Pixie At Home January 12, 2007

Pixie moved into her new home this morning. She is now living in Massachuestts with her new mom and dad, Pat and Dick. They said they felt very blessed to get Pixie. (“How could anyone in their right mind give her up?” they asked.)

Pixie did amazingly well, and so did I! While Pat, Dick and I were talking, she explored the
house very confidently. She didn’t act timid with them at all. When it was time for me to leave, I had them go into the kitchen with her, and I just left through the front door without her seeing me go.

She was a difficult one to give up. I got as attached to Pixie as she got to me. She is so loving and darling, but she deserves as much one-on-one attention as she can get, and she will get a lot more of it with them than here.

I feel very blessed to have been able to take care of her for the past 5 weeks. Pat and Dick have a real treasure in Pixie.

– Submitted by Sandi Prince

Love Is Blind January 12, 2007

There’s a hint of salt-and-pepper in the fur upon my face,
And the odds are now in favor of the squirrels that I chase.
I sleep a little longer, and am slower waking up,
But it really doesn’t matter, ’cause to Mom I’m still a pup.

My teeth in front are missing; when I sleep my tongue peeks out.
I must watch my diet carefully to keep from growing stout.
My lovely coat is thicker, and sometimes it grows quite wild,
But it really doesn’t matter, ’cause Mom thinks I’m still a child.

My heart is strong and healthy, I can still jump with the best.
(Though after a good romp outside I love a nice long rest!)
I may not fetch a tennis ball as fast as I once did,
But it really doesn’t matter, Mama thinks I’m still a kid!

I know she sees my gray hairs, but only with her eyes.
With her heart, she sees her young dog, and it’s hard to realize
That I am growing older, as the years around me swirl.
But it really doesn’t matter, ’cause, forever, I’m her girl.

– Submitted by Cass Liberman, on behalf of Ailsa (Chadwick Ailsa Craig, CGC, TDI).

Ailsa passed away in August 2005 when she was only 11 years old. Up until then, one of her many jobs was mentoring the many foster dogs who entered her household.

A Grand Day in Cavalierland! January 5, 2007

It’s a grand day in Cavalierland since Harley has a new forever home!

Harley’s new family consists of 2 mature cavaliers and a darling dog from Avon adoption that just loved Harley… but then, Harley is easy to love.

His new mom is a stay-at-home mom and the dad has a private medical practice. We shall keep our fingers crossed in hopes that this loving couple will become involved in rescue.

Mom arrived with a properly secured crate and lead and I made sure he had plenty of the water that he had been used to here to see him through the adjustment period. Mom ordered a huge bag of the food I have had Harley on…and she is switching the other three dogs to the same kibble. Harley will be called Marley-Harley until he gets used to being called just Marley.

He put on a good show illustrating all his puppy traits. He jumped right up on to the kitchen counter (which I have never seen him do before!) and when I lifted him down he ran to his new mom. Then, he did the beg-for-food routine while the Mom and I ate lunch. Harley has a passion for riding in cars, so he had no trouble saying goodbye to me. He knew he was in for an auto excursion.

I let Pogo out after they left and he went to the gate and started crying, then I started crying. Harley was so much fun and we will miss him. (Jeff snuck Harley out of his crate last night so that they could sleep side-by-side!)

Ah well, it is a happy story in that another dog has found a forever home, and we may have new friends involved in our rescue efforts.

(Gads, I would have paid someone to take my kids, the dogs are harder to part with!)

- Submitted by Laura Marshall

When Max and Bower Went Home January 4, 2007

I admit that my heart was heavy as I delivered the sweetly wonderful Maxwell and Bower to their joyous family last month. I had my daughter Caroline with me — so I had to put on a good face for the 9-year-old in the back seat. But there were a few irrational moments when I thought of passing the new family’s exit completely and just continuing the drive south into Boston, Rhode Island, and beyond — kidnapping the boys forever.

Ha — just kidding. I never really considered the dognapping bit.

Maxwell, a Blenheim, and Bower, a tricolor, both 4 years old, had been in foster care with me for 2 1/2 months. They had lived a life of relative physical comfort but with little emotional warmth, and has been turned in to their groomer with no toys or belongings — only the fur on their backs. I picked them up from their very caring groomer at a highway rest stop. My first thought when I saw them was that they were a little funny-looking for Cavaliers; I didn’t feel an immediate bond.

Funny how love changes your perspective. Two months later, I thought they were the cutest, sweetest little souls ever… and that’s saying something, given my own much-loved pack of four.

And now it was time to bring them home. The truth is that I was a little sad seeing them off — but I was happy, too, because the boys found a loving home with a super family of a mostly stay-at-home Mom, a doctor Dad, a daughter away at school and a son who is leaving for college next fall. Their house is modern and roomy — with lots of spots for two curious brothers to run around in and explore.

Despite my slight heartache, the boys promptly looked right at home — rubbing their smells onto the carpets and sniffing out the kitchen cabinet with the treats — while their Mom laughed with delight. The new Mom, Linda, was already crazy about them — that much was clear. She was like a 5-year-old at Christmas.

As we climbed into our car to leave, the boys were walking off with their new parents on their new but now-nightly jaunt. Max shot me a backward glance but didn’t break his stride at his new Mom’s side.

It was a day of triumph and slight heartache — another day in the life of Cavalier Rescue! I have no doubt the boys slept deeply and soundly that night, curled at the foot of their new parent’s bed, and completely unaware of the two little empty spots they’ve left on our bed, or the indelible marks they’ve left on our hearts.

– Submitted by Ann Handley

Happy New Year! December 31, 2006

Another year is coming to a close and I wanted to say how happy I am to be a part of such a great group.

It’s been a busy year. We rescued 33 dogs in 2005 and 16 in 2004. This year has been busier still — 43 wonderful dogs found new homes through us in 2006:

Abby and Pepper, Ariel, Blue, Bosley, Buffy, Callie, Carlie, Cuddles, Fenway, Chase (at left), Chico, Coco 2 and Coco 3, Daisy Mae, Dora, Dover, Duncan, Fancy and Phoenix, Gigi, Hamlet, Heidi, Jack Kennedy, Katie, Lexy, Max and Bower, Murphy, Nadine, Obi, Princess Biscotti, Regis, Sam 1 and Sam 2, Skipper Dipper, and Tanner.

What’s more, we’ve taken in a few more for whom we’re now screening new families… Dickens, Pixie, Harley, Shayne, and Nick.

So, it’s been a busy year and a good one too!

Wishing all of you a happy and safe holiday and great year ahead!

— Submitted by Carolyn Stigler

Welcome to Cavalier Rescue! November 11, 2006

This is the brand-spanking-new blog for Cavalier Rescue USA. This is a place to read about our recent Cavalier King Charles Spaniel rescue pups — the stories about our current fosters and adoptions — as well as hear from our wonderful volunteers!

Feel free to comment on the posts you read here. In fact, we insist…!

Backatcha soon.