This little tyke arrived shortly after 9 a.m. this morning from Louisiana. Rebecca Y., who runs the Shreveport rescue group Becky's Bridge, took him in from another shelter in the state. In her email to me a couple of weeks ago, she wrote, "Is there any chance of you taking a blind, senior yorkie? He is coming to me today from a shelter about 1 1/2 hours away. I am squeezing him in because I can't stand the thought of him being put down. If you can't I understand, but I had to ask." His name was Clyde.
Gale Lang's TLC Pet Transport was booked up on their last trip before the holidays, so we arranged with We Move Pets, another ground pet transport company that we've used before as well, to pick up Clyde. It was a brisk 16° (-8° C) when the driver, Bob, handed him to me in the bright morning sunshine. Clyde was shivering a bit -- fortunately he had a sweater on -- but when we set him down on the ground, he went off and did his business. And then he was very ready to go inside. He seemed to say, "Okay, now where is that wood stove I heard about?"
Inside the house he was a bit nervous at first and trembled, so I sat in a chair and held him on my lap for a while so he could take in all the new sounds and smells. After a few minutes of that, he started trying to climb down, so I picked him up and set him on the floor. Off he went to explore! Every dog he met -- except one -- he greeted happily, and his tiny bob of a tail would go up in the air and wag back and forth.
The only wary greeting he had was with, believe it or not, Fuzzy -- the only other intact male in the place. (Fuzzy was positive for heartworms and his neutering is pending completion of treatment.) Clyde has to be neutered, too, but we need to have him tested for heartworms first. Fuzzy tips the scales at 12 pounds (5.4 kg) and Clyde at all of 7 pounds (3 kg), but the testosterone has them both convinced they are 120 pounds and 70 pounds, respectively. So there was a bit of strutting going on this morning between the two of them when they first met. Things settled down pretty quickly once the referees stepped in and threw some penalty flags.
Dexter, who is the chairman of our Welcome Committee, went over to give Clyde a special hello:
You can see just how tiny Clyde is compared to Dexter, who's a miniature Dachshund. We don't have any other history on Clyde, but the vet in Shreveport who did his health certificate for us thought he was about 8 years old. He is very skinny, has dental disease, and is blind from cataracts (though he might have had retinal or other issues before the cataracts developed). Needless to say, he will have more vet appointments in his future!
As I write this, shortly before noon on Sunday, Clyde is snoozing on a dog bed in the living room, just a few feet from that woodstove he'd heard about.
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[Every time we write about transporting pets, we get the inevitable emails and blog comments asking if we know about Pilots 'n Paws and similar groups. Yes, we do. These volunteer pilot networks prefer to do transports that are 400 miles or less; beyond that, it usually requires multiple pilots and planes, and things get complicated. A short trip like Snuggles had, coming from Buffalo to Lancaster, is ideal for these groups. Cross-country trips are a different story.]
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*This Is The Last Day To Vote -- Contest Ends At Midnight PST Sunday!*
You can vote in the Shelter Challenge here.
Please note: Use Rolling Dog Ranch for our name and NH for the state and our listing will come up.
As of mid-day Sunday, we were still No. 2 behind Best Friends, but please vote today if you haven't already. We need every vote we can get to make sure we hold that spot -- and win $5,000 for the animals!
The Shelter Challenge winners will be announced Wednesday, December 22, so we'll await the official word before popping any champagne corks -- but until then, thank you for all your votes in this round of the contest!
So happy to read that RDR once again won $5000 dollars in the challenge. Congratulations. Way to go RDR supporters
I also like the 'Dark Horse' $1000 that goes to groups that haven't won anything before.
Next challenge starts in January. I'll be voting. For RDR of course.
Posted by: Ev | December 22, 2010 at 11:47 AM
Oh, I just love Clyde! What a cutie! Thank you for taking him & giving him a warm & cozy place to call home for Christmas.
Posted by: Colleen & In Memory of Sweet Kitty Erin | December 21, 2010 at 02:32 PM
What a cute Christmas gift you got! Clyde wouldn't even fill up a whole stocking he's such a little package. Love on him for us out here because he's adorable. Merry Christmas to all!
Posted by: Miranda | December 21, 2010 at 12:42 PM
Hi Steve and Alayne!
When i saw his picture i said out loud, "Oh no they didn't!" As in, "Oh no they did not just get another unbelieveably cute dog." I am so happy for you both but have to wonder how long he will stay. I can't help but think someone is going to email you about adopting him. :)
Much love to you all.
Posted by: Randi | December 20, 2010 at 05:43 PM
Oh my goodness, another way to cute for words.....just like little Roo. Coming to RDR is already a happy ending, but maybe a happier one - adoption - will be in his future. Gosh he's adorable!
Posted by: Peggy S. | December 20, 2010 at 04:33 PM
Awww - Merry Christmas, darling little Clyde. Santa has already done right by you!! Now that I have read my favorite blog and gotten my usual big laughs, can go on to other email (satisfied my RDR blog addiction :)
Clyde has a superb welcoming comittee in Dexter.
Posted by: Angela | December 20, 2010 at 11:39 AM
WELCOME HOME CLYDE WELCOME HOME
Posted by: Eric | December 20, 2010 at 10:32 AM
Ahhhh... Clyde, Fuzzy and of course Teddy---as we are two people who belong to two yorkies we immediately fall in love with these faces! Maybe Clyde and Fuzzy will end up being buddies after all---one can hope!
Posted by: Colleen & Wes Vermillion | December 20, 2010 at 09:48 AM
OMG I just love Dexter and how cute is Clyde!
Posted by: gayle | December 20, 2010 at 09:12 AM
So happy for Clyde. Good luck with him and all your lucky animals.
Posted by: Billy Edwards | December 20, 2010 at 09:08 AM
I'm in love. Give Clyde a kiss and a hug for me.
Posted by: Lynda | December 20, 2010 at 08:55 AM
Isn't it wonderful to know that cute little Clyde is home for Christmas, just like in a fairytale?:-)
Welcome home, sweetheart!
Alayne & Steve: thank you so much for opening your heart & arms to yet another furkid in need. A big thank you, too, to Rebecca Y. for rescuing Clyde in the first place.
God bless you all.
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | December 20, 2010 at 02:12 AM
What a cute little dustmop!! :-)
A sweet addition to the RDR family.
Posted by: Leila - Washington | December 19, 2010 at 09:16 PM
Oh bother, new computer and I sent mid sentence I think....I agree with Kathleen, 'Clyde' does seem to be a bit weighty of a name for such a sweet little thing. Would it be a terrible thing to think of a more fitting name?? One that would fit small, cute, brown and full of curiosity little dog. Hmmm....
Posted by: Anne in FL | December 19, 2010 at 08:56 PM
Oh, he's adorable...look at that face! Clyde has definitely found a new friend in Dexter (I still laugh at that picture of him looking like he lost his dentures).
Clyde, you are one lucky guy to be at RDR. Good things and good times await you!
Posted by: Ann | December 19, 2010 at 08:46 PM
What a cutie, and a very sweet sweater too! To have him put down would be sad indeed, but that's the case for all of the unlucky ones ofcourse... Better days for this little furball!
Posted by: Jessica, NL | December 19, 2010 at 05:44 PM
"Clyde" seems a rather weighty name for such a small package. He'd adorable and will thrive now he's with those that will not only love him but see that he gets the proper medical care he needs. Dexter gets more handsome by the day and is probably feeling much better without all the tooth aches. Isn't this a wonderful story of love, renewal, and hope for this time of year!! Happy Merry from Kathleen and Roo!!
Posted by: Kathleen Rivard | December 19, 2010 at 04:29 PM
Clyde is a cutie! It doesn't seem like 8 is that old for a small dog, at what age to they say a dog is a senior? I'm sure Clyde will be having a fantastic holiday by the fire with all his new friends!
My blind dog only recently discovered fire. We were at my parent's house and they had a fire in their stove and it was popping and hissing. She was crouching under a table nearby and my mom was convinced she was about to go to the bathroom, but then she ran around to inch closer to the fire in another direction and then back under the table. She just couldn't figure out what the smelly, hot, noisy thing was!
Yay! for Clyde and many great discoveries in his future!
Posted by: Sarah W | December 19, 2010 at 03:04 PM
Was this boy a stray or surrender? Well, I guess that doesn't really matter, does it? He's home now. I love the photo of Dexter and his special hello.
Posted by: Lynn (in Louisiana) | December 19, 2010 at 02:08 PM
This is such a lovely story for a cold and snowy Sunday morning. Looks like tiny Clyde made a pal already. Maybe he can help Dexter find those dentures he lost. :)
Posted by: Moon Rani | December 19, 2010 at 12:53 PM