Monday Night April 9, 2007

Gem of the Day: "I can face the waves for I trust the one who made the ocean."
~Author Unknown

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In January of 2007 we paid $23, 119. 55 in vet bills

In February, 2007, We Paid Vet Bills Totalling $36, 450.23

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This is a very difficult newsletter for me to write, and I know it will be difficult for you to read.

It's about our little Annie, a four year old puppy mill rescue who got away from her adoptive mom while on a walk, her second night of being in her new home, down near Englewood, Florida.

After Annie got away, her adoptive Mom was too upset and did not want to keep her. She turned her back into rescue with Small Paws and we went into full LOST DOG mode, sparing nothing to try to get this baby back to safety.

As you know, in the last 6 weeks, we've done everything without our power and some things outside of our power, to attempt to try to reclaim little Annie.

The problem wasn't finding her. We sighted her almost every day, sometimes several times a day. There were over 125 sightings of her over the six week period.

It was capturing her that was the problem. We used everything we could to try to capture her, including seeking the assistance of the Florida Fish and Game Commission.

They sent someone out to do a chemical capture, with a dart, filled with sedatives. Both times that we darted Annie, she simply ran it off, and never "dropped" so that we could capture her.

I personally clocked her running after being darted, at over 30 miles an hour, for over a mile before she disappeared into the thick brush. This was the last time that I would ever see her and it haunts me still, today.

Ok. There is no way to say this except just to say it.

Last Monday, Annie was spotted outside of the neighborhood where she had been staying for almost the whole time. She was in a busier business area. There was a retention pond, different from the canals, from which, Annie had evidently, learned to stay away.

She was spotted drinking from this retention pond on Monday. This was less than a block from where the last sighting took place.

Last Tuesday, a group of golfers saw an alligator in a feeding frenzy, with something white. Now, there are many things that are white. There are those white water birds. There are 'possoms that have some white fur. There are many white things.

However, we have not had a sighting of Annie since that day.

EARS (Englewood Animal Rescue Sanctuary) volunteers handed out hundreds of fliers with contact info, in the new area where Annie had gone.

Usually, neighbors would call in sightings 2-3 times a day. We have never gone this long without a sighting.

The EARS volunteers have called off the search, and I'm afraid that at this point, I am inclined to agree with them.

IF Annie was eaten by this alligator, there are a few things that should give us some comfort.

Number, one, it would have been very fast. She would not have starved to death, or suffered for days from a poisonous snake bite, that may have been a long lingering death.

I was particularly worried about her fur continuing to grow under her collar and halter, making them grow tighter with each passing day.

And the thought of her being hit by a car and lying on the side of road, possibly for hours or days in agony. has haunted my mind as well.

The last alligator that they opened up down there, had eight dog collars inside.:(

We knew this was a possibility, and I can give you my word that I believe that we did absolutely everything humanely possible to capture her. I don't know why we were not able to bring her home. I'll have to ask God when I get there, I guess.

I do know this.

"I can face the waves for I trust the one who made the ocean."

I know you all loved Annie. I know you all had hopes of us bringing her home.

I snagged her that first night I was there with her, with the net. I had her back leg and before I could hop out of the vehicle, she had wiggled out of it and taken of running like a banshee. (What exactly IS a Banshee??)

I was within 10-15 feet of her several times. I looked into her little eyes. I sang to her.

Deciding to come home, after 12 days, and leave the search to the local EARS volunteers, was truly one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make as the leader of this organization.

Now, since I'm not in heaven, and I didn't witness this attack, I don't know for sure that this is what happened, but it is sure sounding like it may have been.

I wanted to wait until after the Easter Holiday to tell you all this news.

Jim North, The Executive Director of EARS, called me tonight from Englewood, and told me that they have accepted that this is what happened to Annie. They loved her too. I have never seen people so dedicated, when this wasn't even their dog. They are to be commended.

I want to thank all of you who have sent prayers and donations for us to be able to fly to the site and conduct the search in person. Vicki Nixon went down for five days, and I was there for 12.

If this is what happened to Annie, I know that she is finally safe in the arms of the One who loves her more than anyone else ever had, and more than anyone else ever will.

Before I left Florida, I asked my Jesus to please take care of her. To please watch out for her, and if she were to meet with an untimely death, for Him to please make sure it was fast, and that she wasn't scared, and that He would take her immediately to His loving arms where she would know finally, what it was like to live for ever and ever amen, in eternty, without fear or pain.

I believe my prayer was answered. I know He is holding thousands of Bichons in the palm of His mighty hands, until we too, one day join them all for the largest Bichon Bash in history, where thousands of white paws are blitzing, on streets of pure gold. All My Love, Robin

For Those Broken of Heart from the Loss of a Beloved Pet

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