Well, the summer is drawing to a close-we hope it was a good one for everyone. There are not many changes here in Redding, and unfortunately, not many adoptions. There are so many more Pei who need our help, but due to lack of space availability we can't take them in. We will be adding a couple of new "kids" so please take look when you have a minute. We have so many great dogs here who always seem to be passed over. It seems the longer they are here, that people begin to think there is something wrong with them. I can assure you there is nothing "wrong" with them other than having been left behind when adoption time comes. All of our "kids" deserve loving homes, and although they have a home with us for as long as it takes, it is our wish for all of them to have there own families. We spend individual time daily with every Pei here, but after all there are only two of us for all of them. Please consider one of our long time residents when it is time to open your heart and home to a new family member.

Well, the summer is drawing to a close-we hope it was a good one for everyone. There are not many changes here in Redding, and unfortunately, not many adoptions. There are so many more Pei who need our help, but due to lack of space availability we can't take them in. We will be adding a couple of new "kids" so please take look when you have a minute. We have so many great dogs here who always seem to be passed over. It seems the longer they are here, that people begin to think there is something wrong with them. I can assure you there is nothing "wrong" with them other than having been left behind when adoption time comes. All of our "kids" deserve loving homes, and although they have a home with us for as long as it takes, it is our wish for all of them to have there own families. We spend individual time daily with every Pei here, but after all there are only two of us for all of them. Please consider one of our long time residents when it is time to open your heart and home to a new family member.

Thanks to all of you who offered your help to Wizzard in so many ways-we are all very grateful. Wizzard was rescued by a local rescue group on Friday, and they will care for him until he finds his forever home. It really was a close call, but the word got out about him, and he was spared the needle.

First, we would like to thank everyone who expressed an interest in Odin. Odin has been adopted and will be living in Santa Cruz with Jane and Bruce. We never have enough puppies to go around, but all of our other "kids" need good homes as much as Odin did-maybe even more. Please consider an adult Pei as a new addition to your family. That brings us to "Wizzard" and his story. Wizzard has been in a shelter in Southern CA for thirteen months and if not adopted or placed in an all breed rescue will die there at the end of the work day on Saturday, Aug 7. I will let him tell you his story.

Hello. My name is Wizzard. I have been residing at the Rancho Cucumonga Shelter in Southern CA for the last 13 months, which means I came here before I was even one year old. It is thought that I am a Greyhound/Shar Pei mix, although I seem to have more of the Greyhound characteristics. I am energetic and would make a good running or jogging companion. I am told that I am smart, but I have no way of knowing that nor do I care. I am crate trained and good on a leash, and I love my toys and treats. I have spent some time with some lady friends here that are about the same size and age as I am, and all I want to do is play! I have even been featured as Pet of the Week, but still I am skipped over. I think it's the color of my fur. I know some of you have experienced discrimination for one reason or another, but you won't pay for it with your life. I will. You see, no matter how wonderful I am, I will die at the end of the day on Saturday. I really need you to help me find a place to go. If you can't adopt me, maybe you know someone else who will open their heart and home to me. Perhaps you know an all breed rescue that could help me find a forever home. The shelter staff and volunteers have come to know and love me (that's why I have been here so long)and they have tried so hard to help me find a home, but now it's come down to the wire because there is no more room for me. I am begging for my life. Please help me find a family so that I can show them what unconditional love really is-I have so much to give and so much life left to live-at least I
hope so... Thanks for taking the time to read about me.

Wizzard Thank you sooo much Anna. I love this dog that is why I am (personally) offering the $200 donation to anybody who will rescue him. He is smart, active, loves to go for walks with volunteers here (and he is great on leash). He is Pet of the Week (feature pet) but people skip over him because he is brindle color and they want light colored animals (same with black cats). I really don't get it - he should have been adopted along time ago. He is so cute! He does get protective of his area, loves toys and treats, does very well in his crate at off site events. We had him paired with spayed female dogs - about the same age and size as he is - he just wants to play. I will be in tomorrow and Friday, but off on Thursday and Friday this week. I can work with you until August 7th, then that is about it. Hope and pray someone comes thru on this guy! Thanks again so much, Barbara

Barbara Hansen Community Programs Specialist Animal Care and Adoption Center 11780 Arrow Route Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 Tel (909) 466-7387 ext:2075 Fax (909) 919-2698 www.rcpets.info

Hello Everyone, Odin here. I have been reading this blog and thought I would post the straight skinny, as there seems to be a bit of confusion regarding my eye sight. As you can see from my statement, “I’ve been reading", I don’t have any problems seeing. I arrived in the care of my foster mom with my eyes cloudy. But with a couple of weeks of meds and continued daily use of lubrication, my eyes have cleared up and I can see quite well. When Mom lets me out in the morning I go out and pee and then walk over to the place she keeps the lubricating drops, and I sit waiting for her to administer the drops. I do so enjoy the post drops treats she gives me. There is some scarring, but it does not bother me or impede my ability to “run-h..l-bent-for-election” across the yard to tackle one of the Pei that lives here or to go in and out of the house to find Mom. I've become quite the social butterfly. Yesterday I had a play-date with Calvin, a neighbor’s cat. We had a grand time playing and I am invited back anytime. I understand my next play-date will be with a couple of Chihuahuas, and I am so looking forward to that. TTYL- Odin

Odin's eyes are clearing up. He sees just fine. I know he does not 20/20, but he does not run into anything, either. After yesterdays vaccination shot, I let him run around the downstairs with the big dogs. He comes in and out the back-door and all the way down the hall to my office. He never ran into anything in the house or in the yard. His eyes are no longer cloudy, but the vet said there is some scarring.

It is with great sadness that we must tell you that Mr. Wrinkles, the puppy with Parvo did not make it. He died this afternoon in spite of receiving the best care possible. We have the peace of mind of knowing that when he passed, he was warm and clean and much loved. We're sorry we couldn't do more for you Mr. Wrinkles, but you have a place in our hearts, and we know you are now painfree and in a better place. Until we meet again...

It's long overdue so here is an update for the homepage:

It's welcome to summer here in Redding with the temperatures finally hitting the triple digits. Our "kids" are comfortable since their kennel is cooled. It was cooler out there this morning than in our house. We are hoping things will cool down a bit, but it is, after all, summer in Redding!

First, we want to thank everyone who helped with a donation to help get the dog food in Southern CA to Redding. All of your help is much appreciated and for now we are ok in terms of food for our "kids". We do need your help again (still). This year we have taken in dogs with very serious health concerns which result in very high vet bills. It started with Mitchell, then there was Newman who had a broken leg, and we have Alphie (who is not on the website yet) who needed soft palate surgery to be able to breath better and also has a severe case of mange which requires daily treatment and weekly medicated baths. We have taken in eight Pei who needed eye surgery as well as needing to be altered. We also have a five week old Pei boy we just took in who is blind. He will be seeing a vet this week to determine what is the best course of action for him. His "breeder" took him to a vet hospital and wondered if they would take care of him if she took him to a shelter. They would have "taken care of him" before she was out of the parking lot, and we couldn't let that happen. She wouldn't even pay for the ointment he needed for his eyes to make him comfortable. Yesterday we took in a four month old Pei from his third owner during his short life. He was vomiting and wouldn't eat. It turns out he has Parvo and as I write this he is fighting for his life. As long as he is willing to fight, we are willing to fight for him.

All of this comes at a huge expense. Our vet bills for the rescue so far this year are approaching $25,000, and we are only half way through the year. We realize that times are tough and are very appreciative of any amount you might be able to help with. It all adds up and helps us to continue to help those Pei who have nowhere else to go. Up until now we have never turned down a dog because we could not take care of its medical needs. We would like to continue to be able to do that for the poor dogs who need us.

I recently talked to someone who wanted to know if we are "all about the money" and if we make a living from these dogs. I was somewhat offended and hurt that anyone would think that. Please know that 100% of your donation goes towards helping our "kids"-no one associated with this rescue is paid. Rich and I are passionate about what we do here and are happy that we are able to donate our time 24/7 to caring for these dogs. What we get in return is not payment in money but in knowing that there are hundreds of Pei out there who we helped to get out of bad situations and into loving homes. Rescue dogs are very grateful for what they receive once they get here-they let us know by sharing their love with us everyday, and that is something money can't buy. It is payment enough for us.

Please help our "kids" if you can, and have a great summer.

Anna and Rich

It’s been a while again since our last update. As far as Mitchell goes, his bloodwork is now normal and so is he. He is a happy, healthy boy, running around the house and tormenting us with the constant enjoyment of his “squeaky” toys. Rich believes he was sent to us to help us get through the loss of Kaiya and Magoo and to help make us whole again. Mitchell is making every effort to do that, and is a great source of laughter for us.

Yesterday we again had to say goodbye to another one of our “kids”. When I went out to the kennel at 4am yesterday I noticed that Carson had not eaten his dinner. I talked to him and offered him his favorite treat, chicken jerky, but he wouldn’t eat that either. Even that was not cause for alarm, because occasionally in the past he would skip a meal. He did, however, seem to be a little out of sorts, and he also had a very “distant” look in his eyes. I remember thinking that we would probably lose him soon. I finished my kennel chores and came back into the house. About 15 minutes later Rich came in and told me Carson had put his head down and gone to sleep for the last time.

Carson had been with us for five years. It became evident soon after getting him that he was a “difficult” dog. He would not allow anyone but us to handle him, and at that even we couldn’t push him to do anything he did not want to do. He was a big boy-around 80 pounds-so we respected his wishes! Carson was happiest when he was “sucking” on his blanket eventually making it look like Swiss cheese-and he went through a lot of blankets in the time he was with us! We wanted for Carson what we want for all of our “kids”, and that is become part of a family of their own. When we realized that was not going to happen for Carson, he became a member of our family. We made the same commitment to him that we make to every Pei who comes into our program. If we are not able-for whatever reason-to help them find their very own family-they have a home here with us. So, even though Carson was not a Pei we could really get close to, he was a friend to us. We loved him and will miss our “big boy” who now joins Kaiya, Wendy, and Magoo who have all passed in the last four months and the many others who have gone before them.

If It Should Be If it should be that I grow weak And pain should keep me from my sleep; then you must do what must be done; for this last battle can't be won.

You will be sad, I understand; But don't let grief then stay your hand. For this day more than all the rest, Your love for me must stand the test.

We've had so many happy years; What is to come can hold no fears. You don't want me to suffer so The time has come, please let me go.

Take me where my needs they'll tend, but please stay with me 'til the end To hold me close and speak to me Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time you will agree, It was kindness done for me. Although my tail its last has waved, From pain and suffering I'm saved.

Please do not grieve that it was you Who had this painful thing to do. We've been so close, we two, through the years; Don't let your heart hold any tears.