Late Monday Night August 21, 2006
If you would enjoy forwarding our Small Paws
newsletters to friends or family, please
feel free to do so!
Gem of the Day: "We shall find peace. We shall hear
angels,
we shall see the sky sparkling with diamonds."
~Chekov~
See Vet
Bills Paid So Far for August of '06 Totaling
$20, 824.56
See Previous Vet
Bills Paid by Small Paws Rescue in 2005 Totaling
$438,467.30
See our 139 listings of 145 adoptable Bichons! (Some of these listings are of bonded pairs!)
See our 139
listings of 145 adoptable Bichons by Zip Code!
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online adoption application!
How to Become
a Much Needed Small Paws® Rescue Foster Parent!
Information
About Our Programs
Small Paws Rescue
Outreach: Puerto Vallarta Mexico
The 2nd Annual
Small Paws Rescue National Quilt!
Quilt
Raffle Tickets $5.00 each
Add to Cart
The Volvo-for-Life Award!
Read how our
nomination was chosen as a semifinalist and how this can benefit Small Paws
Rescue!
VOTE HERE!
(Scroll down to "
They say you may vote as often as you like!)
Dear Small Pawsers,
Welcome
to the newest members of our online mailing list, especially if you have seen
us featured in one of our recently updated media
articles , read about us in the best selling book "Chicken Soup for
the Dog Lover's Soul", or if you saw Small Paws on the NBC Nightly News with Brian
Williams!
Small Pawsers everywhere welcome you with open arms! We sincerely
hope that you enjoy "Small Pawsing and reading Small Paws!"
If you are new to Small Pawsing®, this may look as if it is coming only to you
but really it is going out to fellow Small Pawsers all across our country and
in 20 foreign countries as well!
Adoption
information is posted below. Turn up your speakers!
We have music for you!
Just a couple of things tonight. We haven't
yet found our missing puppy mill Bichon in Ohio, so please keep praying!
Dave Hagadorn is paying vet bills tonight
and I will let you know where we are in the
morning, as well as telling you how much
was raised at the Sequim Wa. Bash!
But first, we have some business to do. Now,
remember, Stephanie Hunter (dancinblvd@sc.rr.com) 843-761-4898 is approved to take your credit card information
for Small Paws, over the phone. (For security reasons, please do not send
credit card numbers or other personal information
in e-mail.)
We are changing things a bit to give you
better service.
We are going to be going with a new company
that will securely process our donor's credit
card donations for Small Paws.
The company we were using seemed to be having
too many technical problems. Their server
was down too often and when that happened,
they were not sending your credit card donation
receipts to you promptly, causing you to
wonder if your credit card donation even
made it through to Small Paws! Not good!
Not good AT ALL!:)
So, we have begun using a new company called
Authorize.net.
Don't worry! Your credit card donations are
still 100% secure, and we believe you will
be getting better service as far as getting
immediate e-mail confirmations and online
receipts!
If you are a monthly donor, first of all, THANK YOU! Secondly, Stephanie
Hunter may be calling you to get your updated
credit card information, so that we can transfer
it over to Authorize.net.
Remember, Small Paws never stores or saves
your credit card info. We only have access
to the last four numbers if you have made
a credit card transaction online in the past.
Anything Stephanie takes down is put directly
into Authorize.net right away. She doesn't save your credit
card numbers, only the last four numbers.
Stephanie had to call 78 of you to get your
information to change it over to the new
company. Whew! She is down to having only
26 of you left to call!
Stephanie was a corrections officer before
she was injured in the line of duty. She
is BERY good people, and you can trust her
with your credit card info!
NO ONE ELSE BUT STEPHANIE HUNTER has your
names and numbers as our Small Paws monthly
donors! (Not eben me.) So she will be trying
to call you to move your info to Authorize.net. We have only 30 days to make this move,
so if she calls, please pick up, ok?
Secondly, regarding our nothing short of
miraculous nomination for the Volvo-for Life
awards, we heard back from them, regarding voting
as many times as you want to.
If you missed this Volvo-for-Life Awards
story, here is more about it!
When I wrote to the Volvo-for-Life awards
people, telling them that I was concerned
that some of you might possibly, MAYBE, be
voting more than once, this is what they
wrote back. I guess it's ok to do that, yipes.
(looking over shoulder now)
Subj: Re: 5th Anniversary Volvo for life
Awards
Date: 8/18/2006 8:40:51 PM Central Standard
Time
Hi Robin,
You can vote for as many heroes as you like,
as often as you like. Although multiple votes
are allowed, we have technology in place
to prevent the use of “robots” and other
mechanized systems of voting. We don't want
to be police, we want to create awareness
throughout the 25 weeks the voting is in
progress of the work of all 250+ heroes on
our ballot.
Good luck and thank you again for being apart
of this amazing program.>
Next, sadly, we had to let a 2 year old Bichon
go home to God this morning. He was infected
with Brucellosis.
Below, is the letter I sent to the USDA,
the Iowa State Board of Health, the Center
for Disease Control in Atlanta, and the Iowa
State Veterinarian, Dr. Dave Schmidt.
Dr. Schmidt, the State Vet for Iowa, remembered
us from the tragedy that happened before.
For those of you who are new, you may want
to get a tissue.
I remember when Bonnie Ferguson first told
me this news on the phone, back in March
of 2004.
My knees went out from me and I hit the floor
in my bedroom. I knew how bad this was and
what it would mean for those precious Bichons.
The Brucellosis Bichons.
This disease is zoonotic, meaning that it
is contagious from an animal species to people,
and after treatment, it can come back, with
no symptoms.
If a pregnant woman were to contract this
disease she could abort her fetus. There is no other safe choice when it comes
to this disease.
Our Board of Trustees wanted you all to see
this. All of us voted to show this letter
to all of you, and our attorney, Angela Paulsen
agrees.
I sent this off today to the USDA. Dr. Bob
Gibbens knows who we are.
Please don't contact anyone involved. We
don't want to endanger the investigation.
A couple of years ago, he and his colleague
flew down to Tulsa to see our evidence of
abused Bichons coming in from the puppy mills
of Mo.
I told him I REALLY wanted to show these
dogs to someone. I told him it could either
be him or it could be CNN and FOX NEWS.
He got to meet Angela Paulsen, Bonnie Ferguson,
and me, up close and personal that day, if
you get my drift.
I was pretty hot that day when I couldn't
seem to get their attention with the normal
kinds of abuse we see. Mats covering faces
and body openings, open wounds, etc.
I even showed them Claire, who was exhibiting
everything from blindness and deafness, to
severe neurological damage. It was like she had brain damage from birth.
The auctioneer had said that this dog would
put the millers kids through college! Uh,
I don't THINK so! SHe is ours now!
This baby, Claire, is now safe in a loving
home tonight with Small Pawser, Linda Rosetti.
They were trying to tell me that what I was
showing them wasn't anything to be excited
about. And when they didn't even blink at poor Claire,
well, let's just say I guess I sort of went
off.
THAT WAS THE WRONG THING TO TELL ME THAT
DAY AND JUST ASK ME IF I AM KIDDING.
I marched back to the kennels at our Tulsa
clinic and brought out our ace in the hole,
a poor older puppy mill girl who had everything
from missing body parts, to breast tumors
that had erupted, to a wounded and broken
leg that was never treated, and more you
don't even want to know about.
My voice was now screaming at a fevered pitch
and Bonnie and Angela were both starting
to turn away while smiling slightly, as they
knew I was now in my element and GOD HELP
ANYONE WHO WANTED TO ARGUE WITH ME RIGHT
THEN.
The men from the USDA finally agreed to take
our the complaints. They looked afraid that
they had a mad woman on their hands, and
yes, THEY DID.
Yes, Dr. Gibbens knows who we are, but I
digress. This is what I sent to him today.
God bless little Blake whom He welcomed home
today, into His loving arms, never to be
sick or hurt again by greedy hands.
Subj: New Case of Canine Brucellosis from
USDA Kennel in Iowa
Date: 8/21/2006 2:43:29 PM Central Standard
Time
From: Pup3@aol.com
To: Robert.M.Gibbens@aphis.usda.gov
CC: Angela Paulsen Senior Counsel Small Paws
Rescue
August 21, 2006
Dr. Gibbens,
This is Robin Pressnall, Executive Director
of Small Paws® Rescue in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
This is to advise that we received a Bichon
Frise, culled from a commercial kennel in
Iowa with a now confirmed case of Canine
Brucella.
This dog came to us from a USDA licensed
breeder, USDA License number 42-A-0796.
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/lists/lista.pdf
We have two addresses for Mr. Jennings. One
is in Altuna, Iowa, 50009, and one is in
Mitchellville, IA, 50169.
Jennings, Melvin/ K-9 Kennels
2650 NE 108th St.
Mitchellville, IA., 50169
Ph: 515-967-3021
Cell: 515-681-7246
Fax: 515 957-9993
Website:
www.k9iowa.com
Melvin Jennings
(515) 967-3021,
2650 108 St NE, Altoona, IA 50009
I was going to file a report with the Iowa
Pet Breeder's Association, but I just discovered
that Mr. Jennings is now serving as the President
of that organization.
Iowa Pet Breeders Association
c/o President Melvin Jennings
2650 NE 108th Street
Mitchellville, IA 50169
It's worth noting that when we purchased
19 Bichons from Iowa Kennel Owner, Rob Hurd,
back in March of 2004, he too, was serving
as the President of the Iowa Pet Breeder's
Association at the time. Rob Hurd still serves
on the Board of that organization. (Editor's
Note. Mr. Hurd did refund our money for the
purchase price if the infected Bichons)
www.iowapetbreeders.com/officers.html
One can only wonder if two high profile breeders,
such as Rob Hurd and Melvin Jennings, both
having served as the President of the Iowa
Pet Breeder's Association, have Brucellosis
in their kennels, just how rampant is this
disease in Iowa?
The primary veterinarian who first diagnosed
this case on July 24, 2006, was
All Pets Veterinary Hospital
Dr. K.C. Cornish
611 W. Street
Grinnell, IA.,50112
641-236-6869
Blood work was then sent to Cornell University,
where they grew the culture in their lab.
College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University
Diagnostic Lab
P.O. Box 5786
Ithaca, NY, 14052-5786
1-607-253-3943
On August 20, 2006, Cornell reported the
positive results for Brucellosis.
As you know, this disease is zoonotic. Because
of that, the dog was euthanized this morning.
Blake was only two years old, and was a darling
little dog.
We wanted to make you aware, so that you
can begin testing in Mr. Jenning's kennel.
If Small Paws has gotten infected dogs from
two different high profile breeders there
in Iowa, how many other consumers have purchased
infected dogs and puppies, originating from
Iowa, all across the country?
I hope this is as of great concern to you,
as it is to animal lovers everywhere. Sincerely,
Robin Pressnall
Report Filed with the Iowa Department of
Public Health
321 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, Iowa, 50319-0075
(515) 281-7689
Report Filed with the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30333
U.S.A
(404) 639-3311
Report Filed with the Iowa State Veterinarian's
Office
Dr. Dave Schmidt D.V.M.
Iowa Dept. of Agriculture
Des Moines, IA 50319
CC: Angela Paulsen Senior Counsel Small Paws
Rescue>
The State Vet called me and we had a great
conversation. He is going to investgate our
complaint. I believe him when he said he
would.
Now, you know I never bring you down, without
bringing you back up, right? I just wouldn't
do that to you.
Look at the difference 10 days can make.
Add that to the love and prayers from 6000
animal lovers in 20 countries, and you get
to see a miracle transformation take place,
before your very eyes.
You remember, we took in five
Don't ask. We dunno.
A precious face rests beneath all of that,
bless his little heart.
Getting ready for spa treatment. They won't
know how to act, shaved, fresh and clean!
This is a good sign. They are letting us
touch them. This reminds me of a line from
"To Kill a Mockingbird".
[about her brother Jim]
Scout: "You can pet him, Mr. Arthur.
He's asleep. Couldn't if he was awake, though;
he wouldn't let you. Go ahead."
Ohio Co-Team Leader, Sharon King, comforts
our newest Bichons with the new last name
of Small Paws.
To the Ohio Small Paws Team, ya done good.
Real good. All My Love, Robin
Subj: State Fair 5 updated pics
Date: 8/18/2006 6:34:25 PM Central Standard
Time
From: KINGSALL3@aol.com
There's a white dog under all this,really
:)
Just 10 days later :)
Thank You's
Subj: Sweet Pea
Date: 8/18/2006 1:54:47 PM Central Standard
Time
From: Renee33175@aol.com
To: Pup3
Robin,
I know you're busy, but I just read the newsletter
you sent out about the massive rescue with
"Old Glory." As my know, we've
just fostered Bianca, a severely arthritic
15 year old (OTI) who's doing amazingly well
on her meds and is now running around for
her breakfast and walking about 1/8 of a
mile! Her physical recuperation is easier
than her emotional one - her Human Mom passed
away, but she slowly is making progress.
Anyway, it brought Sweet Pea to mind. The
Sweet Pea had been a mill person who was
fostered by Linda and Dave Flesh (who did
a wonderful job.) When Sweet Pea came to
us she missed Linda and Dave terribly and
shook 24/7. When she saw a man her body shook
like it was electrified. In her sleep she
would scream like a woman (must have been
dreaming of the horrors she lived through.)
Sweet Pea would go catatonic when she went
outside - no I mean literally catatonic.
Her mind would go somewhere into herself
and she'd never respond to anything - touch
or voice. It was a slow process, starting
with being carried around the neighborhood
and progressing to one step at a time, but
now Sweet Pea, Siri, and I (on nice days)
walk about a mile and Sweet Pea just loves
her walks and to stop and smell each wonderful
scent.
Three years later, and seeing Bianca and
reading the newslet, it brought to mind just
how far Sweet Pea has come. She's full of
confidence, doesn't panic when a stranger
walks up to her, absolutely worships my daughter,
loves company, and enjoys life so much. I
had seen her picture when she first came
home to SPR and she had that shell shocked
look most of the little mill people had -
you can see it in their eyes - the hell they
lived through. The only remnants of the mill
(that I can see) are that she will still
flinch when touched from behind - guess she'll
always be like that, but, all in all, its
something that she can live with. She is
no longer that tortured soul and is now enjoying
each day of life thanks to you!
Bobbi, Siri "Trouble," The Sweet
Pea, Bianca (and Lucky looking down on us)
PS I still miss that "Lil" Guy
terribly>
Subj: Hi
Date: 8/20/2006 10:11:10 AM Central Standard
Time
From: deniselohnn@sbcglobal.net
To: pup3@aol.com
Hi Robin,
I'm just catching up on all my emails (literally
22, 058 - I got spammed very badly!)
I thought this might be of interest to you.
I'm just reading all my Small Paws newsletters,
and I can see some of the "projects"
God has presented for fixing.
God bless all those beautiful bichons that
have passed on, and the ones needed our love,
support and help. They are in my prayers
daily.
Love, Denise
An uplifting update from Mr. Raffles,the
Energizer Bichon!
And God created the vet.
In 2002 the vet said to my ma, "Ms.
Denise, I'm sorry to say that your 8 year
old Raffles (that would me moi) has diabetes,
and it is probably best if you put him down.
The most he can survive is a year (like heck
I will!) It's a lot of hard work, very, very
costly and quite impossible to maintain."
And my ma looked very sad and decided to
do some research on her own.
In the meantime, even though I didn't want
to let her down, ME, her darling little Raffles,
the love of her life, went on to develop
cataracts (I can't see at all dang it!),
cushing's and high blood pressure, while
nursing my old wounds, an annoying luxating
patella and bladder stones.
And I heard my ma praying at night "and
this too shall pass with God's help".
Well, I am proud to say that I wasn't gonna
give up without a fight. Here it is 4 years
later, and I, Mr. Raffles, King of the Hill,
defied them all (I never did like following
orders alpha doggy that I am!) I take the
vitamins and supplements ma sneaks into my
specially prepared succulent food (she thinks
I didn't know what she was doin') Oh, and
don't you go thinkin' the "S" word.
I am not SPOILED! I might soil, but I'm not
spoiled is my motto!
Well, toooooo bad! I'm 12.5 years young,
and there's still plenty of good lovin' left
in this guy!
Oh, and Auntie Robin,
I thoroughly enjoy romping in the backyard
and strolling through the neighborhood so
I can read the newspaper and find out what's
going on with the other mutts (er, dogs)
around here! Hm, lately I smell a mighty
big influx of bichons, which means more work
for ma . She has to educate them there newbie
bichon owners, and stick flyers in their
doors to tell 'em about our cousins at Small
Paws. Maybe they'll be kind and help out
Ma's mantra is: "awareness, awareness,
awareness, strength in numbers, strength
in numbers, strength in numbers." Geez,
you'd think she was a realtor or somethin'
like that!?
Here's the moral of my story. Don't mess
with us bichons!
Just 'cuz we might be sick or look half-dead,
we ain't ready to be put out to pasture just
yet! We have the courage, strength and determination
to fight on for as long as God wants to keep
us here on this earth to bug you humans with
our minor special requests here and there
(er, hm) BUT remember, in return we fill
your human hearts with love and joy and lots
and lots of happiness!
Boy, did I ever show that vet-sky.
Wonder if he's got an email address, I'd
sure like to give him a piece of my mind
for counting me out and not having any faith
that my ma could take good care of me!
By the way, here's a prayer ma found and
wanted me to pass on to you!
Wuv, Mr. Raffles (the spunkiest dude in the
world. Oh, and ma said to add I'm also the
most modest)
Prayer For Every Living Creature
May I be a protector to those without protection,
A leader for those who journey,
And a boat, a bridge, a passage
For those desiring the further shore.
May the pain of every living creature
Be completely cleared away.
May I be the doctor and the medicine
And may I be the nurse
For all sick beings in the world
Until everyone is healed.
May I always support the life
Of all the helpless creatures on
this earth.
And until they pass away and enter into
the Kingdom of God,
May I also be the source of life
For all the realms of varied beings
That reach unto the ends of space.
Author Unknown>
Prayer Report
Subj: miracle
Date: 8/17/2006 9:59:15 PM Central Standard
Time
From: HDBonach@adelphia.net
To: Pup3@aol.com
Robin,
Now for more important news - I can't wait
to tell you. My friend Melissa had her surgery
yesterday. The doctors told her she had stage
3 ovarian cancer. When they went in to do
the surgery, they found that she does not
have ovarian cancer, but cancer of the appendix.
This is almost unheard of - it's so rare.
So, they removed her appendix and did a hysterectomy,
to be on the safe side. She does not need
the hot chemo, but will receive regular chemo
instead.
THIS IS THE MIRACLE: When she went in for
her consult about 2 weeks ago, her ovarian
levels were extremely high - leading doctors
to believe she had, without a doubt, ovarian
cancer. if you recall, her mom died from
it. Needless to say, the doctors do not have
a medical explanation as to why her ovarian
levels were so high, but there was no trace
of cancer there. Instead, it was in her appendix
- at an early stage - so it did not spread
to any major organs. They also removed cancerous
cells that had attached themselves to her
intestines.
She has a rough road ahead, there is no doubt;
however, her chances for remission are much
better than if she had ovarian cancer. The
doctors are relieved, but scratching their
heads. I just got off the phone with Melissa's
sister-in-law, Doreen, and we agree that
a miracle happened.
We had divine intervention here. It's the
only thing that makes sense. We had everyone
we knew praying for Melissa - prayer chains
galore - and the Good Lord heard us. Our
prayers were answered for this wonderful
person. She's not out of the woods, but she
is so relieved with her new prognosis. Please
keep her in your prayers.
Thank you for your help and please share
the good news with Small Pawsers.>
Prayer Request
Subj: Prayers needed
Date: 8/21/2006 7:23:48 AM Central Standard
Time
From: bijou9@email.com
To: pup3@aol.com
Dear Robin,
My boss's wife, Barbara, has been a supporter
of SmallPaws ever since I first introduced
her to SmallPaws. Now we need the SmallPaws
Prayer Warriors to say a prayer for George,
Barbara's husband, and my boss. He had a
heart attack Friday and is in the Cardiac
Care Unit. He's really a great human being
and a super boss. They have both been through
alot and I know how much prayers can help.
Thanks,
Phyllis
For Those Broken of Heart from the Loss of
a Beloved Pet
Always remember.
No matter what you have done, or where you
have been, God loves you more than
anyone else ever has and more than anyone
else ever will.
Robin Pressnall
Executive Director
Small Paws® Rescue
Gospel
CD: It's A God Thing!
Singing for Small
Paws®
The Heart
Murmur Repair Bichons Reunion Page
Small Paws®
Rescue: Bichons Available for Adoption
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