UPDATE 4/28/10: On Thursday April 22, in the wet state of Colorado, our own Col. Potter 's Crete came up missing. All of his 4 legged brothers and sisters were still in their crates or beds but, one blind, 11 year old, red wheaten was on the lam. Calls were made to Col. Potter , surrounding shelters, animal control, and neighbors. Foster Mom started walking, calling, banging the bushes, looking under cars, trucks, sheds, even stacks of lumber. At 10 pm the flashlights came out and the dogs came along to check the green belt, and down the side streets calling, calling, calling. Friday morning more alerts were sent out, Fed Ex, UPS, US Post Office, more time spent talking to neighbors, people walking by, area Vets, boarding facilities, and area groomers. All have posters, and posters are hung on every street within 5 miles. Another trip to the shelter aisles, looking into the sad eyes of the dogs who didn't have a loved one to search for them.

We get a call from the shelter - a Cairn has been picked up, but not our Crete . Saturday, Sunday, Monday more of the same. Finally on Monday out of the blue about 3:15 in the afternoon, a golden boy shows up in the front yard. He is scared, and has black dried spots on him. At first we thought he had been bitten, and the spots were dried blood. His leg is hurt and he won't put any weight on it. Into a crate and off to the vet we go. On exam he hasn't lost an ounce of weight, there are no puncture wounds, and it's not mud or blood in his coat just FLEAS. So he got an immediate application of Frontline. No injuries to speak of except the leg. So off to the emergency vet for an x-ray. It's clear the little guy is hurting and he has bruising on the inside of his leg all the way over to his groin area. He has deep purple bruising, the real "owwie" kind, but being a Cairn he doesn't whimper or whine. After a shot of pain reliever, he relaxes enough to give foster mom a kiss and heads off to x-ray. The vet comes in with the films, and says his pelvis is fractured in one place and maybe two. So we call an orthopedic surgeon, and the first estimate is $3000. Okay, we get a second estimate of $2000 to $3000. Crete stays overnight with the emergency vet, where a blood test is given. He has low potassium, gets an IV and pain meds. We check in with two other orthopedic surgeons and the best plan is still going to cost $1500. So we called the regular vet to let them know what was going on and luck had the traveling orthopedic surgeon is in to do surgery on another rescue girl. He offers to take a look at the films. Dr. Ed says he can fix Crete's pelvis. He loves Cairns and knows he's got another rescue pup on his hands, so his is estimate $1100 to $1500.

So our little recovered Cairn boy says "I need more prayers and some donations 'cause the Col. says they will fix me up. If you could help out with a buck or two by clicking on the Guardian Angel link at the top, then my bill won't hurt any of my cousins chances for a new life - like Col. Potter is giving me".

For updates on Crete, please see the listing on the Available Dogs page under CO.

Hi! My name is Gianna and I'm an 8 year old Cairn who is looking for a loving family to call my very own.

For updates on Gianna, please see the listing on the Available Dogs page under FL.

Carthage made it to freedom after spending all eight years of her life in a breeding facility The years at the breeding facility had taken their toll on Carthage. She is heartworm positive, stage 3, which is the highest level of infection. But that's not the worst of it for Carthage. She also had a very large breast mass which our vet was certain was cancerous. Normally, we would not consider doing surgery on a stage 3 heartworm positive dog. However, in Carthage's case, we couldn't wait for her to undergo heartworm treatment. She didn't have much time left if we didn't rid her of the cancer.

She has spent her first days of freedom at our vet's in Missouri enjoying a bath, a soft, warm place to sleep at night on cold winter nights, her own dish of good quality food and plenty of clean water to drink. Carthage has been a model patient, letting the vet staff do whatever is needed without one bit of a fuss. This little girl so deserves her chance at a happily ever after!

Our little girl's ALP blood levels continued to climb into dangerous levels despite every effort to help her liver bring the results down. Carthage's time was short unless we took some of the load off her overburdened little body. So the decision was made to remove the tumor. It's her only chance.

Carthage is one tough little Cairn! Surgery took more than two hours. The mass was huge; more than 4" long and tightly adhered to her muscle walls. She has 4 incisions throughout her abdomen and chest, the longest being more than 9" long to be able to get at the tumor from all angles and detach it from the muscles and other organs. Carthage held her vitals throughout the surgery. Her liver looks very pale and swollen. Hopefully getting the cancerous mass out will allow her liver to heal.

The next 24 hours are critical for Carthage. She is on IV and someone will be watching her most of the night,but, SHE MADE IT!

Her surgery was amazing, but didn't come without cost. If you are would like to help cover the cost of Carthage's surgery and heartworm treatment, please click on the Guardian Angel link at the top to make a donation.

For updates on Carthage, please see the listing on the Available Dogs page under KS.

Darra is a sweet girl with a serious skin problem. She came to Col. Potter with a yeast infection on large areas of her body as well as an ear infection. We are working with her to try to heal her skin and overcome the infections. Grooming, with her skin issues, is somewhat painful but is really important for her health. It's no surprise that she doesn't welcome the grooming sessions. Aside from this, Darra is a very loving and well-trained little girl. She lets you know in no uncertain terms when she has to go outside to do her business, but is otherwise quiet around the house. She gets along with the other dogs in her foster home, but she will probably not miss them when she goes to her forever home because she is very people oriented. Nothing is better than a cuddle with a human! Darra is very strong willed and needs a home with terrier experience, so that she knows who is in charge.

For updates on Darra, please see the listing on the Available Dogs page under MD.

Joie is a 4 year old Cairn who came into Col. Potter pregnant. She had her last litter of puppies just 9 months ago and here she is, delivering another litter. She's a sweet little girl who always has a tail to wag and kisses to give. She's just happy to be here and glad she has good things to eat with a warm place to sleep and have her puppies. Joie is safe now, and her puppies will grow up safe, too.

Joie had her puppies Monday, November 16th. She had 2 boys and 2 girls. They have happy names
like their mother: Mirth, Merriment, Glee, and Jocularity. Merriment wasn't strong enough to
survive and didn't make it through the birthing process but Mirth, Glee, and Jocularity are
growing up strong.

Pregnant moms and puppies cost money. There are tests and x-rays, equipment needed for having
puppies, good food and supplements to provide Joie and her puppies as much nourishment and
strength as possible, and all the medical expenses that come with having babies. Can you help Joie and her puppies with their many expenses? Think about becoming a Guardian Angel by
clicking on the link at the top, and help to give them the good start they deserve.

For updates on Joie, please see the listing on the Available Dogs page under MO.

2/26/10: Glacier came to her foster home very pregnant see that second photo?), and about to whelp. She gave birth to 5 adorable babies on February 23rd. All the puppy's names are derived from Alaskan Glaciers, except for Lucy's. They are Byrn Lare, Coal Spencer, Logan Taylor, Tyndal Reid and Princess Lucy Dell.

Mama Glacier is very sweet, she absolutely LOVES people, and she likes our cats and the other Cairns here. She's also smart as can be; she's learned how to use the stairs and she goes potty on a pad when I can't get her outside for a while. Would you like to be a Guardian Angel for this little girl who should have been retired from breeding when she was 5 – not almost 8! It's expensive to get a mama dog through the whelping and raising of her litter, so any amount you can help with will be greatly appreciated!

For updates on Glacier, please see the listing on the Available Dogs page under MS.

4/6/10: Mere has more than a urinary tract infection - she is in moderate kidney failure, but this is not a death sentence. While we're working to find out what's wrong with her, a number of blood and urine tests need to be performed to find out why she's in kidney failure. Unfortunately, these tests are not inexpensive. Please help with expenses so Mere can go on to have many more years of happiness and love with whomever adopts her. At around 6 years of age, she has lots of life to live yet!

In addition to the tests, we also had to adjust what she's eating and she is just thrilled with her new menu! Foster mom is cooking yummy food because that's the best way to provide the right amounts of the right nutrients. Mere feels better now than she has for years because she's getting the right foods and fluids. She had her first treatment of subcutaneous fluids today, which help keep her hydrated. Foster mom and foster dad learned how to do this at home, and Mere was a perfect little angel throughout. Everywhere she goes people say what a nice little girl she is. She loves to take walks, she loves to ride in the car, she loves to cuddle with foster papa on the couch, and she loves to bump into him when he's working on his computer. Mere is one really nice little girl! Won't you help her get over this hump and on to her forever home?

For updates on Mere, please see the listing on the Available Dogs page under OH.

Hi Everyone! My name is Jenner! I got named after Bruce Jenner because of my energy level and how active I am. I love to run and play with balls and toys! I race around my fenced in yard and I love it! I am six years old, I just had a birthday. I am very lovable when you can get me to sit still and I love to sit at foster mom's feet! I am looking forward to finding a good forever home that has lots of toys. I need a family that likes an active dog. If you are that family, fill out your application, because foster mom says I won't be here long!

For updates on Jenner, please see the listing on the Available Dogs page under WI.

UPDATE 4/18/10: Jaymee got good news last month! It was time for her eye exam and medicine renewal. The glaucoma pressure in her eye has dropped from forty to seventeen! She was so good for Dr. A.! They were so surprised at the pressure drop that it was done twice to double check the reading. And Ms Jaymee sat peacefully through the whole exam and ATE the TREAT from the vets hand! That was a first. Until now she has only taken treats from me. She has been prescribed the same medical regime and will continue on the current three drops a day. Our routine is one with breakfast, one with dinner and one with bedtime treat. When I set her bowl down, she quietly waits for me to administer the drop and then begins to eat. She has been quieter this winter, sleeping sounder and longer. I have startled her several times now walking up on her, when before she was always on alert when I entered the room. She doesn't run when I walk by, just stops and watches me. And frequently I feel her nuzzle my ankle or leg as I pass her. In the evenings when I am on the computer I feel her lying under the chair and little licks on the back of my leg. If seems a show of appreciation or affection - it is so gentle. Dr. A reminded me she is getting older and had led a rough life, that she may require more rest, but I just laughed and said I think she rested enough before! You should see her run with the pack now. Jaymee goes out the door with the group for morning potties and revelry! When a neighbor dares to walk their dog by the yard she is in the pack running back and forth - no longer watching from the background. When we play in the evenings she is full force on the run, stealing a toy whenever it gets near her! Having one eye is not a disability for her! Then her rest is calm and peaceful, spread out, and relaxed, not tight and tense. Jaymee appreciates her guardian angels help with her medicine, it has made the biggest difference in her life! Thank You!

For updates on Jaymee, please see the listing on the Available Dogs page under WV.