This little guy arrived a couple of days ago -- a very sweet Yorkie named Bentley. In late November he was scheduled to be euthanized in a Longview, Texas shelter when a rescue group in Shreveport, Louisiana, pulled him just before his date. The group, Becky's Bridge, has sent us a number of disabled dogs over the years, and they asked if we could take him.
A wonderful lady named Stephanie S. then agreed to foster him for several weeks until our pet transport company, TLC Pet Transport, could pick him up. Stephanie quickly realized Bentley needed immediate, and significant, medical care. She took him to her vet for an exam and emailed me to say,
"Here are the medical issues that my vet said that Bentley has:
- Periodontal and orthodontic disease including an oronasal fistula
- Bilateral mature cataract with anterior Uveitis
- Superficial pyoderma
- Infectious tracheobronchitis
He is scheduled for his dental procedure next Tuesday after being on the Azithromycin for 6 days."
This is not uncommon. We often need to have major medical care provided for the animals we agree to take, even before they arrive here. In Bentley's case, the surgery to close the oronasal fistula (an opening from his mouth into his respiratory tract) and other care came to more than $700, which we paid the vet clinic directly.
The paperwork from the Longview shelter said Bentley was a "returned adoption," and the reason: "health of animal."
Stephanie kindly took him back and forth to the vet clinic for his procedures and follow-up exams, gave him all his medications, and showered him with love the whole time.
The photo does not do him justice, because he is a very cute boy. He's quiet, gets along great with everyone, and is just one mellow fellow. Last night I was sitting in the living room after dinner and holding him in my lap; he turned and rubbed himself all over me, just so happy to be loved.
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In the photo above, that's blind and deaf Spinner in the background. Behind her you'll notice a "wall" of fabric on both sides of the center wall. These are "weather curtains" that we can raise and lower to block off the solarium to the dog room. Although the solarium can bring a lot of warmth into the building when the sun is shining, it also loses a tremendous amount of heat at night and on cold, overcast days. We realized we needed to do something to cut the heat loss dramatically. The company that replaced the 30-year old awning over the solarium this fall recommended weather curtains (typically used for screened porches in the wintertime) that we can manually roll up and roll down with a cord; very simple and effective. We noticed the improvement the very first night we used them. Best of all, they let just enough heat through to keep the salad greens we're growing in the solarium from freezing!
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New Shelter Challenge Contest -- Please Vote for the Farm!
The latest Shelter Challenge started Monday, January 7 and ends on April 28. Grand prize in this round is $10,000, $3,000 for second place and $1,000 for third place, plus $1,000 for weekly winners and $1,000 for state winners. There are also other categories ... please see the Shelter Challenge website for details.
*** You will find us listed as Rolling Dog Farm. The state is NH for New Hampshire. ***
Please remember, you can vote every day ... consider bookmarking the voting page to make it easy.
We just won $1,000 as a weekly winner in the last contest, and thousands more in the previous contests. The Shelter Challenge really does bring in a lot of money for the animals here!
You can vote in the Shelter Challenge here.
Thank you for your votes!
Bentley is precious! Welcome to the pack, sweetness! You're in the right place to find lots of love!!!
Posted by: Colleen & Andre | January 24, 2013 at 03:03 PM
Wow, Bentley looks exactly like my Abbey! Same puppy cut, same cute face. What a sweetheart!
Posted by: patty c | January 21, 2013 at 07:53 PM
BTW, we each sign in to explorer and chrome so we each do 2 votes from homeeach day and I get 2 at work and 1 more onthe public computer at work too. just so you know, we are still out here trying.
Posted by: Anne in FL | January 20, 2013 at 08:33 AM
Welcome Bentley, you lucky dog!
Steve, yet another project you have also intrigues me...like so many you and Alayne do. Growing your own salad greens in the house in the winter!! Cool! and commendable. I know, I know, you have heard this b4...you need to get someone in there to RDF to write a book about not just the animals but the outhouse looking wood heaters, the haylofts, the salad greens in the winter, the cattle raising, the goat herding the chickens and wild turkeys, coyotes, horses, barn cats..... You two live a life I wish I could somehow live. I do take ideas you have given and am bending them to fit my little world here. Thank you for the ideas.
I appreciate how small a carbon footprint you are leaving and what a world of wonder you are giving to so many little hearts. A heart felt 'Bless you' from my daughter Jennifer and I.
Posted by: Anne in FL | January 20, 2013 at 08:31 AM
A few years ago we saw an interview on the national morning news featuring Alayne, a woman from Tampa and a tiny yorkie named Spirit. Spirit had made her way to Rolling Dog after being rescued in Butte, MT where a man had kicked her down the street. The woman from Tampa who was adopting Spirit had previous experience with a yorkie with back injuries who used a tiny 'wheelchair' just like Spirit was learning to do. In the 'it's a small world' scheme of things, we are from Tampa, were near Butte for that Summer, had 4 yorkies...a match made in heaven for Rolling Dog and us. We have loved and respected Steve and Alayne from the very first second we learned about them! As I type, a little yorkie is in my lap, another is curled up in a chair next to me and yet another is still cuddled up in bed with her dad snoozing away. Our family of yorkies and yorkie lovers would like to welcome Bentley---life will be very, very good for you now!!!
Posted by: Colleen & Wes | January 19, 2013 at 05:57 AM
Beautiful.
Posted by: Lisa K. - San Diego | January 18, 2013 at 08:18 AM
Welcome Home Darling Bentley Welcome Home!! Hugs and kisses to your sweetie. God Bless all who are not afraid to help these wonderful precious creatures. Without them our lives would indeed be meaningless. " If one has never loved a dog one has never loved at all."
Posted by: Mae - Jefferson City | January 17, 2013 at 06:49 PM
Well, welcome, Bentley! You are just as cute as you can be but quite frankly, I believe that RFD only takes the "cutest" of the "cute!....At least I believe that! :)
Posted by: Kathleen Rivard | January 17, 2013 at 05:15 PM
Hello Bentley, indeed!
I'm always so very inspired to see how all the wonderful connections came together for you to arrive to your wonderful new home @ RDF. Thank you to everyone's extraordinary care and efforts. Can't help but think of "it takes a village".
How nice that we can all continue to help RDF "say yes".
Posted by: Margaret | January 17, 2013 at 01:51 PM
....w-a-r-m.....welcome greetings to Dear Bentley...from up here in British Columbia.....I 'know' you will love your new family xoxo
Posted by: Valerie | January 17, 2013 at 01:24 PM
It seems to me that a lot of the disabilities these poor creatures suffer from is "poor previous ownership." (I won't even call it "guardianship" because that's clearly not the case.) Most of Bentley's issues, and those of many of his cohorts at RDF, wouldn't exist if he'd been taken care of properly.
That said, Welcome, Bentley, to the best little doghouse in the world.
Posted by: Janet in Cambridge | January 17, 2013 at 08:42 AM
Welcome home, Bentley (what a fancy name, btw)!! You're such a sweetie pie, aren't you?:-)
Thank you so much to Becky's Bridge & Stephanie for rescuing this adorable little guy and for taking great care of him, until he could reach doggy heaven on earth (aka RDF)!
Please give Bentley a huge hug for me.
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | January 17, 2013 at 04:12 AM
Welcome to RDF, Bentley! What a cutie pie he is. He will enjoy a wonderful life from now on with you and Alayne. Bless Stephanie for taking such good care of him till he could get to you.
Posted by: Ann | January 17, 2013 at 03:09 AM
What an adorable little fellow, and love the name! Thanks for all you and others are doing to give him a better quality of life!
Posted by: Leila K. - Western Wash. | January 16, 2013 at 07:12 PM
Bentley is adorable! And just in the nick of time, you all have come together to save him. Thanks and Blessings to everyone involved. (btw - ya gotta have greens!!) Hugs to all.
Posted by: Linda Murphy | January 16, 2013 at 06:45 PM
A big welcome to little Bentley! He sure needed some help, and was very lucky to find his way to you. I'm wondering what he thinks of the climate change... and the snow!
Posted by: Tonya Allen | January 16, 2013 at 06:43 PM
Steve your the best so sad that all he needs is love. He will get it in your house!!
Posted by: gayle | January 16, 2013 at 05:43 PM
WELCOME BENTLEY!! The first day of the rest of your life!!. THANK YOU RDF, Stephanie, Becky's Bridge and all involved but without RDF none of this would be possible.
Great idea for preserving and maximizing heat. Love your Blogs!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | January 16, 2013 at 04:49 PM
WELCOME HOME BENTLEY WELCOME HOME
Posted by: Eric | January 16, 2013 at 03:56 PM
He is definitely a cutie. Bless you both for taking care of this boy and bless that lady, Stephanie, for doing all she did for him. I would have found it very hard to put him on the transport after all that, except for knowing he was going to the best possible home.
Posted by: Janet | January 16, 2013 at 02:22 PM
Welcome Bentley! He certainly looks like his coloring is unusual but nice. It's a little hard to see since he blends in with his blankets. Once he starts to get his medical issues resolved he'll feel even better. Then he'll be ready for spring and will run around outside playing with the others. Glad to see he's in a good place now. Please keep us posted as he progresses.
Posted by: Barb Ribinski | January 16, 2013 at 01:36 PM
What a sweet way Bentley had of telling you how much he appreciates all you are doing for him. He must feel so much better already. It's pretty wonderful how much his life has changed in less than 2 months!
Thank you to Becky's Bridge, Stephanie, the vet clinics and everyone for helping this little guy.
Posted by: Chloe | January 16, 2013 at 12:35 PM
Welcome little man with the adorable face!
Posted by: Miranda | January 16, 2013 at 12:06 PM