Lauren's Dogs, 03/22/10

Here's a cute picture that was just forwarded to me -- Buddha & Tanooki and their three new brothers and sisters (the "pug gang").  Trixie was, of course, too busy playing to sit still for a picture.

Home Sweet Home

I wanted to share a few new pictures of Trixie, Buddha, and Tanooki relaxing and playing at their new home --

Buddha

Tanooki

Trixie

I received the following e-mail from their new mom, Diane, today --

"Trixie is beginning to put on weight now that I have her on a raw high protein diet. She loves to play with mid size dogs. She is a sweetheart as are the pugs. They are all getting fed well, lots of treats and lots of love."

Family pics of the "the gang" coming soon!!!

The verdict?  Lauren's fur babies look comfy, cozy, and all settled in. Which makes me a very happy Brandi.  Isn't life grand?

And they're off!

 

Let me start off by saying:

1. I'm not really an emotional person, 
2. I'm not one to cry (unless I am really pissed off about something),

but, you are looking at two pictures that brought a tear (or two!) to my eyes last night.  That's Buddha and Trixie, on their way to Colorado.  Tanooki is along for the ride, but he was being camera shy.

It absolutely makes my day to know that Lauren's fur babies (who meant the world to her) are going to be home with their new family soon.

More pics to follow!

Lauren's Dogs, 02/04/10

Buddha, Tanooki, and Trixie have a home! TOGETHER!

I last spoke with their new adoptive mom last Thursday, and plans were in motion to transport all three to their new home in Colorado. They'll have three new friends (all pugs) to keep them entertained.

In other news, Tanooki is in much better health. They were able to locate an infection and treat it appropriately. He is doing wonderful now ~ back in good spirits and happy to be with his sisters. The best news is that there were no neurological issues and NO brain tumor.

I can't begin to give enough thanks to all of the kind e-mails and phone calls that I received when I was so desperate to find a home for these babies. I have not been able to thank each of you individually, but I please know that I am beyond grateful for all of the good advice, information, and well wishes.

I've asked the new family to send me some pics once they are all settled in together. I have no doubt that Lauren knows her fur babies will be well taken care of.

Adopt-A-Pet

Adopt-a-Pet.com is the world's largest non-profit pet adoption website. Essentially, they are like an ad agency for shelters and shelter pets. Sadly, there are 4 million healthy adoptable companion animals killed in shelters each year due to overcrowding. The goal of Adopt-A-Pet is to to relieve that problem and put pets from shelters in the homes of pet seekers all over the country.

The website makes it easy for anyone with an internet connection to find profiles and pictures of adoptable animals by location, breed, gender, age, size, and color. Over 8,000 shelters posts pets displaying over 125,000 pets available for adoption at any given time. They also help volunteers connect with shelters, and currently host over thousands of people listed in our volunteer database for shelters.

Please stop by and read their blog! The moderators at Adopt-a-Pet work hard to create over 100 posts a year about everything from pet care tips to good news surrounding pet adoption.

All three of my kitties are rescues - Issy and Beau lived on the local Marine base in Bessemer, AL and Hallow was found trying to cross the road outside Winonah School of Cosmetology. Of course, all three have stolen my heart (and made themselves quite comfortable in my house), but it reminds me of the importance of Adopt-a-Pet's mission.

Please spay or neuter your animals! Too much of a good thing is not a good thing ... shelters are overflowing.

Lauren's Dogs 01/10/10

I apologize that I haven't had the opportunity to update my blog with the most recent information about Trixie, Buddha, and Tanooki. I ended up back in Club Med on Friday and the first 1/2 of my week was crazy busy at work - trying to finish up things that were outstanding and then also cleaning, packing, doing laundry, etc.

Here's an update on what's happening with the dogs. I believe that some of the earlier e-mails are getting recirculated.

There was a family in rescue (here in Birmingham, AL) that were going to be able to adopt the dogs this past weekend (January 2). Everything looked good - the GHHS was confident that it would happen and they pulled the PetFinder links. On Saturday, the family spoke with the GHHS. They currently have 1 English Setter and 7 pugs as well as other pets. The English Setter tends to roughhouse with the pugs and likes to play - A LOT. There was some concern over how Trixie (the boxer) would react because she is so overprotective of her pugs (Buddha and Tanooki). In addition, they have cats and were not sure how well the three of them would mix with the cats. So they declined to adopt the dogs at the last minute. I found out on Saturday morning, but wasn't able to speak to the GHHS until Tuesday (the facility is closed on Monday).

Right now, the dogs are still at the shelter (Greater Huntsville Humane Society). They've been there since shortly before Thanksgiving. They are still available for adoption.

They will stay there for the time being. We do still have the option to move them to the boarder / kennel in Montgomery if necessary, but the GHHS assured me that they have the means to care for them and the dogs have actually settled into a routine. Angela was going to begin working with Trixie this week on being apart from the pugs during the day to try and work through some of the anxiety / overprotectiveness that they've seen. We are going to continue trying to find a family to adopt them together, but if worse comes to worst, the dogs may have to be separated. I sincerely hope that does not happen, but I understand the reality.

Angela said not to worry about the dogs during while I was in the hospital, and that she will keep a close watch on them. Of course, I will be calling to check for updates, but I may not be able to be quite as active as I have been in finding them a home while I am in the hospital. I will have access to phone / e-mail / and internet but don't always feel good because of the medicines (antibiotics) that I have to take.

(Bump)

The Greater Huntsville Humane Society has agreed to accept directed donations on behalf of these three. If you can support Lauren's dogs, please donate to the Greater Huntsville Humane Society.

You can mail a check to:

GHHS
2012 Johnson Road
Huntsville, AL 35805

Please include a note with your check that the funds are for the care of Buddha, Tanooki, and Trixie.

You can also donate online. Again, please specify that the gift is in honor of Buddha, Tanooki and Trixie.

(Bump)

I am also continuing to raise money on behalf of Buddha, Tanooki, and Trixie, in Lauren's memory. All monies will be used for the care (boarding, food, vetting expenses) of Lauren's fur babies. Any remaining monies will be split 50/50 between the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the ASPCA (Lauren's favorite charity). I am using ChipIn (recommended by one of the many rescue groups that I have been in touch with) to accept online donations.



Alternatively, you can mail a donation. A bank account 'In Memory of Lauren Sturdivant' has been established at Compass Bank in Birmingham, AL. This is not a tax-deductible donation as I do not have non-profit status at this time (in process!), but I will mail you a receipt for accounting purposes. If you'd like to mail a donation, please contact me via e-mail.

If you have any questions, please e-mail or leave me a comment. If I don't respond immediately, don't worry. I will respond as soon as I am able (because of the high-dose antibiotics that I have to take, there are sometimes of the day that are pretty miserable).

THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY FOR ALL OF THE HELP!

Lauren's Dogs. 12/30/09

Hello all -

I am sorry for the delay in posting this information. My partner-in-crime at the office is on vacation this week, so I am staying fairly busy. And the days just seem to go by far to fast.

This weekend (December 26), my aunt and I made a road trip to Huntsville, AL. We went to meet with Lauren's grandfather and also to check on Lauren's dogs, who are still in the care of the Greater Huntsville Humane Society. I thought I would share a few pictures with you of Miss Trixie, Buddha, and Tanooki.



I did not get to meet with Angela on Saturday as she was not there, but I spent quite a bit of time talking with one of the other staff members. The dogs are doing OK. They have a large kennel of their own and they are kept together at all times. They've been allowed to play on the "puppy playground" with the other dogs and get along well with others - no aggression issues. The biggest concern is still Trixie's anxiety about being separated from the pugs.

We are still hopeful about finding a home for Lauren's fur babies. I've been in touch with so many people in the rescue world and I can't express enough thanks for all of the information, help, and kind words I've received.

The Greater Huntsville Humane Society has received several donations to help fund the care of Buddha, Tanooki, and Trixie while they are there. However, expenses will continue and I, unfortunately, can not afford to pay for all three dogs on my own.

I am continuing to raise money on behalf of Buddha, Tanooki, and Trixie, in Lauren's memory. All monies will be used for the care (boarding, food, vetting expenses) of Lauren's fur babies. Any remaining monies will be split 50/50 between the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the ASPCA (Lauren's favorite charity). I am using ChipIn (recommended by one of the many rescue groups that I have been in touch with) to accept online donations.



Alternatively, you can also mail a donation. A bank account 'In Memory of Lauren Sturdivant' has been established at Compass Bank in Birmingham, AL. This is not a tax-deductible donation as I do not have non-profit status at this time (in process!), but I will mail you a receipt for accounting purposes. If you'd like to mail a donation, please contact me via e-mail.

We may have a lead on a family in Birmingham, AL that will be able to adopt the dogs and keep them together. Please keep your fingers crossed that this works out. I'll keep you posted.

Lauren's Dogs. 12/21/09

On Tuesday, December 8, I wrote a plea for help on my blog. I e-mailed every person I knew at work and at home. I Facebooked. I Googled dog rescue groups in Alabama.

I received an enormous response. Thank you. I can't tell you how much it meant to me (and Lauren) to know that there are people out there that genuinely care for others and their furry counterparts.

I updated last week that we found a temporary foster for Lauren's dogs. We did. Pike Road Kennel has graciously offered to keep the dogs until further arrangements can be made.

Now, I'm coming to all of you again, begging for help. Lauren passed away on December 17, 2009. Whereas my goal was to find a foster family, we are now in need of a forever home. I really want to keep these dogs together, if at all possible.

I've been trying to call the Greater Huntsville Humane Society all day but have been unable to get through. Not sure if it is their phone or mine.

Please e-mail me, comment me, or message me on Facebook if you know anybody that can help. This is so important to me.

Greater Huntsville Humane Society

Many, many people have responded to my plea for help about Lauren's fur-babies. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Several people have expressed that they are not able to foster but would be willing to help support the financial aspect of feeding, boarding, and vetting three dogs. As I am a single, 31 year old with three cats, I well know what it can cost to keep three animals living in the lap of luxury [smile].

The Greater Huntsville Humane Society has agreed to accept directed donations on behalf of these three. If you can support Lauren's dogs, please donate to the Greater Huntsville Humane Society.

You can mail a check to:

GHHS
2012 Johnson Road
Huntsville, AL 35805

Please include a note with your check that the funds are for the care of Buddha, Tanooki, and Trixie.

You can also donate online. Please specify that the gift is in honor of Buddha, Tanooki and Trixie.

If you donate online in honor of these special babies the Humane Society will send an e-card regarding the gift. If you'd like to send Lauren a message, please include it in the message box that is provided on the form. You can direct all messages to my e-mail address (bankrgrl - at- gmail - dot- com) and I'll make sure she knows about every ounce of support she has coming in from all corners of the world.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

Lauren. A plea for help!

Update, 12/09/09, 2:01 PM: Lauren's Mom passed away earlier today. Please keep this family in your thoughts. If you can help me find a home for Lauren's fur babies, I would greatly appreciate it.

Many of you have seen me posting on Facebook (follow me) and on my blog about Lauren. You've probably figured out that Lauren is another CF patient, just like me. But Lauren has always been more than "just another patient," and over the past year we have become fast friends. In the past few months, she jumped ranks to "World's Best Unofficial Little Sister."

So, how'd we end up here? I first got to know Lauren when she moved to Alabama from New Orleans. She was on the transplant list at Tulane but was transferred to the University of Alabama at Birmingham after Hurricane Katrina.

My first impression of Lauren was that of a pint-sized, loud-mouthed firecracker. She's currently a red head and I can tell you that she comes by the temperament that red heads are famous for honestly.

I found myself rather jealous of Lauren's creative bent. As a kid, I was well known for my obsession with crayons, colored pencils, and markers (just ask my father). This girl put me to shame! I've never seen so many art supplies in my life. She proceeded to decorate everything imaginable on the Pulmonary unit - making name tags for the nurses and respiratory therapists, organizing and decorating our "menu book," etc.

I decided to get over my jealousy, and I'm glad that I did. We might be a decade apart in years, but we were both amazed by the number of similarities that we shared. From birthdays (we were both born on the 21st of the month), family relationships, a morbid sense of humor, and a love of faeries, it was a bit eerie how often we found ourselves on the same page of the same book.

It's been a running joke between La and I that I'm the "grown up" and she's the "baby sis" in our friendship. I have to constantly remind her that the only reason she gets away with calling me grown up is because I have a mortgage. To be completely honest, Lauren has been through more things than any grown up should ever have to face and always comes up fighting.

Watching Lauren fight with every ounce of strength in her and then come out with a flippant remark at the end shows me that I'm not nearly as tough as I might claim to be. At 21, she's been through more than most people can ever imagine - losing a home in Hurricane Katrina, then losing her father to cancer. Now, while she is in the fight for her life, she is having to watch her mother battle Stage IV cancer.

Which brings me to the point of this post --

You know that Lauren is fighting for her life. She made it through transplant only to be set back with a fungal infection. This infection is taking every bit of strength that she has in reserve. On Friday, the Dr.'s made the decision to put her back on the ventilator to help her body rest. Both Rob (Lauren's friend from high school) and I are with her every day. Lauren has no other family that can be with her during this time.

Now, Lauren's mother is in the last stages of her fight against cancer. Her friends from New Orleans have rallied around her to keep her comfortable in these final days/weeks. Sadly, Lauren's mom had to relinquish care of their four dogs to the Humane Society because she could no longer take care of them.

These dogs are one of the good things that Lauren has. We compare stories about her four crazy dogs and my three crazy kitties. I can't tell you how important it is for these dogs to still be there for Lauren when she is well.

I spoke with Angela @ The Greater Huntsville Humane Society today, December 8.

There are four dogs total - 3 pugs and 1 boxer. Lauren's grandfather kept the oldest black female pug (Lilly) because she is in poor health. Lilly is not available for adoption. The other two pugs (Buddha and Tanooki) were taken to the shelter. Trixie (the boxer) was also taken to the shelter. They have been there almost two weeks.

(This is the information that is on the Greater Huntsville Humane Society's webpage):

Buddha

She is a very playful girl!! She loves attention and is very demanding of it. She has come to us with her house mates, and her former owner's final plea is that they all stay together.

Breed: Pug

Primary Color: Tan
Age: 7 yrs

Tanooki

This hefty little guy is full of love! He came to us with his house mates, that he has lived with always.

Breed: Pug

Primary Color: Black
Age: 7 yrs

Trixie
She is a smaller boxer, a little shy at first meeting. Once she warms up, she loves cuddles and kisses. She is more comfortable with her house mates.

Breed: Boxer (mix)

Primary Color: White
Age: 2 yrs

The GHHS has placed the dogs on a thirty-day hold for adoption. All three dogs must stay together (Trixie - the boxer - is very, very dependent on the two pugs, Buddha and Tanooki). They will do a pre-adoption visit to ensure that the home is large enough for all three and capable of taking on the responsibility. They also do post adoption home visits to ensure the care of the dogs.

All three dogs have had their vaccines updated and will be micro-chipped. Tanooki had to be taken to the vet to have his eyes and sinuses treated, but is doing well.

Please help me.

This family (both human and canine) needs it.

We need to find someone that can adopt or foster the dogs until Lauren is well. I know that this is a huge responsibility but it is so important that Lauren know that her babies will be taken care of, no matter what. You can also help by sponsoring the dogs while they are with the GHHS. If you would like to make a directed donation for the care of these three, I can put you in touch with Angela @ The Greater Huntsville Humane Society.

I am sharing this information via e-mail, blog, and Facebook. This is my desperate plea to help get the word out. This family has overcome too many trials and there will be many battles ahead. We need your help! Anything you can do - great or small - will be greatly appreciated.

If you, or anybody you know, can help please e-mail me, call me, leave me a message on Facebook or leave a comment on this blog. Or all of the above.

Update, 4:00 PM: Please feel free to share this information.

Update, 6:15 PM: We've just been informed that Lauren's Mom (Susan) only has a few hours left. Maybe a day. I hate this. I hate this. I hate this.