There's Magic and Mischief in the Garden these days!

I'm writing from the garden, the dogs have finally settled since they were let out to the garden to play. They have been enjoying this summer very much and Our foster boy Billy, who has been neutered, has been enjoying extra attention from our Lab Daisy who's currently in heat! (Daisy will be spayed when she's a bit more mature in hopes to prevent any possible cancer later in her life.) needless to say it's been an entertaining week since the two love birds have been playing and wrestling. Daisy knows there's something really urgent she should know but she's still not quite sure what that is and she's quite energetic at the same time, comical! She's only 21 months old, not quite full grown and large breed so I think the more time I give her to fully develop the better. It's a bit of a nusance but we do manage!

John and I are lucky that we tend to have an inner connection with animals that allows us to appreciate their own worlds differently than most other people we know.  We are learning more as our puppies are growing and maturing and an almost wordless understanding is building between us. Such bonds aren't anything new or special really, anyone reading this would likely share a similar tale of the uncanny ability of *name of animal* to "read my mind" or understand weird commands. Animals have such fun personalities and when you really pay attention your can catch their uniqueness very well! I find their company that much more enjoyable. I find them fresh and energetic and playful, like children. And, like children they have tonnes of unconditional love to give.

That's also why we enjoy fostering so very much. Each of the 9 male dogs we fostered were different in such interesting ways and yet we were able to work with each of them and integrate them into our temporary pack. Daisy and our rescued Jack Russell Terrier named Mia have been amazing at their roles as foster sisters and they are growing into the roles so naturally and gracefully, really, with very few hiccups. Well, except for the barking thing...

My neighbors finally came over to visit in the spring about it. I was mortified for the dogs but also apologetic and I resolved to solve the issue. We do live in a dog neighborhood and now most of the other 6 or so dogs in the immediate vicinity bark more than our brood of mutts! We have used a range of techniques in order to help us, from muzzles and kennels, to halters and water squirt guns, we even tried that Bark-Off ultrasonic device. Lately though I can trace our success to a wonderful form of meditation and a radiating of peaceful love energy through the garden and beyond that I have been praticing and reminding myself to practice regularly. I sometimes chant a favorite Buddhist chant and enjoy the soothing energies it brings forward for me. I stretch, I breathe and I relax when I hear the dogs barking, ours or the others nearby,  I find it seems to calm things nicely and the dogs seem to enjoy it.

The inspiration to try this technique came following some on-going teleconferences and meditations with Katherine Wright Desai at Vitability.com and a group of fellow students. We were led over a 33 day period thorugh exercises to help us become more in tune to our true spiritual selves and able to maintain a centered joyful and loving balance in the midst of these energetic times we are living in! Tools and guidance and gentle nudges to help initiate the incorporation of a habitually balanced sense of being that is attuned to a feeling of oneness with the world, in love with life and experiencing the joy and wonder that exists in our world.

Another series begins soon, the Thriving Series and I welcome my curious or lighworking friends to join in - who knows we might even participate together in something by pure coincidence and synchronicity! That might be fun!
With love,
...from the garden

Urgent Appeal - Jack Russell Terrier Rescue of Ontario NEEDS HELP!!!

I received a copy of this notice today from some of my friends at Jack Russell Rescue and thought it best to post this as many places as I can. Here's what I received;

    "The Jack Russell Terrier Resue is in an emergency situation at present. We have dogs that are in shelters and in undesirable homes. We need to get them help however we do not have enough foster homes. This week good fortune shone on our heads as a new foster came to the resue of Oliver (a young Jacj that was having a difficult time in the shelter.) This lucky jack is being resued by a new foster Dad who is not only willing to take this dog into his home but is making the long drive to Ottawa to pick him up. We have other jacks who are on our waiting list. Dameon is one such dog. The poor guy is living at a boarding kennel. He sounds very sweet and is dog, stranger and kid friendly. He is 9 years old. He should be in a loving home for Christmas.


    There are many other Jack Russells needing our care also. These rescued dogs can come with their own difficulties. As a rescue we know that good foster homes can make the difference for them.  These dogs require not just a place to live but a chance to be part of a family with schedules, structure, discipline, understanding and love. e are desperate for foster families. Please look into your heart, you life and see if you can take in another Jack Russell. If you know of anyone who would like to foster please have them contact us.
     WE ARE DESPERATE. WE NEED YOUR HELP!"

************************************************************************

And here's a few pointers if this is catching your attention - Please Note:

1. JRTRO operates in Ontario, Canada with dedicated volunteers, adopting families and foster homes across the province. 
2. With economic and high stress situations as those occurring at present, family pets are often the first to suffer the fate of abandonment, or worse.
3. Jack Russell Terriers are one of many particular breeds that do not respond well to animal shelter housing for any length of time. Fostering is a very effective tool in the process of an adoption as the animal can feel safe and loved, less threated when meeting a potential new family. They can get the care, attention and interaction they thrive on and find their transition to a new family a more secure and comfortable one.
4. Where ever you are in the world you can bet there's an organization near you that has the same need. Look them up on line or through your local city or town hall. You've no idea just how much your help is appreciated by these groups and the many animals who need care, love and support.
5. Besides it truly is the natural thing to do. In nature abandoned babies or youngsters are often adopted and raised by other animals - sometimes odd combinations too!
6. And then there's the love you can give to an animal - not for a long term commitment, but instead  simply to be there and help in a time of dire need, when often the only other option for an animal is euthanasia unless a permanent home can be found immediately which is too difficult to arrange.
7. The sloppy kisses of appreciation you'll receive from some lucky pup will be treasured believe me!
8. It's almost like being a foster family for kids but instead you take in an abandoned & rescued animal!

************************************************************************

If Jack Russell Terriers Had Wings...

If Jack Russell Terriers had wings, this would be a very different world!

Indeed our one year old Jack named Mia is the friskiest little alpha female I've met yet! And we swear she sits at the end of our deck, watching birds, squirrels and chipmunks skitter through the trees around and near our backyard garden just wishing she had wings to fly up to the trees and get on the hunt! She's already proved to be a good mouser with 2 notches in her collar and she loves chasing bugs and bees! Unfortunately she also managed to catch two young sparrows through the course of the summer - she does have a love for hunting!

Running, jumping (very high!) and wrestling are her next favorite activities - that and anything having to do with water, she loves water and will stay in it while she shivers. I usually have to pick her up with a towel to get her out! What a girl! Bath-time is a cinch at least! She's my first Jack Russell puppy, we have fostered several male Jack puppies since adopting Mia and we've had such great fun in the garden with them all and our other pup who'll be one year old this month; Daisy. She's a beautiful Black Lab-Doberman cross.

One thing I can say, it's a wild and crazy kinda place in the garden with a slew of puppies running around! We have had to adjust our garden to keep them away from plants that might make them sick and protect the plants from being trampled. Fences had to contain the garden and then we learned we needed to raise the height of several fences because Mia can jump 5 - 6' when she's got a good run at it! She has escaped several times on us and we've had a few good frights. Truly, it's as if Mia has wings sometimes the way she leaps and jumps - spring-loaded terrier.



That speed and stealth helps Mia when she's playing with Daisy who is now three times her size and out-weighs her by 60 some odd pounds at least! Because they've been together since they were both young they love each other dearly and while they tousle and growl and grab each other by the ears they have a ball then plop down together for a good nap or a good chew on their rawhide sticks.  



I love the playfulness they've added to the garden! Once I get the lawn replanted things will look a little better but grass is something that grows fairly easily so I'm just waiting for the pups to settle down a bit before we expend all the energy to get a lawn going again! Maybe another year or two before we go to the effort of adding top soil and sod. It's the easy way and does work better then trying to re-seed a lawn with dogs running around!

Billy, our latest foster boy; Here's his page on PetFinder

Highlighted portion copied from Petfinder.com site.;

Billy Jack Russell Terrier Size: Small Age: Baby Sex: Male ID: Notes: This is Billy, he is about one year old and came to us from a shelter. Mr Billy is a happy go lucky high energy jack,  he has the sweetest face and is very nicely marked, he  does have long legs and stands about 15 1/2 inches tall at  the shoulder and is 18 lbs. He is very smart and knows sit,  shake, gives 5 with the other paw and can roll over! He is  very vocal but is learning Not to bark in the house,, he has  had no accidents and runs to the door when he needs to go  out,, he sleeps very nicely in his kennel and stays in the  kennel quietly when I put him in for quiet times. He does  need lots of exercise and would be a great dog to do fly ball  with or Jack Russell trials,, he is very fixated on toys or  balls. He loves my teenage son and seems to love kids,  but might be too rough with very young children.  He likes other dogs and wants to play all the time! This pet is up to date with routine shots. This pet is already house trained. This pet has been altered. Jack Russell Terrier Rescue Ontario (JRTRO) Toronto, ON adoptions@russellrescue.org 8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 Billy, our latest foster boy. He's been with us only a couple of weeks.Can't believe he may already get adopted. Lucky boy is sweet and deserves a great forever home. He's still just a pup and has a whole lifetime of loving to give to his people, and he'll be happy to be their puppy. Billy loves to fetch, though he doesn't deliver too well! He drops things nearby. He hasn't learned to "give" or release. Though he does understand leave it! He adores having his tummy rubbed once he's come to trust you he'll be quite loving and submissive. Billy is a very vocal fellow. Patience and gentle persistence will be needed to help him learn to bark appropriately. He communicates his desires through various barks; I have to go out, ball is stuck somewhere - help please!, Toss the ball please, let's play, hey, she stole the ball, my chew stick, my toy... oh yeah - he's such a little boy still, he does whine and yelp with a squeak!! I think once he settles down and learns how to communicate nicely with his family they'll find him to be quite a little talker in the group. He's enjoyed the safety of playing freely in a fully fenced large yard frolicking with two female dogs Mia, a 1 yr old Jack Russell Terrier and Daisy a 10 month old black Labrador pup. They run obstacle  courses and fly off the end of the deck when playing hide and seek with each other. Though sometimes Mia will get too grumpy, often the three of them will eat and drink from the same bowl. This is one special little pup. He needs lots of attention, lots of exercise and structure plus plenty of chew time. Best kenneled when alone for his own safety. Billy will often go into a kennel on his own when he wants to take a nap or a little rest or to chew his rawhide stick. Once he warms up to a person and feels he can trust them he's very cuddly and happy to curl up on a lap or beside someone on the couch to be scratched and stroked or to quietly chew his rawhide. Likes to tear things apart, stuffed toys, socks and what have you. Best toy though is a squeaky ball - will keep him thrilled for hours - though will keep you busy too. Controlling barking with spray bottle of water works very well with Billy. Used just when barking is excessive. I'm very happy with the technique.                              Hi I'm Billy!

Fostering really is the Natural Way

Lately a lot of the posts here for the garden have focused on adopting abandoned animals, fostering and the challenges of training puppies and keeping them safe in the garden. It wasn't really my intention to see our blog be centered on pet issues and yet what has come through from these experiences has been the discovery of more of nature's magic. There it was; plain as the nose on my face!

Fostering really is Nature's way. You see birds and dogs and cats do it. This points to me of how very important it is that people who are drawn to helping other creatures, including humans, follow through on their feelings and their inspirations. This is a natural instinct among living beings.

My thoughts drift to 2005, when I was freshly inspired by my calling to the garden and the wisdom it spoke to me. This came to be just weeks before Katrina bore down on the Gulf Coast of the US. At that time people came together to help each other. Multiple levels of government and specialists in safety and rescue with almost unlimited funds at their disposal seemed unable to step up to help without tripping over red tape and politics.

Fostering is what was arranged for people who had nowhere to go after government assistance ended and there were still no homes available for those left homeless in Louisianna and elsewhere! It might not be what people call it but it works out to the same sort of thing.

Right now in the United States and Canada there are countless living beings who need your help. One of the easiest ways to help is fostering. If you have the room in your home, foster children or even families. If you don't have that sort of room but still have that space in your hearts and your yards; foster dogs, cats, rabbits, pot bellied pigs, horses or other animals in need. Seek out local shelter and animal rescue groups and learn what's needed in your area. Offer those groups your administrative or fundraising skills if you can't possibly foster people or animals.

In these hard times many families and their pets will suffer without some sort of assistance. As a foster mother for Jack Russell Terriers I can attest to the needs out there that arise out of family break ups, the loss of a family bread-winner, and sudden life changes that prevent some people from being able to continue to care for family pets. None of these situations can be controlled by the pet and they come to their neediness out of no fault of their own. Animals require attention and love, exercise and socialization and these needs don't end as changes occurr in their lives.

If you've ever had the inclination to help - consider it again and make a few enquiries, someone will be happy to learn you're interested in helping. You might get a big sloppy kiss from some loveable pup for your efforts, but heck, it could be a lot worse!

Back to the Jack!

Jack met his new family a couple of weeks ago, this is a shot of his new sister Maggie.

His new owners thought it might be fun to change his name slightly to Mack. It's so close to his earlier name and he's still so young and eager that a name change likely won't cause him any stress! Maggie and John Mack, sporting a muzzle

for safety and showing

off his heart!

"Getting to know you..." This family is now having loads of fun romping together in their own garden! Don't you just love it when a plan comes together? But then that's the little bit of magic that happens when a dog is in need and a family wants to add to their pack. Like radar, they often seem to seek out and find each other.

Rescuing Jack

Meet Jack

When I recently told a friend I was considering rescuing a young dog and giving him a foster home until a suitable forever home can be found for him, she wondered out loud - "what are you thinking?" Okay sure, with two dogs of our own it may seem like a wild idea to bring another dog home, but this little Jack needed some TLC and attention. He was suffering emotionally from separation anxiety and the poor little fellow had no idea or control over what happened to his owners.

He's just a pup, at 10 months old and really just wants to be loved, be safe and get to play his heart out. That's all most Jack Russells want, a safe loving home (safe, as in JRT proof!) with lots of play and stimulation plus room to run, hunt and explore! I enjoy the breed and their happy, energetic personalities. They have a reputation for being troublemakers but usually the dogs are less responsible than their owners for lack of training! Jack Russell Terriers do require a bit more attention than many other breeds and new owners often learn that the hard way.

Our family are now the proud rescuers of a total of three Jack Russells; Keisha whom we lost last winter to cancer, Mia we adopted near the end of winter when she was 6 months old, and now Jack. Our other dog, Daisy is a large black Labrador-Doberman cross, she's the youngest and yet she plays babysitter with the other dogs. We adopted Daisy when she was a tiny 6 wk old pup. We brought her home to meet Keisha during her last days with us. Meeting Keisha helped Daisy learn some respect for an older sick animal and other important socializing skills. Not long after Keisha died we began looking into adopting another Jack Russell and that's when Mia came to stay with us. Mia and Daisy have grown together like litter-mates and now Mia doesn't seem to notice Daisy is three times her size, they play and fight and romp together and then curl up and snooze together too!

Three dogs, does it seem too much? Nah! But, if I help JRTRO by rescuing and adopting Jack but then have no more room for dogs then JRTRO would lose me as a contact, other than for referrals. Instead my partner and I felt we could help get little Jack settled and more comfortable here while volunteers with Jack Russell Terrier Rescue of Ontario work to find him a suitable home. Then Jack can be paired with a loving family and our family, including our two babysitting puppies can move forward to help another stranded and frightened Jack Russell. Our two dogs, Daisy is 7 months old and Mia is 9 months or so. They never cease to amaze me and I'm thrilled to help them help others of their species. They are becoming fabulous hostesses!

So while people may wonder where my senses have gone, bringing in a foster puppy keeps our two puppies well occupied, gives them a sense of purpose and provides a wonderful gift to an animal in dire straights through no fault of his or her own. Our house is really too small for foster kids but our yard and hearts are certainly big enough to foster unfortunate animals!