Miss Hera Living the Life She Deserves

Here are photos, taken by her adopters, of Miss Hera Bera in her new home. I had tears in my eyes to see her looking happy and tired. I can tell she also was recently bathed. Here is the latest email I received from her people:

Today was her first big stretch alone. She was alone for 6 hours, and was very good. We are crating her when we are out, and are slowly working on having her uncrated. She only barks as we go out the door. Very good :). Yesterday she had a bath, which was very, very entertaining. I forgot about the fact that even with a good dry off, the water will stay in their undercoats. She shook and covered myself, and everything else in the bathroom, in hair and water. She also LOVES gardening with me. Mostly because she loves chasing the water from the hose. She gave digging a try, but after a firm "no dig" and treat, she seemed uninterested. I would not be surprised if she tried again, but I am sure we will break her of this habit.

Today, we gave her a good brushing. She likes wrestling and chewing which we incorporated into brushing. She was having a pretty good time.

Last night she also slept in her crate. The past few nights she decided to start barking at 3 a.m.. At first we thought it was because she needed to go to the bathroom, but her only goal seemed to be playing. When we put her in her crate, she settled right down and went to sleep.

We are currently working on Stay, Lie down, Sit, and Gentle(for walking). She just lay down on command. :) Here are a few Hera Pics :)

On our home visit, her new people had told me that she wouldn't be allowed on the couch. Well, maybe she can be on this couch.

Miss Hera Has Left the Building

And, it sure is noticeable. No fights, and no spinning. Don't get me wrong. She is a sweetie and loved her people, and that became a big source of the problem. Jealousy reared it's ugly head when Max or Zeetie came near us.

Hera Bera is, by all accounts, having a new and amazing life in her new home. They love her to bits. She gets the one-on-one time she needs and deserves. She is now pretty in pink, and has a blingy ID tag.

I'm hoping I'll get a photo to share with you in her new gear.

It was an amazing, amazing day!

Wow. It was an amazing day yesterday. The weather was perfect and supporters were out in full force. Thank you to everyone who volunteered and participated. Without you, HH could not save the dogs it does.

And, I was very close to my goal, just shy by $55.00. So, $1,145.00 is still tops to me and HH. Thank you to my amazing supporters for your generosity.

I finally got Max his beautiful, new martingale collar from Crazy Beautiful Collars. You will see a photo of him modeling it in the next post. I had little Miss Hera chipped for $25.00 (as an HH dog) for her adopters. Can't beat that price and all proceeds went to HH.

Gibson's Gallavants sold their gently used dog items, and also had raffle prizes. They really did a beautiful job on their table. Caitie trimmed nails. Brittany Veinot of PhoDOGrapher was busy clicking away, and I'm anxious to see what she has in her album from the Walkathon. Doodle Faces was painting children's faces in beautiful colours and designs, Canine Touch and Tell were doing their magic on dogs, and Know Thy Dog were educating people how to be proactive in their dog's health. Happy Hound Dog Traininer was giving training tips.

Without these vendors, this walkathon would not have been as successful as it was. A huge, huge thank you goes out to them. All proceeds from their sales came to Hopeful Hearts. This is simply amazing and generous of them.

The walk itself was perfect. We had two stops in the shade for rest. I walked with my dear friend Eileen who commented, as we walked by the Govern General's residence and as tourists snapped our pics and especially of my little 3-legged monkey, that this was deja-vous because we were sure all those tourist buses were the same ones parked there last year.

Hera stayed behind and, I'm told, was as good as gold with her sitters — Thank you!. Max, throughout the day, barked and growled at almost every dog he encountered. It could be a combination of Zeetie's teachings and his fear of not being able to defend himself properly should it be required.

A few people also took turns caring for Max while I helped out before the walk. One person (who will remain unnamed) had him adopted out several times over. He was unaware Max had a family, that being us. It was very funny, as someone approached me about him.

Best of all, over $14,000.00 was raised. Unbelievable. Roz is still in shock.

Click on the poster to enlarge it.

Comfort in Her Frog

She loves her frogs. They bring her much squeaky comfort.

I'm always trying to figure out what calms, and what excites our little miss. I do know the mornings and evenings are the most relaxing times for her. This is when she almost meanders on our walks, while leashed, of course. Occasionally, like last evening as garbages bins were out, she sensed something that bothered her. She stood low, head and neck out, as she barked at the unknown object. Perhaps it had a smell she didn't know. Most passersby would think she could have seen it, and laughed that she would bark at a bin. I went over to the object, put my hand on it, and tapped it. She comes over cautiously, smells my hand, and jumps in happiness. She started stepping onto the recycle bin, playing with me.

I am really attuned to noises that bother her like sirens, vehicles pulling noisy trailers, helicopters, vacuum cleaners, hair dryers, chain saws, and the list goes on. Some things I cannot hear that she hears. I become a little agitated, as well, as I hope the noise stops so Hera can relax.

We went to our usual fenced-in area for a walk recently. Max and Zeetie go hog hunting. Hera is most excited as she pulls me along. Partially, because the other two are in front, and partially from the fresh smells. We get into the enclosure, and close the gate. Hera gets us at a weak moment and pulls free. At last, instead of circling large circles, she 'trundle gallops' off after the other two, and hangs around at the groundhog hole with them. This departure from circling was really nice to see. Not sure what they are doing, she heads off, again. Don gets her, and we keep her secure in hand. She has little recall, yet.

Heading back, while the other two are behind, it's a lovely, quiet walk back to the car. You cannot imagine how lovely this is, when she is so serene-like.

I do know Zeetie and Hera have not played in awhile. Hera tries to engage Zeetie but Zeetie isn't having it. There have been too many scuffles for Zeetie to bother with her. Then there was the scuffle at 3:00 a.m. Hera seems to wake up about then, at which point I take her out to pee. Before I could get out of bed, with Zeetie on the bed, Hera meandered past Zeetie, probably put her face near Zeetie's, and away they went. I think Zeetie thought Hera was going to try to get on the bed, and in Zeetie's world, this will never happen. Well awake, now, I pulled Zeetie off while Don pulled Hera away. Nothing like a ruckus to bring us out of a dream world.

Then Zeetie got back into bed on Don's side, looking at me as Don petted her, as if to say, this is my bed, and poor me, blink blink. And, Hera was almost relegated to the crate but I stepped up for her. Once I took her out for her pee, she came back up, had a zoomie with her frog, and then passed out.

 Food smells continue to make her crazy, but sometimes now, she will even settle a bit during those times. We still cheat when we are tired after a day of physical labour, like last evening, and put her in the car while we prepare, then eat dinner. Barking and dog altercations are just too much for everyone, sometimes. She sleeps well, and we eat well.

As for Max, he will never like her. Hera knows this, and is doing well considering she has to live with two possessive room mates for the moment. She is a sweetie, and would love more human playtime with her toys. She does like when you putter in the kitchen (little food smell for this) as she lies on the floor, and plays with her toys. I sat outside with her last night on the step where she squeaked up a storm with her frog. Such simple and quiet activity with her humans is what seems to make her happy.

She is doing well in having to work through a sordid past. Sometimes we don't think so when she barks and spins during food preparation or an unseen or unheard noise, but she is progressing. She will be happy to move out, I think.

Cindy Lou has been found

Update: 

Cindy Lou was run over on her trek down the Queensway. She has a broken femur and it will be operated on shortly. If you would like to contribute towards the cost of surgery, please go to the Hopeful Hearts website, hit the Donations menu item, and click on CanadaHelps. There will be an option for Cindy Lou's fund. 

Genesis Dog Rescue Posted: Hi all I caught her with the help of a few people on the queensway at the top of the modie hill. She was in the middle of the queensway running against traffic, two other people pulled over to help along with an OPP officer and we corralled her under a stopped car. Then with the help of the officer I reached under and grasped her collar, and now she is safe. My name is Jon Dingledine and am a co-founder of Genesis dog rescue.

 We have talked with Jennifer and she coming soon! :) :) Hi all I caught her with the help of a few people on the queensway at the top of the modie hill. She was in the middle of the queensway running against traffic, two other people pulled over to help along with an OPP officer and we corralled her under a stopped car. Then with the help of the officer I reached under and grasped her collar, and now she is safe.

 My name is Jon Dingledine and am a co-founder of Genesis dog rescue.

 Many were out search last evening, Thursday, April 27th. There were sightings, meat bits gone, but the rain kept her holed up somewhere. Two traps are set. At one point yesterday, Cindy Lou was following them about 10 feet behind. They had their backs to her. And, then, a jogger went by. She was gone. You can get updates on facebook Finding Cindy Lou Who.

People are still needed in this rescue. They need people to form lines to move her towards the open where Jennifer and her daughter are. They are the only ones to approach her/bring her in. Note that she is very tiny. Although she looks sort of like a Jack Russell, she is much smaller. She is staying in the same area because she is familiar with Bruce Pit.
 If you are interested in helping out, head over to Bruce Pit. Bring some smelly food, and your cell phone. Call when you get there to find out where you are needed. Thank you so much for your help.

Do not approach Cindy Lou.  Should you see her, turn your back to her and call Jennifer quietly.

Please contact Jennifer Rose if you see her: 613.858.7071 

 Click poster to enlarge for details:

Bath Day

Four clean dogs and a lot of dirt and hair down the drain.

Hera was a star while being bathed. However, her stress was apparent as she couldn't settle at home. I put her in the upstairs crate (travel crate) and, she finally got a little sleep.

She does like to be groomed but she wasn't so happy about being up on the table. She kept trying to slide off.

Here are the bathed beauties. A picture is worth a thousand words.

Trickster is always trying to stop the action.

A full body shot of how her coat should look. The benefits of feeding raw are really showing in her coat. It is so full, it glimmers in the light, and is even longer now. The effects of a bath brought forth the best in her coat.

As an aside, this morning I came up from downstairs. Little Miss Hera was not there. It seems she went up to the bedroom on her own for the first time. Don didn't know I had left her up there. He heard something bumping around but went back to sleep. He went into the bathroom an hour later, came out and there was Miss Hera standing there, looking up at him. Such a sweetie! What a good girl!

I feel an adult only home with no other cat or dogs would be most suitable, at this point.

Little Miss also had visitors on the weekend. Hera was at her best but I know this isn't a good thing.

The Truth of the Matter

Hera is the product of my fellow human beings who have issues. She has come out of her lousy young life fairly unscathed. And, she is a puppy. That is the truth of the matter.

Probably starved as a younger pup, she is quite intense when food smells waft in the air. I crate her during food preparation and dining or scuffles will break out. Mostly with Max because he just has no time for her.

This is the result of one of those scuffles. Max had had it, and gave her a 'what for'. Ear bites can be pretty bloody so blood was everywhere each time she shook.

As a result, her right ear is a little more floppy.

Zeetie and Max were also products of a lousy beginning in life. With time, patience and consistency, they are the most wonderful companions for which I could have hoped.

Hera, too, will make the most devoted and adoring companion in the right family.

As time goes on, she is settling in. She still circles, and eventually, she will go lie down by the door, playing with her toys, and soon dozing off. She did something different this morning. I was amazed to see her sleeping next to Zeetie in the living room. Her comfort level is going up with each day. I'm so happy for her.

I would never have thought Zeetie could be a mentor to another dog. She actually will put up with Hera's challenging antics more and more.

She, like any dog, will stop to listen to unknown noises. She doesn't bolt away, surprisingly enough. She will bark at the sound of sirens. She does bark when confined to her crate while we eat so I've taken to putting her in the car (where she loves to be) when we want a quiet dinner. Sometimes, we listen to it because she needs to integrate into the household. She hasn't learned yet that she must lie down while we eat and not try to take from the table. She reminds me of the Helen Keller story in that regard.

There is so much to learn and she is getting it. One step at a time. It will all come together. I recommend a quiet adult only home for our sweetie.

People who meet her are amazed at how sweet she is. My neighbour walked her with me one day. She can't believe how courageous she is when she can't even see.