PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
July 2005
A tribute to Rescue & Rescuers
This month, our club will celebrate rescue dogs
and their new owners at the rescue picnic. I'd like to dedicate this
month's President's message to the rescuers who make this all happen.
First and foremost, I'd like to give a virtual
standing ovation to Ron and Kathy Manor. They've been the coordinators
for our rescue program since Cheryl and Steve Loper stepped down and
they were very active even while Cheryl and Steve were the coordinators.
I personally believe there is a special place in the hereafter for these
folks and they will be surrounded by smiling faces and wagging tails.
I also want to acknowledge their daughter and
her hapless new husband. Given the number of visits to see him in Coeur
d Alene where there was a side trip to the shelter or a dog who rode
home with her, I am at least reassured that he was fully informed of her
rescue involvement before they tied the knot!
Lon and Mary White have also been instrumental
in countless rescues and provided many nights and days of foster care.
Van and Liz have been up and down I -90
and 405 many times facilitating transport. Others have helped with
shelter checks, grooming, home checks, transportation, fund raising and
countless other forms of contribution toward the effort. Last but not
least, almost everyone has contributed their dollars either through
purchase of a shirt, raffle ticket or outright donations.
Recently, the broader Samoyed community has
been struggling with the relations between many local rescue folks and
the SCA's newly formed National Samoyed Rescue (NSR). I don't know where
that all will end up, but I hope that all the principles involved in the
discussion remember that the dogs come first.
At this point, NSR appears pretty thorough
-- and somewhat
rigid -- in it's guidelines. SCWS does also have rescue guidelines -- I
drafted the first set based on a lawsuit we encountered. Yes, they do
specify the maximum age we can accept. No, they haven't always been
abided by to the letter of the guideline. Personally, I don't think that
is a problem. It's one thing to write these criteria, it's another to be
the human that passes over a sweet Sammy because she or he is a year --
or two -- or three --
over the age limit. I cherish Ron, Kathy, Lon, Mary, Cheryl, Steve(s),
Liz, Van, Darlene, Kathy, Barb, Cyndy, Carey, Kaz, Dave and every other
person who has contributed to the efforts of rescue. However, I do
believe that those who are doing this work day in and day out, looking
in those sweet hopeful eyes, need the grace to make these decisions
independently, as long as they are not thoughtlessly jeopardizing the
club.
It is my hope that this dialogue between those
working with rescue programs and the board of SCA provokes a more
thorough review of NSR and moves both that organization and our rescue
program to a point where they can collaborate for these dogs we love.
For those currently working with SCWS's rescue program, know how much
you are appreciated and supported.
Cheri
President's Message
August 2005
Summertime greetings to you all. We have a number of things on our
event horizon! Soon, we’ll be gathering for the SCWS Specialty.Best
wishes to all our members for a successful, ribbon-filled weekend and
wonderful time! Shortly after that, we’ll be hosting the Samoyed
Olympics. This much-loved event is back after a brief hiatus but your
help is needed to make it a success. If you can contribute your time and
energies for the day or a few hours to help with one of the following
events, it would be greatly appreciated! We need folks with experience in
Herding, Agility, Carting, Weightpull, Conformation Showing and
Grooming.
Please let me know if you are planning to join us by sending in the
attached registration form. If you can help, please drop me an e-mail or
give me a call.(CascadeSamoyeds@aol.com or 208-765- 1099).
Finally, this is my
last President’s message (as Liz has a huge sigh of relief – no more
nagging me for messages!) I want to thank you all for the opportunity
I’ve had to be the President of SCWS over the past few years. We are so
very fortunate to be members of this particular club – yes, I am highly
biased – and to share our lives with these marvelous dogs that bring us
together. Your support and friendship has been greatly appreciated.
Cheri
My Dog is Lost!
What Do I Do Now?
One of the most frightening things a dog owner can
experience is when one of their dogs is suddenly missing. Trying to
remember all the things they should do is difficult in the stress of the
moment. Here is a list that may help. It was compiled by Sidney Boardman
(Director of the USDA Missing Pet Network and owner of SAMFANS).
1. Make a flier with your dog's photo, the words LOST DOG,
and your phone number, and take a pile and go knock on on doors in the
neighborhood and talk to people. If you don't find her, later you can make
up a flier with a clear photo, a phone number, and a short description,
for example “LOST White fuzzy 3 year old dog, tail usually held over back,
dog is microchipped. REWARD for information leading to his return home.
Call xxx-xxx-xxxx or xxx-xxx-xxxx any time day or night.” Don't use a show
type photo of her in your fliers or anywhere else. You don't want people
looking for a show dog they think is worth bucks. You want them looking
for a beloved lost dog.
Leave a copy of the flier at each house. If you don’t have
a picture of your dog, find a picture that shows the breed. If the dog was
microchipped, say that he is identifiable but don’t include the chip
number. If some kid picked him up and took him home, her parents need to
know this was NOT a stray and she can't keep him no matter how much she
LUUUVVs him and cries.
2. Then go check ALL the local shelters. Physically go to
the shelters. Don't bother calling. Go to all the shelters. People will
drop a dog off at the shelter on the way to work, so you can't guess where
they may take the dog. Fill out a lost pet report at every shelter you go
to but don't expect them to call you if your dog does happen to show up.
3. Put an ad in the newspaper. If there's more than one
paper, put an ad in all of them. Give copies of your flier to your
postman. Go to the police station and file a police report for lost or
stolen property. Insist the police take the report. Tell them your
insurance company requires a police report before you can file a claim if
you have to.
4. Now go back to your neighborhood and talk to everyone
you didn't talk to before. If people have seen your dog, you can track
which direction he may have gone in. You can also start posting fliers in
the area, but don't stop knocking on doors and talking to people.
5. Go to the stores, restaurants and gas stations people
in your neighborhood frequent and ask them to post your flier. Ask
groceries if they will also post the flier in the dog food aisle. Other
pet owners are more likely to notice your dog than anyone else.
6. Contact every vet in the area, and also groomers and
pet supply stores. Take or mail them a flier.
7. Don't give up. Keep looking. Keep going to shelters.
Ask the shelter how to check the dead list. (Most people feel it's better
to know. That includes children - they're usually better off knowing what
happened.)
People who find a dog often keep it a few days and then
give it to a friend or co-worker, who may take a few days before they
realize the dog is too much for them, and then take it to a shelter.
Keep looking.
More advice is available at the Missing Pet Network at
http://missingpet.net/
When I am Old
When I am Old...
I shall wear Turquoise and soft gray sweatshirts ...
and a bandana over my silver hair.....
and I shall spend my Social Security Checks
on Sweet Wine and My Dogs......
and sit in my house on my well- worn
chair
and listen to my dog's breathing.
I will sneak out in the middle of a warm summer night and
take my dogs for a run, if my old bones will allow ...
and when people come to call, I will smile and nod as I show them my
dogs,
and talk of them and about them...
The Ones so Beloved of the Past
and the Ones so Beloved of Today....
I still will work hard cleaning after them
and mopping and feeding them
and whispering their names in a soft, loving way.
I will wear the gleaming sweat on my throat, like a jewel
and I will be an embarrassment to all ... and my family ...
who have not yet found the peace in being free to have dogs as your Best Friends....
These friends who always wait,
at any hour, for your footfall...
and eagerly jump to their feet out of a sound sleep,
to greet you as if you are a God. With warm eyes full of adoring love
and hope that you will stay and their big, strong necks ...
and kiss their dear sweet heads ...
and whisper to their very special company....
I look in the mirror ... and see I am getting old ...
this is the kind of woman I am ... and have always been.
Loving dogs is easy, they are part of me, accept me for who I am,
my dogs appreciate my presence in their lives ...
when I am old this will be important to me ....
you will understand when you are old
... and if you have dogs to love too.
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