Before I went to meet the new arrivals on August 9, I stopped off at Deb's place to say hi to her crew... and her.
This group always makes me smile -- so many personalities amongst them. Calli, who I'd seen recently is so damn sweet and was first to greet me... with a big smile. I'm not sure if she's really 'smiling' so much as she's excited for a visitor... whatever, I'll take what I can get! Flashy I know has heard me pull up. And even though she won't take a treat from me (she did once a few years ago, but never again), she stands where she's knows I can see her so I toss treats her way that she promptly gobbles up. Roo and Mary Kate - who I haven't seen for a bit - were a bit slower to the game, but once they remembered, they were ready to accept the cupboard love. And Apex... well he just does his thing knowing I'll come to him when things have settled down. We also had a little brush session because it isn't always about treats. Apex and Roo LOVE being brushed and with the warm weather, there's a lot to brush! Then it was time to head out to meet the new arrivals, Cally + Ice. Here are a few pics from a short, but sweet visit with Flashy, Roo, Mary Kate, Calli and Apex, including Apex taking a treat from me... while I was taking photos with my phone... a first in the 7 years we've known each other. Remarkable. Cally and Ice -- two more former sled dogs made it into retirement on Monday!
First task was to put harnesses on the dogs, attach the GPS trackers and double leash them. Some dogs don’t always display as flight risks when they arrive into care, so it’s set up just in case. Their fosters have welcomed former sled dogs as fosters before and are part of the sleddie community here, so they know what to expect. All dogs are different when they arrive, but on this site, I’m referring to former sled dogs specifically. And I can honestly say that after they’ve had time to decompress, bits of their personalities emerge… it can take days, weeks, months, years even. But it’s so important that they get that opportunity to explore and exhibit behaviours of being just dogs. That they get the chance to learn what they like and don’t like, and be themselves. It’s incredible to witness. This is also helpful when matching them with adopters because you want to do your best to get the right fit the first time. But if it doesn’t work out, that’s ok because the dogs can always come back and the process can start again. So for Cally and Ice, retirement begins. And if retired life for them is like it was for my parents, they will be busier than when they were working. Their days will be filled with outings and socializing. Naps and time for relaxation. Good food along with some exercise in there to keep the weight in check and the arthritis from setting in too quickly. As they age, they may see the doctor more, but one will be there to help them along the way. Thank you to Jillian and Amanda for organizing and chauffeuring these two into retirement, and to their foster homes for helping them along this next part of their journey! And to the Victoria Humane Society who continues to help former sled dogs into retirement Welcome to retirement Cally + Ice! To the girl who did things her way. Who played hard, loved hard and napped hard. She created a life wherever she landed and the humans went along for the ride. This is how I saw Sassy. Her eyes, her floofy tail. Her joie de vivre. The way her 'smile' always made me smile. Some sleddies choose their own adventures and I'm grateful that Sass found a family who loved her, cared for her and understood her. Sweet Sassy hadn't been well but headed out for one last adventure, on her own. And although we can never know what a dog is actually thinking, it may give us humans some comfort to think she choose her life to the very end. To the huge community who took to the neighbourhood looking for her, to the kind family who found her laying peacefully in their garden. And most of all to her family... I send great thanks, appreciation and hugs for being a part of Sassy's Way. Read more about Sassy here, see more about Sassy below... |
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