Well my latest rescue foster dog is a little 12 pound Shih Tzu named Jed Ray who is deaf and blind. He was found as a "stray" in New Jersey the end of December. Now we all know that there are no stray Shih Tzu's in the middle of winter in NJ. Someone probably threw him out of a car or left him outside and he wandered off. Of course no one claimed him at the animal shelter. He has found his way to North Carolina via East Coast Asian Dog Rescue. He has a will to live. He had to have 9 teeth removed because they were so rotton. He has had a hard life. He looks a little retarded in the picture but that is because I was trying to hold him and take a picture at the same time. His Doggles help him not to have an eye injury when he is out walking. He looks like a slow pin ball machine. I think he probably had a head injury because he shows signs of neurological problems. But, I am working on teaching him a few things that will make his world a little clearer and safer. Took him to an eye doctor to see if there was a possiblity of removing one cataract but no luck. Doctor said he has detached retinas behind the cataracts. So he may have been kicked in the head or hit by a car or something. I have been trying to contact other people who have a deaf/blind dog and get their suggestions for helping him learn more about his world. So,if anyone has any information on helping these dogs I would realy appreciate all help. You got to just love them but it would be wonderful to help them make sense of their world. I feel kind of like Annie Sullivan dealing with Helen Keller!

Have had several emails TODAY looking for foster homes for Peke's in this area and in southern Virginia where there are many Peke puppy mills. One of them was a pair of Peke pups had been BOUGHT and given to an elderly woman to "keep her company". Well, anyone of you who have little dog pups or any pup know how much work they are. So, now the daughter is desperate to find new homes for them. They are not even a year old yet. The next was a young Peke pup BOUGHT and given to an elderly woman who had lost one of her two elderly dogs. Well, the woman did not want another dog, so here we go again where the family is trying to place the dog in a rescue group. The next was a 3 year old Peke BOUGHT and given to a woman who was on a very fixed income. Well the dog is not neutered, has a heart murmur and very enlarged heart and now has developed severe back problems (bulging disc) which are progressing rapidly. Now the family wants a rescue group to take this poor dog on. I was ask to foster this dog and after much thought have decided not to. I am amazed that a rescue group has agreed to take this dog in. Can you imagine the medical expenses that will go into this dog? He will probably end up in a cart with urinary incontinance. Also he probably will not be able to have general anesthesia to be neutered or have back surgery. Puppy Mills and breeders who sell to pet shops should be shot! A responsible breeder is careful how their dogs are breed and do not want to sell "pet quality" dogs that are not in good health. The dogs suffer and I am sure the elderly people who are giving up their dogs feel guilt at doing so. People should NEVER give a dog as a gift without discussing it with the person and making sure they want a dog, are able to care for a dog and have the finances to take care of it. People's stupidity never fails to astound me. Where are their brains.

We have had a week of steady rain and fog. With 3 Pekes and 1 Shih Tzu I feel like I am in a preschool when the kids can't get outside and play. They have been into everything. They can entertain themselves rather well. Their favorate game today has been to drag each other around the floor by their ears. If I did that to them they would be screaming and biting but they have not uttered one protest! Go figure. Their second favorate game today is to help mom with the laundry. They bring me either the dirty clothes or the clean clothes. Now I am at a point that I don't know which is which. Now they are all settled on the couch or in their beds looking for all the world like little angels. You got to love them but I sure hope the sun comes out tomorrow! ! ! !

Just returned from a wonderful week at the beach with my older son and daughter in law. Of course I took 2 of the Peke's, Lewis and Tiffany. They are 2 year old siblings that I have had since they were 9 days old. They love the beach and have been going there since they were babies. They dive right in the ocean without a second thought. Good thing they are on harness and leash. My son has 4 cats and this is the first time we have all stayed together in a oceanfront house. The cats were a little tramatized at first as they are not use to dogs but by the end of the week they were all doing fine sharing the house with only a few off limits demanded by the cats. The dogs did get their noses scratched a few times at first but they soon learned to keep their noses out of certain places. You see from the picture that Lewis was all ready for the sun and surf with his Doggles on. Was a wonderful week and can hardly wait for the Spring to return.

A long time since I have written in this blog. Since then my beloved Peke Leon has died. He was an older feller when I adopted him 2 years ago. He was quiet and content to have a few hugs and kisses, a warm place to sleep and most of all treats. He developed a beautiful coat while I had him thanks to good food and good care. Then he developed a love of going to the beach and would walk on the beach until he had to be carried back to the house because he was just pooped. I noticed that he was having trouble climbing stairs and at times when he walked his back end was a little wabbly. Took him to the vet and discovered that he had spine problems which seemed to be increasing rapidly and not from an aparent injury. Little dogs are very prone to back problems. As I was thinking of getting him a cart he went into heart failure. Seemed to be just one thing too many for him and with the help of my good vet my beloved Leon went quietly on to his next life. Six weeks before that I lost my wonderful hound mix, Jackson, to lymphoma. Sure was a sad time around my house! You always swear you are not going to fall in love with them so it won't hurt so much when you loose them but that sure does not seem to ever happen. Most rescue dogs seem to come with physical problems from abuse, negelect or just poor breeding and many times their life is not nearly as long as it should be. Anyhow, one good thing, my Peke pups Lewis and Tiffany will be 2 years old on the 14th of Dec. I have had them since they were 9 days old. I raised a litter of 6 of the little monsters when their mother, Naomi, was killed by a car. Just couldn't part with these two and they are a pleasure every day of my life. can't imagine life without them.

Less scratch, scratch, scratch
Wanted to update this subject with what I have found very helpful this summer with the constant itching of 2 of my Peke's.
First I have found it helpful to wipe their feet and belly's with UNSCENTED baby wipes. These can be purchased at any store that sells baby products. The important part of that sentence is UNSCENTED. You don't want to add perfumes to the problem.

Second if the addition of Omega-3 to their diet. You can buy this at any store that sells vitamins. I buy mine from Foster and Smith online when they have free or reduced shipping cost. I puncture one capsule and divide it between the 2 Peke's once daily. Please consult your Vet for the correct dosage for your pet.

Third they are now on "Healthy Coat Allergy Tabs" from Foster and Smith also. The main ingredients in these tab are bioflavonoid quercetin and bromelain. You could check Pet Smart or any other pet supply stores in your area. These liver flavored tabs can be crumbled in their food and they seem to like the taste. They get one tab each daily.

They have been on these supplements for 2 weeks and I am beginning to see an improvement in the itching. Some itching still but not the constant scratching and hot spots. Another thing that seems to help is a "puppy cut" for their hair (very short cut leaving only their ears and tails long).

Be sure when clipping their toe nails that they have the buffered rounded edges so there won't be any sharp edges. I have even put a shirt on them when the itching is at it's worst. These are just suggestions of things that are working for me. Again, please check with your Vet for advice on skin and any other problems but also be proactive and read, read, read.

Enjoy your babies and love them every day because you never know when illness or tragedy could take them away from you. One of my big dogs, Jackson, who is a Basset/hound mix has lymphoma and is on chemotherapy but even with aggressive treatment his life expectancy is only 18 months. SO - love them every day and ENJOY them every day.

Out of the blue I got a request to "baby sit" a Shih tsu I fostered last year. He is very cute as you can see from the picture but was a difficult foster because he came from a home where he was the responsibility of a 13 year old girl. He was taken to a shelter when he became very matted and out of control. He was very "snappy" and unsocialized when I got him. I just opened his kennel and left him alone for a few hours. When he quit grawling he came out of his kennel and began following me around. I had put the other animals in my home in another room due to his antisocial behavior. Long story made short - after many months of working with this dog he became a very sweet dog with only one really bad trait. He is very food aggressive. He found a home where he is loved very much and he has acted like a gentleman. I did have a very long discussion with the new family about his aggression with food or treats. Well, on the third day I had him back in my home I made the mistake of putting him in a very bad situation (I tried to move his food bowl before he was through with his dinner) and he bit me. He really meant to hurt me. While I should not have put him in the situation, he should NOT have reacted as he did. Now, when the family returns I will have to have an another serious talk with them and strongly recommend that they have an animal trainer work with him. He could really hurt someone. I would hate to have him returned to rescue because if he is a serious biter then he would have to be euthanized because you can't adopt out a known biter. So, he really is a sweet dog and I am very hopeful that a trainer can help them all work out this problem. And, yes, my hand is getting better.

Would love to have ideas which involve homeopathic remedies for the chronic Peke itchy skin. Have ruled out food allergies but now that spring is here the chronic itching has begun. Not fleas, seems to be just a way of life. Any ideas, hints????

Think it is about time I got this site that my son designed for me up and running. I have always been a big dog (and cat) person --- that is until I met Maggie. Use to do volunteer work at my local animal shelter and on one Saturday I noticed a small (13 lbs.)dirty, matted and in obvious pain dog. Her hair was so matted that she could not even go to the bathroom. I was told that it would be taken care of on Monday! ! ! !