An animal rescue group in Pacific Grove, California, contacted us a week ago today about a senior blind dog they had seen in the Monterey County animal control shelter. Carie B. from the Animal Friends Rescue Project emailed me to say the dog had been picked up as a stray and that the shelter planned to euthanize him because he was running out of time. She attached a photo of a thick-coated dog with a happy, smiling face ... and very blind eyes. We asked her to have the dog tested with other dogs to evaluate his social skills, and when he proved himself to be an amiable fellow, we agreed to take him.
Carie's group arranged for a number of volunteers to drive the dog out to us last week from California. Somewhere along the trip someone named him Gabe. The final leg of the trip was driven by Vicki M. from Victor, Montana, who drove down to Idaho Falls to meet the transporter on Thursday. Vicki was concerned to see that the dog's coat was matted and flea-infested, and especially alarmed that he seemed to have breathing difficulties. Vicki and her friend Hanna shaved his coat off and bathed him Thursday evening, then took Gabe to Vicki's vet Friday morning before bringing him out to the ranch.
The vet determined he has a sinus blockage of some sort, but also found he has severe periodontal disease and that he was reluctant to move his head in certain directions. Indeed, when Vicki and Hanna arrived with Gabe Friday afternoon, we could hear his snuffled breathing ... almost like he has a hole from his mouth into his sinus cavity somewhere. And the poor guy's teeth are terrible, and thus we wonder if there's a connection there. He is also mostly deaf -- he can hear high-pitched noises like a whistle and loud noises like a clap, but not normal voices. So he will be going to our vets in Helena next week for a full medical work-up.
But what a sweet, happy boy he is! I took these photos this afternoon of Gabe in our isolation yard. (Because we have no vaccination history or health history on him, we'll keep him quarantined until he gets to our clinic.) He absolutely adores people and will try to crawl into your lap ... and if he doesn't succeed, he'll paw at you for some more loving:
Alayne was trying to get him over to the cot for these photos, but he was insisting on a tummy rub before going:
And as we were leaving the yard, he wanted to show us just how well he would fit in here by doing a little "rolling dog jig":
By the way we count it, Gabe arrived at the ranch on the day he would have been euthanized. Thanks to everyone who helped get this boy out of the shelter and on his way to us!
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Update: Teddy is doing well at the hospital. His glucose levels got back to the 500s in the aftermath of the surgery -- our vets expected to see a spike so are not surprised -- but are starting to come down again. All of his catheters are out and he is eating and drinking normally.
What a beautiful, happy boy! I think Alayne has found another minion!
Posted by: Mary | August 05, 2009 at 05:02 PM
You have got to love that spotted tummy. What a sweetie pie
Posted by: Evelyn | August 05, 2009 at 06:16 AM
Welcome Home Gabe!
What a doll!!! I wouldn't be surprised if someone scoops him up for adoption.
SO glad to hear Teddy is doing well. What a good day!
Posted by: boundforglory | August 04, 2009 at 09:08 AM
I love the photos! What a happy old boy with a big smile...Thanks for the update on Teddy and I look forward to hearing more about this friendly fellow.
Posted by: Libby | August 03, 2009 at 03:22 PM
Don't you just love a dog that smiles??!!
Another new friend; WELCOME Gabe!
Great news about little Teddy. I can't wait to see him back home with Steve.
And Alayne: You are a tiny, cute thang. Who knew that was what was under those 10 layers of clothes you're usually wearing !! :-)
Posted by: Lynn | August 03, 2009 at 03:15 PM
Gabe looks like such a happy dog - what a sweetheart. I'm glad to hear Teddy is doing well and hope he is back at the ranch soon. Hugs to all.
Posted by: Kristi Gross | August 03, 2009 at 02:54 PM
Thank you for the update on Teddy- I've been concerned. Gabe has the happiest face ever and I've fallen in love with it! Thank you so much to everyone who worked to save his life and thank you so much to all of the transporters. Stories like this just make my day!
Posted by: Kim | August 03, 2009 at 02:30 PM
Welcome home, Gabe! You did a wonderful rolling audition but don't worry you are now safe & sound. And, you are just full of smiles! Keep up the request for tummy rubs, I have no doubt you'll get plenty of them. A big thank you for the people that made it possible for him to make it to RDR.
I'm so excited for sweet Teddy! Thank you so much for the update. I thought about him all weekend & am continuing to send many prayers to him!
Sadly, many shelters across the Country & CA is leading the way to reduce the number of days before a shelter will euthanize.
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin | August 03, 2009 at 01:48 PM
I love that smile! Welcome to paradise Gabe!
Posted by: Lynda | August 03, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Gabe's smile is absolutely beautiful & infectious. BRAVO to AFRP & everyone that helped him to RDR! It only gets better from here on out, :)
Posted by: Margaret | August 03, 2009 at 11:34 AM
Gabe is so alert and happy looking - he will be even happier now that he has found RDR. And that's great news that Teddy is doing well. Lots of hugs and belly rubs for these 2 dolls. And Alayne you're looking good there in that pretty purple blouse.
Posted by: Angela | August 03, 2009 at 11:24 AM
Thank you to all the people out there that do what they can to help an animal in need. Aug 2nd is my birthday, and the greatest gift is being able to hear of wonderful stories like this... Thank you Rolling Dog Ranch for sharing!
Juliet
AFRP Foster volunteer
Posted by: Juliet D. | August 03, 2009 at 11:23 AM
Welcome Gabe
May you really enjoy the rest of your life in a very good place. Hope you get your coat back, because the winters there are not what is advertized in the broucures.
Posted by: Eric Hollingsworth | August 03, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Welcome Gabe! Animal Friends Rescue in Pacific Grove is a great organization, so Hooray for them to manage transport of Gabe all the way to Montana. Here's hoping his ailments are nothing serious and he can soon be welcomed by the RDR pack!
And great news on Teddy. Thank goodness you did the surgery in time. Prayers for his full recovery.
Posted by: Linda | August 03, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Five days is a mercy. You should see what happens to animals in New York City.
Welcome, Gabe! You are fortunate!
Posted by: HumanityforNYC | August 03, 2009 at 09:26 AM
Welcome home, Gabe...who could resist that sweet smile???
So good to hear that ittle Teddy is recovering....two miracles in one week. Good work RDR! And many thanks to the transport folks who took their time and gas to get him there.
Posted by: Debbie | August 03, 2009 at 09:09 AM
Well, no wonder Gabe looks so happy.....he just found out he won the Lottery !
Posted by: Bibi | August 03, 2009 at 08:19 AM
Gabe's smile says it all and it must feel so good for him to be shaved. Thanks for the update on Teddy.
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | August 02, 2009 at 11:14 PM
I'm so glad to hear the good news!!!!
Teddy's recovering fine and now Gabe has arrived to dog's heaven on earth!!! That big smile on his face makes me feel soooooo good!!!
Posted by: Carolina | August 02, 2009 at 09:19 PM
What a beautiful dog! He's got an irresistible smile.
Posted by: JC | August 02, 2009 at 09:15 PM
What a cutie pie and a love bug, he is home now and safe..... Bless you ...
Posted by: Mickey | August 02, 2009 at 09:06 PM
What a cutie. He looks like he belongs there already. We had a chocolate lab/something mix show up last September and he came in as if he had always lived here. I guess they know where they belong!
Thanks for the update on Teddy. He's in my thoughts.
Posted by: Lynne Parker | August 02, 2009 at 08:17 PM
Gabe is short for Gabriel (an angel)and by the looks of him, he will be yet another RDR angel for all of us to adore. I am so glad to hear Teddy's recovery is going well and it looks like he is going to make it. Woo-hoo!!!!
Posted by: Marla | August 02, 2009 at 08:13 PM
What a great smile on this guy! He just looks so happy to be with you. Thanks to all the good guys (or gals) that helped him get to you. 5 days? Good grief, he is so lucky, Gabe must have had an angel watching out for him. Now he has real live angels to watch over him forever. Again, bless you for all you do for these guys.
Posted by: Kathy | August 02, 2009 at 08:01 PM
Welcome, Gabe. You look like you're starved for affection, but you've come to the right place.
Isn't the five days' quarantine one of California's solutions to their budget crisis? It reduces the cost of keeping animals around.
"Move 'em out, head 'em up,
Head 'em up, move 'em on.
Move 'em out, head 'em up"
Get them doggies (sic) out of the shelters.
Posted by: Janet in Cambridge | August 02, 2009 at 06:21 PM