QUICK UPDATE OUR PATIENT IS ALERT HAPPY TAIL WAG AND ONCE SHE VOIMITED THE BIT OF FOOD WE GAVE HER SEEMED QUITE CONTENT.. SO WE TRY FOOD GAIN TODAY.... MAYBE WITH A LITTLE PEPTO IN IT.
RE:CALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF TH ENIGHT...
LAST NIGHT WAS ABOUT RIGHT--- YOU GUYS HAVE COME A LONG WAY SINCE THE PHONE CALL ABOUT THE BIRD IN THE BARN AT 2AM --- SHE DID NOT LOOK WELL ON CAMERA VOMITING 3 TIMES AND SECLUDING HERSELF AS BEST SHE COULD FROM THE REST...... YOU ALL DISCUSSED IT RATIONALLY AND SOMEONE DID CALL.
AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THE CHICKEN BRICKS TOO... BECAUSE IT HELPS PAY FOR THE 24 HOUR HELP--- I HONESTLY WOULD HAVE HAD A PROBLEM GOING TO THE KENNEL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT--- BUT I AM VERY CAPABLE OF WATCHING THE PUPS WHILE DONNA DID IT... AND I DON'T MIND WHEN THERE IS A RATIONAL REASON...
THERE IS A CERTAIN AMT OF "LET FATE HAVE AT IT" ---SHUT THE DOOR AND DEAL WITH WHATEVER IN THE MORNING.. WE WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT HER UPSET TUMMY IF WE DID NOT HAVE THE CAMERA--- AND THERE ARE ANOTHER 9 DOGS THERE WHICH COULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ...THAT IS WHERE ANIMAL HUSBANTRY COMES IN... WATCH THE OTHERS IN CASE WE HAVE SOMETHIGN GOING ROUND.
KEEP BUYING THOSE CHICKEN BRICKS IF Y OU CAN... THAT IS WHAT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD AROUND HERE.
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AND NOW SUSAN CAN SAY SHE WROTE THE DAILY DOGGIE TOO
If you want to read (rather long) about my week at Crazy Acres please continue reading--if not skip right on by.....
First & foremost I want to thank all who made such kind comments about my work while there. I was happy to work hard & hope it gave Megan & others some peace of mind while they were so concerned about Noel & her puppies. Second, I want to let everyone know as a visitor you make the decision how much you want to do. Any & all help is appreciated but nothing
is required. The biggest payoff is the unlimited puppy time available---even over nights with any dog of your choosing.....good for socialization & transitioning to a home environment. What a nice surprise!
I cleaned kennels, scrubbed floors, cleaned outside runs, did laundry by the bushels, helped feed (NOT my finest hour :-)----not as easy as they make it look), helped Meat Chipper Steve chip beef, pooper scooped by the bushels, and spent one on one time with each dog on the property.
Carlene doesn't have a lot of rules but she runs a tight ship when needed. She says all the time she forgets a lot, but she remembers the important things so that's all that matters. She
well knows the dogs, the business end of things, & is right on about all the goodies & the weight issue---you CANNOT lose weight eating all the wonderful goodies sent!!! She is a thinker & has a great sense of humor.
I worked mostly with Megan, Kati, & Pam and met many of the wonderful regular volunteers. Megan is amazing in how quickly she works & how well she knows each dog. Pam is just as pleasant & efficient as she appears on camera. Kati has learned
a lot in a short time & loves her job. All three were so kind & patient with me. Sheila is as funny & outgoing as she appears. Everyone is nice to be around and I met too many volunteers to name everyone. Meat Chipper Steve was especially helpful & is a GREAT pooper scooper! Grace was kind enough to show
me a little of the area. She LOVES Boo& Ariot as they do her & is a laundry queen as well as very creative.
ALL the dogs are well cared for & loved. They get routinely
rotated during the day so they have outside free time. Many go home with people to have some "home" experience. Their
training starts the day they are born & is incorporated into everyday life so it is not boring for them. There are so many things going on behind the scenes & the staff goes out of their way to make special & everyday things available for CP to view even when it would be easier for them not to do so, even being concerned about the proper color fluffy to allow the best view of the pups.
Each dog has his/her own distinct personality. Recently there is a lot of question about Nutmeg. My opinion on the issue----I assure you--as cute and pensive as she appears on camera she is a devil!!! Her litter mates & I have the scars to prove it (and I have a new pair of glasses). She is a beauty & I love her to death but
she is very rough & attacks without warning or provocation. There are specific times in the growth/maturing process that are critical for proper teaching & socialization. It is ALWAYS better to prevent unwanted behaviors than to correct them so timing is
crucial. She needs to learn manners & needs a strong alpha. The lack of sound makes a huge difference when observing the pups. What looks like "rough play" at times is a puppy fight that needs to be stopped. There is a definite distinction in the sound
of play & fighting. Her behavior correction is not just for her sake but the other pups......they will learn to be afraid of other dogs in time if not corrected.
Random thought & observations in no particular order:
---30-50 dogs, 1 horse, 2 donkeys, one mule, a flock of chickens & a pregnant Mother not progressing with labor made for a lot of work & concern.
---In the morning the donkeys then the rooster followed by the dogs is not conducive to sleeping late.
---No matter how I "planned" my day it did not work out exactly as planned. Normal occurrence. Everyone just rolls with the punches to make things work.
---It is of no avail to apply a number of layers of polish to protect my nails.
---Make up doesn't last long.
---There are few things better than puppy/dog snuggles & kisses.
---Puppy/dog kisses tend to give me zits on my chin.
---No matter how many people try there is ALWAYS poop & stuffy innards everywhere you go.
---As I was sitting 3 feet away watching Noel for any subtle signs of labor or distress numerous comments were made that no one was watching the pups. There are comfortable chairs just off camera. The pups are watched constantly. They can be seen from the other rooms & there are at least 2 computer screens with the Explore web cams on continuously.
---The web comments are routinely read.
---Giddy is stubborn & smart. Ethel is solid & tall. All the dogs are stunning in their own way.
---The dogs eat anything & everything (hence the zits!).
---No matter how I tried I COULD NOT get all the leaves etc. out of the outside runs---finally told myself "look, the dogs are just
going to poop out here, not eat!" I think Carlene has since mentioned about striving for perfection..... :-)
---The water consumption is immeasurable.
---Pups are like kids---some like clean rooms but most don't. By the time I cleaned kennel two kennel one had "rearranged" fluffies & dirt, leaves or water on the floor.
---The reason they can have numerous dogs running around at Sunday Stew is because they are adept at recognizing & correcting unwanted behaviors & work hard at training.
---One can get much less done when one is concern if one's behind or belly is obliterating the camera view (sorry for those times).
---Before returning, I need to lose weight, have my knee injected so I don't have on a knee brace, and remember to take my pain pills with me!!!
---This would be a better country if everyone had the work ethic that enables SDP to run as it does.
---I would volunteer a week each month if it didn't cost me $1000 to get there & back.......
---It was a wonderful experience that I recommend to everyone if at all possible. Although I had visited one day last Aug. being
able to spend the week and actually see the working of the farm was amazing.
Susan ;-)
