Thursday, September 30, 2010

Rainy Days!

Very sorry for no new photo's the last few days. The weather here has been really awful - days and days of rain and little puppies just waiting for a few days of sunshine to play in :(
.

All the pups are doing well with weaning and I actually think some of the little ears are going to come up soon! Penny and Ava are showing signs of "ears up"!

Hopefully there will be new photo's in a day or two! Just waiting for the sun to shine.

It is hard to believe but the puppies will be 6 WEEKS OLD TOMORROW! We still need Foster Homes for 4 of the puppies so if you are in GA and would like to foster please contact us. They will be ready to go in about 3 weeks.

Thank you to everyone that continues to follow the Blog and support the wonderful 11 lives that have been saved with all of your help!






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Sunday, September 26, 2010

Puppy Picnic

Lilah, Buffy and Ava having a little snack on a puppy size picnic table! Ava couldn't resist bringing her toy to the table.

Cowboy! How cute is he?

Cowboy looking like a real little man!
Aunt Adrienne, Danny and Digger constructing the kennel fencing for the Puppy Palace!

Baron figuring out the ramp that leads to his new home!

Momma Stormy on her Bunk Bed



OK - Well, lots going on - pups are growing like little weeds!

Here is a photo of Momma Stormy enjoying her bunk bed! She watches over her puppies from here.

Moving into the Puppy Palace!



Moving into the Puppy Palace!

Wow, Sunday and Moving Day finally arrived and none too soon.    The puppies had figured out how to stand on the ledge of the weaning box and sort of let themselves "fall over" to freedom!

The Puppy Palace took almost all day yesterday to place, customize and kennel but we did it with the help of some wonderful volunteers!    Many, many Thank You's to Danny, Digger, Josh and Adrienne that made the day happen!


The Puppy Palace arrives right on time!



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Digger and Danny watch as the Puppy Palace is unloaded with the help of a Bobcat.

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Momma Stormy supervises but only from a distance.   She definitely knew something was changing!    She is a very, very smart girl.

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Bunk beds have been installed along with the insulation and ramp for the puppies.   Top bunk is for Momma to have some rest away from the puppies when she wants - bottom bunk for 10 little puppies to curl up on at bedtime!

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20 feet of Kennel space was installed by Aunt Adrienne, Digger and Danny!

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Time to move the little ones to their new home!   The two laundry baskets barely held them for the short drive to their new home.

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Lunch was late because of the construction so everyone was very glad when meal time arrived!   They have definitely got the hang of eating the puppy mash!   Yay!    Feeding 10 puppies at once is a lot easier!    They still get their cuddle time after everyone has eaten though -

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Exploring!

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Missy and Baron were two of the first to go up the ramp and into their new home!

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Hmmmmmm........................hay just doesn't taste as good as the mush Grandma Molly makes but it's fun to chew on!
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Look at these funny things!   They make noise if you step on them!   Grandma Molly calls them "toys"........wonder what that means?

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Geez..........the morning baths just don't end!

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Link finding a quiet corner where he can survey what is going on!

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Missy after she had finished exploring the cedar chips in the outside Igloo.

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Baron thinking that the world is BIG!

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Monday, September 20, 2010

PUPPY PINWHEELS and DOGGY DREAMS


The PUPPY PALACE is coming and none too soon!   One more day and then the pups and Mom will be moving to a home of their own with a large outdoor kennel area!  Construction of the area will be on Sunday!   For Grandma Molly this means "NO MORE PUPPY PADS"   WOOHOO! I can't wait to see those puppy tails bouncing around their yard.

Momma Stormy cannot stop wagging HER tail these days!   We are still struggling with Mange but overall life has gotten good for Momma Stormy and she knows it!    She has put on a good deal of weight and her coat is softer than it was by miles. She is free to be in the yard for much of the day and only wants to come inside and be a house dog - these German Shepherd hearts are incredible.  Stormy is such an amazing girl - willing to put the past behind her and love again.  We have a tentative date of October 15 or 16 for Stormy to move into her own home with Judy and Gerry.  Stay tuned for Stormy updates as we move closer to that date!




 
I think she was trying to pose for me - showing off more fur!   .Either that or she was saying......"see, see?     There's the door ......just OPEN it please!"    Stormy hasn't had any milk for the puppies for quite awhile.

This is Penny - easily the smallest puppy of the group - I couldn't believe that one little ear was up!    It didn't last but made an awfully cute photo!    She is sooooooo cute - I adore her.   She is Miss Spunky of the group - she is so much smaller than her brothers and sisters that she sometimes reminds me of a baby squirrel.

 
Missy is a MESSY eater!
 
PUPPY PINWHEEL!     What a difference a few days and a real puppy feeder make!   Almost everyone is pointed in the right direction and have figured out how to lap up the puppy mash!

Baron hoping I will take pity on him and get him out!    Maybe just one or two sips out of the bottle?   What do you say?

Link and Missy playing after dinner.  

Dinner - check
Playtime - check
Now it's Nap time!
Missy, Riley and Penny - all in a row
Time for Grandma to put down some new puppy pads and get ready for the 10 pm feeding
 

Friday, September 17, 2010

Tastefully Simple Fundraiser - Click Here

Hungry?
How about now? Tangy Tennessee Slow Cooker Sauce







Want some comfort food?
Potato Cheddar Soup
And what for dessert?
How about Chocolate Chip Toffee Almond Cookies?
Plus so many other great products - all proceeds from these orders will be donated to Stormy and Pups!
Great holiday gifts!



Wednesday, September 15, 2010

9/15 Update Doggy Dilemas and Puppy Palaces!

Please Don't forget the Tastefully Simple Fundraiser! Click here!
 
Where has the time gone?   These sweet, precious little lives that needed so 
much nurturing have turned into real, honest-to-God-little puppy lives that get 
bigger every day!

The quest to keep them safe and healthy changes day by day as they grow and get 
bigger - it was a eye opener this week when we realized they were not going to 
be OK in the weaning box for much longer - so now what do we do?   Holy Cow!   
AND THERE ARE TEN OF THEM!   What was I thinking?

We have been on a mission this week to find a small outbuilding that we can 
purchase and enclose with kennel fencing that will accommodate the pups 
overnight needs as well as Momma Stormy and the puppies need for space and play 
areas.   Think we have found it and will post photo's over the weekend as 
friends of SCGSDR arrive to help us put our plan into action!

Puppy personalities are emerging BIG time!   We have "BUFFY" the Bottle Slayer 
:),   "LINK" who continues to be the largest, heavy boned male and leader of the 
pack, "PENNY" who has stolen my heart with her trilling to her puppy friends at 
meal times, "AVA" who continues to be my biggest challenge at meal time, sweet, 
sweet, RILEY, ROSE. COWBOY and MISSY - they are the fluffiest - and so sweet and 
undemanding - 

I realized tonight that I am in LOVE with all of them - it will be meltdown on 
the mountain for sure as they all get old enough to leave Grandma (me) - Momma 
Stormy continues to improve - hard to say but she is so over her puppies!   All 
she wants at this very moment is to follow me into the house and be part of the 
pack - I can't let her of course, because of the mange and the number of other 
dogs here - but am so looking forward to the day when she can be loved by her 
new family!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Tastefully Simple Fundraiser for Stormy and Pups Now to 9/25

THANK YOU VALERIE! This is awesome! And tasty! Get some holiday gifts and help this family at the same time. Like she says at the bottom, please do forward and post all over - if you are on Facebook, please add it - thank you!

https://sites.google.com/site/gsdrescuefunds/

Here is a copy paste:

Stormy and her pups have a safe place but expenses are high. I am donating 100% of my personal profits from my Tastefully Simple business. You can help by simply shopping my website. Get great products for upcoming football season, holidays and gift giving. We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on our products. See more about Stormy at Websites

Please visit http://www.tastefullysimple.com/web/vtwombly and take a look around. When you check out please make sure you enter host name Stormy Shepherd so this fundraiser will receive credit.

Not only will the rescue receive a check from me but they will also receive free product that they can use for a raffle to gather more funds.

If you have any questions about this fundraiser or our products please feel free to email me at tsimpleval@gmail.com or text me at 815-739-8944.

Thank you for your help,

Valerie Twombly
Tastefully Simple Consultant

P.S. Please make sure you tell all your family and friends and post this on your facebook. The more people who know the more funds we can raise. At this time this fundraiser is open until Sept 25. I will try to post here what our totals are.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

9/12 Puppies take the word mash literally! Pictures!

Be sure to check out the new click ---> How You Can Help post for ways to send care packages of supplies and quality foods and treats to mom and pups.

 
Well, I knew it was going to be messy but this is ridiculous!  The puppies were VERY interested in the puppy mash this morning - a few of them tried to swim in it - ROSE thought it would be fun to slide her belly in it - COWBOY was sure it was the best thing he had ever had before and kept coming back for free samples!
 HMMMMM - tastes even better with a little fur!
Lordy!
LOOK - I found my paw!
Nom, nom, finger, nom...

They used to fit TEN to a basket with room to spare!  
Now barely 5 at a time - especially with full little tummies.

MISSY leading the charge to action!    Everyone was fed - wiped down - fresh puppy pads in place and now time for puppy naps except Missy wants to play!


I split the puppies up into two "teams" of five - since trying to feed 10 at a time seemed way too crazy -  LINK was easily the  CHOW DOWN HOUND of Team 1 and RILEY took those honors for Team 2! If you would like to virtually foster any of these pups, or mom, let us know!

Some of the pups are still coughing but no one quite as bad as Cowboy was - whatever this virus is runs a day or two of keeping the puppies down and then a cough that hangs on for a few days but so far every one is still fighting and eating!   All good signs. Momma Stormy lays on her bed now and supervises all that goes on and then gives me this look that says "you're the Nanny"!

Friday, September 10, 2010

More How Can You Help!

Would you like to send care packages to the pups and mom? Here are some things that they need and you can order and just have them sent to the family - address below!
1. What they are using for potties: Any kind of absorbent puppy pad is fine - Walmart has them at a great price. Feel free to order online and send  Puppy Pee Pads

2. What they are eating: This little family is in a rural part of GA with not a lot of local shopping choices! At the moment Momma is just on Purina One puppy chow but I add the meat from one half a broiled chicken and a cup of cottage cheese to each meal.  The puppies are on the Leerburg formula - it is wonderful but outside of people contributing to buy SC our own goat I don't know how they can contribute goat's milk and yogurt. I am hoping that that will all change next week though and then it will be a little easier for people to send stuff. We will update when that changes. However, if you have a favorite online store for high quality foods - dry and canned - and safe and healthy treats, you can send them directly.

3. What can they play with someday? Of course on the toys - there are never enough for even one puppy - can you imagine the shredding that will be going on with 10 of them?  Have already received a large box of toys and treats from Judy for the pups and Stormy - poor Stormy has no idea what a toy is - but is learning. Thank you Judy!

4. What else are they using? I also use Pampers Baby Wipes for cleaning the pups up during the day and old towels are always in demand.

5. Would you like to help with vet costs directly? Our Vet is Clarkesville Veterinary Clinic - Clarkesville GA - 706-839-7387 if they would like to contribute directly to the Vet - account is Southern Cross GSD Rescue for Stormy and Puppies - Stormy's vet

So if you would like to order something from your favorite online store or make up a care package yourself and send it to the pups, you can do so! Of course safe and healthy are important!*

Stormy and Family
c/o Southern Cross German Shepherd Rescue
1097 Starmount Trail
Clarkesville, GA 30523

*Sorry, neurotic edit from person adding the blog posts...

9/10 Update 96 Puppy Pee Pads on the Floor, 96 Puppy Pee Pads...

Take one out, toss it away, 95 puppy pee pads on the floor...everybody sing!

HAPPY 3 WEEK BIRTHDAY LITTLE MUNCHKINS!

It is hard to believe that they are already 3 weeks old!  Puppies develop so 
quickly it is hard to keep up with what they will need tomorrow!

The nasty old cough is back - Riley,  Penny, Buffy, Missy and Baron all have it 
now so it is back to double time on the nebulizer.  Hopefully a few more days on 
the antibiotic is going to take care of it for everyone.

Personalities are starting to emerge and PENNY is Miss Personality Plus!   She 
is one of the smaller pups - much different coat than Missy or Riley and built 
like a little tank - she will take little running starts at another puppy and 
then just run into them, knock them down and then try to eat their ears!   She 
is definitely Leader of the Pack!   AVA used to hold that title but she has 
given it up to the little rabble rouser.

ROSE is very quiet and makes the sweetest noises while she eats - she and LILAH 
are very much alike.   BUFFY is a very LOUD girl!  I think she is part spaniel - 
no kidding - everything she does is at triple speed - eat, run, pee, yowl - you 
name it and she is doing it faster than anyone else.

COWBOY is feeling much better - is eating and is up and around with his gang - 
LINK and RILEY ARE DEFINITELY now the two largest males and I think that LINK 
might be the largest pup at the moment.

SO...............how many puppy pads were used by SCGSDR today in an exhausting 
effort to keep the puppy pen spotless and dry?

Yes, it's true - 96!   These puppies pee a lot!

If you are following the blog watch for tomorrow's photo's - we are going to try 
to introduce them to puppy gruel for breakfast!  

Thursday, September 9, 2010

9.9 Find Out Who the Puppy Is Update

AND WE HAVE A WINNER!    JUDY L.  has named all of the puppies correctly!

Here are my answers to the "Puppy names quiz"
Female #1 - Lilah
Female #2 - Buffy
Female #3 - Rose
Female #4 - Missy
Female #5 - Ava
Female #6 - Penny
Male #1 - Cowboy
Male #2 - Riley
Male #3 - Link
Male #4 - Baron

All of the puppies are tucked into bed for the night!  The good news of the day is that Cowboy really appears to be on the mend - very little coughing today and ate much more than he did yesterday or the day before.    

The puppies teething makes feeding times a little more difficult because their little gums hurt but it just means a little more snuggle time with them.

Little Penny just outdid herself in the "ate a little too much for dinner" chapter - she looks like a little melon at the moment.

Stormy continues to have good days -  she is such a good, good dog - she follows me around the yard and really wants to be someone's love - I tell her that her day is coming!   We will start to address her pressing medical needs at the end of this week.    We can't put her on Revolution for the Sarcoptic Mange because she is HW positive so we will have to dip her in Mitaban until safe to give her some Ivermectin.   Her coat, what is left of it, is much less brittle and now very shiny - I think that was the Emu oil shampoo benefit - Stormy says Thank You again Michelle!

Puppy Fun Quiz for the day -   Guess how many puppy pads are used on average throughout the day in a weaning box with 10 puppies!        Answer on Friday!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

A Day Late 9/6 Update WITH Puppy Pics & Puppy Name Quiz!

Keep those positive thoughts coming our way - we can still use them for mom and pups. 

Long awaited puppy photo's are here! I thought it might be fun to see who can match a puppies current photo to the puppy photo on the day they arrived!

BIG news of the day is that we have puppy teeth! I couldn't believe that they have come in so early but they are there!   

Momma Stormy might have a touch of pneumonia - her temp. hovers at 103 but I think she feels a bit better every day - Cowboy still stuffy but holding his own.  I massage his little ears every night and tell him we have to fight.

FUN puppy fact of the day........the puppies are eating 4 - 5 bottles of formula at every sitting so we are going through a little over a gallon of formula each day! (click here to see How Can I Help? if you would like to help sponsor some of this formula - only $10 to help!) 

If I haven't replied to anyone individually yet to Thank you for all of the support - please know that it is only because I am swimming in puppy bottles and puppy pads - SCGSDR is so very thankful for all of your support and friendship.

SO.......go find that puppy!    I have given a clue to each ones gender. Here is a link to their first photos:  First Puppy Pictures
Make your guesses - names will be revealed on WEDNESDAY!

Who is Female #1?
___________________________

Who is Female #2?
___________________________
Who is Female #3?
___________________________

Who is Female #4?
___________________________

Who is Female #5?
___________________________

Who is Female #6?
___________________________
Who is Male #1?
___________________________

Who is Male #2?
___________________________
 
Who is Male #3?
___________________________

Who is Male #4?
___________________________

Saturday, September 4, 2010

9/4 Up and Down Update

Another up and down day for the puppies - I guess that is how it is going to be 
for the next little while.   The good news is that little Rose and Baron are 
feeling better and their lung sounds are much better.

The bad news is that Cowboy has a pretty bad case of the sniffles so we are now 
nebulizing the entire litter.  All of the puppies are eating well and that 
continues to be a good sign and their little personalities are starting to 
emerge.   Some of them now growl at bunnies in their sleep and little Rose makes 
the most adorable sounds while she is nursing.    Cowboy is just going to be a 
"good old boy" -  I can actually see him watching a football game with his 
family some day!

Momma Stormy continues to amaze me with her willingness to trust me.   Even 
though she is terrified of the leash and being restricted,  somewhere deep in my 
heart I really believe that she had a family once that loved her - and I know 
she will have that again.  She got a new, softer bed yesterday and really loves 
it, is still consuming several cooked chickens a day along with her kibble so no 
worries there!

Molly

Friday, September 3, 2010

9/3 Update - Keep Those Good Thoughts Coming!!!!

So far, so good - the puppies are still sneezing but don't seem to have gotten any worse!  They are growing so fast now it is hard to believe - definitely have a few different Daddy's in this group.

There is NO WAY that Cowboy has the same Daddy as Rose, Baron, Ava or even Riley. I will try to get weights tomorrow but it is tough. Momma Stormy has very little milk so medication and feeding time is just shy of 2 hours for the 10 pups one at a time and it has to happen 5 times a day. Missy is the loudest of the group and one of the puppies "trills" - it is adorable.  
The 8AM feeding is definitely WILD! There are 10 hungry puppies all wanting to be fed - Momma Stormy looks at me as if to say "well, OK, get to it then"! AND then she supervises and worries over every little squeak they make. After everyone is fed and cleaned up and asleep she comes up for a head wipe and tummy rub - I know she is thanking me. I cannot wait until she is in her own loving home with a full belly every night and knowing that the next day will be just as good if not better than the day before.

Momma Stormy makes progress with "trust" every day and now just accepts that she will get her penicillin injection without any fuss.  She is still a bit under the weather but much better than two days ago - unfortunately I think she has Sarcoptic Mange and is pretty miserable so the goal at this point, according to Dr. Josh,  is to keep Momma and pups together just one more week.

Thanks to Judy and Gerry - as soon as the puppies are old enough to play they have a huge box of toys to play with that just arrived!  

Please keep them in your prayers - just two weeks old today!

Molly
RESCUE POEM

Author:Arlene Pace, September 18, 1998
Once I was a lonely dog,
Just looking for a home.
I had no place to go,
No one to call my own.
I wandered up and down the streets,
in rain in heat and snow.
I ate what ever I could find,
I was always on the go.
My skin would itch, my feet were sore,
My body ached with pain.
And no one stopped to give a pat
Or a gently say my name.
I never saw a loving glance,
I was always on the run.
For people thought that hurting me
was really lots of fun.
And then one day I heard a voice
So gentle, kind and sweet,
And arms so soft reached down to me
And took me off my feet.
No one again will hurt you
Was whispered in my ear.
You'll have a home to call your own
where you will know no fear
You will be dry, you will be warm,
you'll have enough to eat
And rest assured that when you sleep,
your dreams will all be sweet.
I was afraid I must admit,
I've lived so long in fear.
I can't remember when I let
A human come so near.
And as she tended to my wounds
And bathed and brushed my fur
She told me 'bout the rescue group
And what it meant to her.
She said, We are a circle,
A line that never ends.
And in the centre there is you
protected by new friends.
And all around you are
the ones that check the pounds,
And those that share their home
after you've been found.
And all the other folk
are searching near and far.
To find the perfect home for you,
where you can be a star.
She said, There is a family,
that's waiting patiently,
and pretty soon we'll find them,
just you wait and see.
And then they'll join our circle
they'll help to make it grow,
so there'll be room for more like you,
who have no place to go.
I waited very patiently,
The days they came and went.
Today's the day I thought,
my family will be sent.
Then just when I began to think
It wasn't meant to be,
there were people standing there
just gazing down at me.
I could tell they felt it too,for a special dog like you.
Now every night I say a prayer to all the Gods that be.
Thank you for the life I live and all you've given me.
But most of all protect the dogs in the pound and on the street.
And send a Rescue Person

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Many thoughts, prayers needed tonight....9/2 update

Many prayers needed tonight for Rose and Baron two of Stormy's precious pups.   
Both have come down with the same virus as Stormy but Rose and Baron are the two 
smallest pups and will have to fight harder to survive.

All of the puppies were started on antibiotics today and Dr. Josh will be back 
tomorrow.  :(
 
Baron:
 
Rose: 
 

Franciscan Prayer For Sick Animals

Franciscan Prayer For a Sick Animals

Heavenly Father,
You created all things for your glory
And made us stewards of this creature.
If it is your will, restore it to health and strength.
Blessed are you, Lord God,
And holy is your name for ever and ever. Amen. 
Image From: http://saintfrancisofassisi.homestead.com/50.html

 
 

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

9/1 Update Stormy Gets a Bath!

If you are new to this blog, there are 8 posts in August to check out! 

An exciting day for Stormy! I arrived at her cottage early to find a very, very stressed out Momma looking at me as if to say "Where the heck have you been"?!!!!  5 of the little munchkins had figured out how to climb out of the kiddie pool and Momma Stormy was a wreck! She is such an extraordinary Momma - I just can't say it enough times - she loves her puppies! She has very little milk so we are basically bottle feeding the puppies while Momma supervises and then cleans up after her pups. She tries to nurse them when she can but there are 10 of them and they eat a lot! Cowboy gulped down 4 oz. before I even knew it this morning.

Dr. Josh arrived and helped finish feeding the puppies and then put together the whelping box that Auntie Adrienne brought up!  Hooray! Little puppies won't get out of this for at least a week :)  It is amazing to see them getting their little legs under them when they aren't even two weeks old yet!

Thanks to Dr. Josh Stormy also got the first bath she has had in a good long time. Thank you so much Michelle for sending the Emu oil shampoo!  Stormy has open sores on her and I am hoping that this will help to calm her skin. She was really very good during her bath - I think she actually enjoyed it.

Her temp today was still high 103.7 but some of the nasal discharge has lessened - a good sign.

Hope to have updated puppy photo's tomorrow.

Molly