected local non-profit. ​

​The stories of these wonderful pets illustrate a few points that we would like you to know:

• People who adopt their pets through reputable rescue groups will find that their newest family member has been thoroughly examined by a vet, spayed/neutered if needed, and given any other medical treatment required. Once a neglected animal is placed in a loving home, there is no reason why they cannot thrive.
• If you witness animal neglect or cruelty, always report the problem to the appropriate organization. An animal rescue group would be a good start. 
• If there is a certain breed that you would like, you can still save a life. There are breed rescues who would love to help you adopt. Also, thirty percent of all shelter animals are of a specific breed but, be sure to keep an open mind because you might just find that an animal you never considered is your next best friend!
• It is important to adopt a pet once you know for sure that you are ready to commit to caring for them long-term. Knowing what kind of pet fits with your lifestyle prevents the need to re-home.
• “Designer dogs”, like Maltipoos, are often bred in puppy mills – huge operations that house their dogs in horrible conditions without proper food, medical care or even clean surroundings while they produce litter after litter for the sole purpose of making as much money as possible.
• Please, Adopt Don’t Shop!

   These two beautiful cats, R.J. and Kelly, were rescued together with their 2 siblings (below) by Lynda, a kind and dedicated animal advocate. The four week old kittens were found in a filthy box in the wee hours of the morning by a vet tech friend who had heard them weakly crying for help after they had been abandoned in front of a vet's office. Kittens this age should never be separated from their mother who feeds them around the clock and keeps them warm.
   Lynda already had two older cats, but she agreed to adopt the two females the following week, knowing how much care they would need, but always willing to help the helpless.

   When she arrived to pick up the girls, she was also asked to foster the two boys because they had no suitable prospects for a home. During the twenty minute ride to her house, Lynda decided she would keep them all, which was wonderful for these truly happy, healthy and adorable kitties!
    When I photographed Lynda's cats - the four above and a few more rescues with their own stories, I was fascinated by the differences in their personalities. R.J.was an absolute ham, wanting to be in every shot - he was adorable and it was such a pleasure to watch his antics. Kelly was sweet and calm - very easy to approach and photograph. Snuggles and Gracie were also quite calm and did not seem to mind me at all, but the others disappeared into their favorite hiding places, and at least one cat never made an appearance at all!
    There are literally millions of cats in need of loving homes, yet they are less likely than dogs to ever be adopted. Cats reproduce at an alarming rate. It is estimated that one cat and all of her resulting offspring will continually reproduce, multiplying to over 400,000 animals in only seven years! Please be an advocate for animals by making sure all pets are spayed and neutered, and adopt your next superstar at your local shelter. ​

​compound fracture because she was so stoic and cried only for food and water, which she eagerly accepted. The closest animal hospital was 35 miles away, but they were able to see her immediately. 
   Sadly, the vet said that Patch’s leg couldn't be saved because it had been like that for a few days, but she assured us that most dogs, especially puppies, could do quite well with three legs.  Again we thought that at the very least we would find a good home for her, but we fell in love with her immediately deciding that we would be adopt her provided that she and Angel, could get along. We made arrangements for her surgery and subsequent care until we could pick her up to bring her home. 
   We needn't have worried about Angel, who was delighted and acted as if we brought her the best gift ever! Patch flies like the wind, seemingly unaware of her missing leg.
   Please do not hesitate to adopt a special needs pet if you are able. We feel so lucky to have found Patch and her loving devotion has already convinced us that she was meant to join our family.

  Angel is also our own rescued pup. We adopted her in Maryland from a group of volunteers who routinely visited one of the local Baltimore County shelters to pick up dogs and cats that they could re-home.  Originally, Angel had been purchased at a pet store and was given as a surprise Christmas gift by a well-meaning grandparent to a busy family with three small children and two working parents. Sadly, pets given as surprise gifts can feel more like a burden than a joy to a family that is already stressed for time. This loving little puppy found herself homeless only 8 months later and her prospects didn't look good.

   In August, while the mother took the kids on a trip, the father  surrendered the 10 month old to a shelter, perhaps not realizing that the policy was to euthanize animals turned in by their families.  I'm not sure what he planned to tell the kids when they got home...
   Once rescued, Angel (a.k.a. Crystal) was adopted - for one day, but she was returned because she had an accident on the carpet. Obviously this brief test could only be passed by a well-trained dog. No exceptions!  As the saying goes, their loss was our gain. 
   This is exactly why many dogs are given up. People don't seem to realize that pets are not born knowing what you expect them to do.  Potential givers must also understand how much work and time is involved in caring for and training a puppy.
   Angel has been our cherished pup for 14 + years and she is still going strong! She's 15 pounds of know-it-all who later became a wonderful  sister (and mom) to our little tri-paw rescue, Patch (tomorrow's post !)