Ilo Steele: Notes On A Rescue Dog

Posted on: March 7, 2017 by: Doug Comments: 2 Comments

This is a foster dog diary post. New information about Ilo will be added to the end of this post so all info on this dog is in one place and in chronological order.
Post last updated: April 10, 2017

Ilo arrived March 7th. That name is spelled eye – ell – oh, and pronounced “Ee-low”. Ilo is a white Husky with blue eyes, he is around 1 year old and weighs (guessing here) around 50 pounds. He appears to be in good health.

Ilo’s History

Ilo was adopted locally as a puppy. He spent most of his life on a chain in the yard. He didn’t even have a collar: they just wrapped the chain around his neck and fastened it. As a result he has a gray band around his neck that will be difficult to remove. In time, that hair will shed out, so it will go away. Eventually.

One of our rescue families talked that family into surrendering him. Ilo is here for evaluation and training. His shots are current. He will be heartworm tested when he goes in for neutering on the 17th.
NOTE: That test came back negative, so he is now on a HW preventative to keep him safe.

The Gatorgate Incident

Posted on: February 17, 2017 by: Doug

I was working on a plumbing problem at Mom’s house (which is on a corner of our property) and needed a tool from my shop. Blondie, Cochise and Gator were out in the play yard. As I walked up the shop driveway Gator was shadowing me inside the fence. I got the tool and went back to Mom’s house. When done under her sink I looked out her kitchen window in time to see Gator scampering up the hill toward my house OUTSIDE the play yard fence.

I ran outside and called Gator, who ran back down toward me — until he caught sight of Blondie standing at the end of the Judge’s driveway across the road. Then he took off to join her and they skipped merrily up that driveway together.

Valentina Steele: Notes on a rescue dog

Posted on: February 14, 2017 by: Doug Comments: 1 Comment

This is a foster dog diary post. Updates will be added to the end of this post to keep all information on Valentina in one place and in chronological order.

This post was last updated March 23, 2017

Valentina Fast Facts

Intake date: February 14, 2017
Breed: English Blue Tick Hound (likely full-blooded)
Sex: Female – unspayed, has welped at least a couple of times.
Age: ?? Young ??
Intake weight: 47 pounds.
Health: Fair. 20 pounds underweight and severely dehydrated at intake, but no other issues apparent. Valentina was innoculated and wormed at intake.
Temperament: Gentle, submissive, friendly.

Valentina’s History

Valentina was found, immobile, alongside a local road. The woman who found her scooped her up, put her in the car, took her home, and cared for her for a day or two. Valentina had no collar. That’s when Steele Away Home – Canine Foster and Rescue was called in to help her.

Spencer Steele: Notes on a rescue dog

Posted on: February 4, 2017 by: Doug

This is a foster dog diary post. Updates will be added to the end of this post rather than as a myriad of separate posts so all information on Spencer is right here and in chronological order. This should help potential adopters and rescues easily learn about this dog.

Last updated: February 20, 2017

Spencer Steele is a black Labrador mix. Mixed with what is unknown: Mastiff? Bear? Clydesdale? Something big and sturdy!

He is 8 to 10 months old right now. We have been told he is active. Maybe too active. That makes him hard to handle. That makes him unadoptable. So he’s coming to Piney Mountain for a little behavioral modification.

Spencer’s Background

Lil Bud Steele: Notes on a rescue dog

Posted on: January 10, 2017 by: Doug

This is a foster dog diary post. We will add new information to the end of this post instead of posting many short updates. This allows prospective rescues/adopters to find all the info on Bud in one place and in chronological order.

This post was last updated: Feb 3, 2017

Cora Steele: Notes on a rescue dog

Posted on: January 10, 2017 by: Doug

This is a foster dog diary post for Cora (aka Dora) Steele. We add new info to the end of this single article instead of posting many new ones. This way all information on this dog is right here and in chronological order.

This post last updated: February 3, 2017

Tinker’s Revenge

Posted on: January 2, 2017 by: Doug

It was New Years day but it was also a Sunday so, as we always do on Sunday, we secured the dogs and went off to church. With travel there and back, Sunday school and the worship service we are gone about three hours.

For Blondie Bear and Cochise, that is no problem: they are tankers and can hold their bladders for a full day if they must. Like when it rains. They HATE going out in a hard rain. But for Tinker, three hours is quite a while and he will be dancing around and running for the back door as soon as we come in the front door. He IS reliable, he’s just uncomfortable at that point.

So all the dogs got a time in the yard while Marie and I took care of some things around the house. Then we readied to go to my Mom’s house to visit with my half-brother and his family, who had driven in from Nebraska the night before for a Christmas celebration with Mom and her grand-daughters.

We thought about securing the dogs again, but it was no longer raining, it was not especially cold, and Mom’s house is actually on our property, just outside the dog fence. They can keep tabs on us if they are in the yard. At the very least they like to bark at us in warning about the dangers of willingly entering a home where not one but TWO cats live.

Cochise’s Bedtime Dilemma

Posted on: December 30, 2016 by: Doug

Last night Cochise had a bedtime dilemma.

Cochise and Blondie Bear are permanent residents. Tinker, Jasmine and Gator are foster dogs. We offer multiple dog beds but who sleeps on what can be kind of fluid during the day and evening. Everyone is okay with that.

In the living room are a pair of beds made from a donated futon pad. These are favored when Marie and I are in the living room or kitchen, and are big enough that they can be shared when necessary.

At bedtime, however, each dog has a definite preference.

Christmas in the Dog House

Posted on: December 25, 2016 by: Doug

In many homes Christmas morning is met with the squeals and giggles of children tearing wrapping paper to discover what treasures hide within. At our house it’s a little … different.

When Marie and I got home from church we walked down to my Mom’s house where we met up with my brother and sister-in-law who drove in from South Carolina for Christmas lunch. She runs a restaurant and brought the food. A tasty meal and a good visit with family we don’t get to see often.

Then Marie and I returned to our house to open presents with The Kids. There was no wrapping paper on their gifts (much of that is toxic if eaten), but they didn’t mind. Wrapping paper just confuses them.

The squeaker squirrel was a special gift intended for Tinker (because he does SO love squeaker toys) so we rescued it from Jazzy before she could do it harm and gave it to Tinker. It instantly became his favorite toy!

Gator the Adventurous Pibble

Posted on: December 23, 2016 by: Doug Comments: 1 Comment

Gator is an adventurer.

He lived with a family before, but they weren’t around enough to suit Gator. Gator is also a pit bull. That term strikes fear into some people, but that is due to misinformation. In fact that term isn’t even a breed of dog: just a label hung on any dog with a short, muscular build and blocky head. Through this, and breed specific legislation, much harm is done in the name of ignorance. The proper name for this dog is Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and they are historically superb family dogs. At one time they were called Nanny Dogs, not Pit Bull, and were the favored choice as a companion animal for a family’s children. But I digress.

Being a Staffie, Gator needs a lot of attention and affection. He is happy to give the same, as well. He apparently wasn’t getting that where he was living and be broke out of his fencing and went adventuring.