The Small Paws® Rescue Newsletter

Saturday March 24, 2007 11:30 A.M.

Gem of the Day: "You are a child of the Most High God. He has crowned you with glory and honor–not because of who you are, but because of Whose you are! As God’s child, He wants you to have preferential treatment. He wants you to be favored in this life. He wants you to be “favor-minded.” To be favor-minded simply means that you are releasing your faith, knowing that God wants to help you. The more favor-minded you are, the more of God’s favor you’re going to see! Begin to declare that you have the favor of God and expect God’s favor to bring you to a place of victory in every area of your life!”

From the book Living Your Best Life Now written by Joel Osteen, "The Smiling Preacher. Pastor of Lakewood Church, Houston Texas.

(By requests, we're going to be including the "How to Donate to Small Paws " links at the VERY beginning of our newsletters,
so you don't have to go hunting through them! Thanks, all, Robin)

To donate to Small Paws Rescue you may use your major credit card securely, at this site.
This is our own credit card server. It is secure!

If you have made a past donation using your credit card, you may e-mail Stephanie Hunter, at SPRFluff@aol.com and let her know the amount of your donation to help these Bichons.

You may also call your credit card donation in to Janet Byrn at 508-801-3106. She is on Eastern Standard Time!

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

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

In the first 19 days of March, 2007, We Have Paid Vet Bills Totalling $25, 433.31

Last Monday night we paid $13,748.68 for just one week of vet bills.

See our 110 listings of 115 adoptable Bichons! (Some of these listings are of bonded pairs!)

See our 110 listings of 115 adoptable Bichons by Zip Code!

Fill out an 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

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 22 foreign countries as well!

Adoption information is posted below. Turn up your speakers!
We have music for you!

If you missed our last newsletter, here it is. http://www.smallpawsrescue.org/pup3/march2007b.html

I'm down here in Englewood, Florida, attempting with everything I have and everything I am, to capture our little puppy mill rescue who broke away while on a walk, 4 weeks and 3 days ago.

In the past almost 9 years, and in over 6000 rescues, 29 Bichons or Bichon mixes have gotten away. We have recovered 28 of those. One was hit and killed by a car before we ever even knew she was missing, but we did recover her and get her to a hospital, where sadly, she had to be euthanized.

Everyone else has come home alive and well. We have a 100% recovery rate in recovering lost Bichons that belong to Small Paws Rescue. We are doing everything humanly possible to keep that record in place, with little Annie!

Yes, she is alive and well, and yes she is faster than lightening. I spent two hours with her the first night I was here, getting as close as two feet away from her.

This is a report, live from Englewood, Florida. Please excuse typos and spelling errors. I'm probably about as tired as I've been since the beginning of this magnificent obsession, way back in 1998.

A donated airline ticket has allowed me to come here (Thank you Virginia Story Brown) and thankfully, two other donors (Thank you Peg Mosher and Pat Smith) have covered my lodging.

There was a change in my lodging situation here so we are going to use those lodging funds over, to allow me to stay here longer, to give us every opportunity to capture this elusive and terrified puppy mill rescue, named Annie. Let me 'splain, Lucy.

You see, the hotel where I stayed the first night had 18 wheeler trucks coming into my room and driving directly onto my bed. I'm certain of it. The lamps rattled, alerting me to each time this was about to happen. Hours of sleep on day one here = 0. Priceless. Believe me.

I explained to the front desk the next morning that since this hotel seemed to be located directly in the path of oncoming 18 wheelers and about a million other fast moving vehicles, I was not going to be able to stay there. They refunded our money for that night's lodging.

The only place I could find (did I mention it happens to be Spring Break here?) was a Hampton Inn in Venice, Fl., and the cheapest rate there was $149.00 a night.

On the way out there to the Hampton Inn, (27 miles and 45 minutes from the site,) the cell phone rang.

A woman named Gracia (love that name. Next female Small Paws Rescue Bichon is going to be named "Gracia") introduced herself and said that Katie, (our hero from EARS) had asked her to call me. (You guys, I did made a terrible mistake. The "EARS" rescue group that I told you about earlier, is NOT THE SAME "EARS" that is working on finding Annie with us, here in Florida. It's not the National EARS organization but a very small group of foster homes, in Englewood, Fl. They don't even have a website up and working yet. I learned this when I told Katie that I had sent you all to the EARS website to make donations to them when she replied, "What website? We are still working on our website." I am so sorry! I thought they were both one and the same EARS.)

Gracia had heard about my "big wheels keep on rollin'" nightmare at the first motel and told me to call a man named Jerry Shallows, who is affiliated with the Englewood Rotary Club, Jerry owns this beach front property.

I did call him and told him Annie's story and the story of Small Paws and of all of you. Jerry has two rescued Golden Retrievers, who are now honorary Bichons, as he COMPED this darling beach front apartment to me, for one full week, until his next set of paying guests arrive.

This is the view I have right now, while I sit on my balcony and type to you, as if I had good sense.

I'm upstairs on the left. I'm only 6 miles from the site.

Since Jerry has given us this wonderful gift, it will allow me to stay longer, instead of having to fly back to Tulsa, tomorrow. It's costing us only the rental car and meals.

I'm spending every waking moment out there in the residential neighborhood, at the site of now over 90 sightings.

I have seen her up close and personal. I looked right into her eyes, just before she turned and went from zero to 80 miles an hour in about 3 seconds.

The first night I was here, I could not find her on the street where she had last been sighted. I asked God to please direct me to her. I felt drawn to drive down a new street and there I saw movement! It was a dadgummed possum.

Then, as I drove further down the street, I saw more movement! It was a RACCOON.

Then, even further down, I saw something else moving. It was an ARMADILLO! Possum on the half shell.

Then, as I kept on going down the street, I saw HER, ANNIE, OUR ANNIE, just as pretty as you please, running (she is always running. Every report we get tells us the dog is running. Not trotting, RUNNING.) across one of the perfectly manicured lawns in a 2-3 million dollar neighborhood. You can't say she doesn't have good taste and you also can't say that her survival skills aren't A-1. She is a little monkey in a Bichon suit, I tell you.

This was at about 10:30 P.M. on Wednesday night. I pulled over and got some of the Beneful wet and smelly dog food (no it hasn't been recalled, yet, anyway) out and dumped it from it's plastic container to the ground, in front of two houses that were under construction. I had good light that night. No cloud cover.

I pulled the GMC Envoy that I'm driving, over to the wrong side of the road, like the mailman does, so that I would be really close to her if she came to eat the food I had just dropped, directly below my driver's side door.

Bingo, here she came. I was stunned at how easy this was. It was as if God himself had guided her right to me. She was right under my car door, about 2 feet away. just gobbling. She looked great. Still pretty white. No worse for wear.

I had the circular, weighted net that the Tulsa Sheriff's Department had included in the net gun case. Yes, they trusted us with this $3000.00 piece of equipment, without even a deposit or a copy of my driver's license. They said they knew who I was and where I lived. I have no idea if this is a good thing or a bad thing. The net gun is probably not going to work in this area. You need a wide open space to be able to fire the net, up to 40 feet. There are too many bushes and small trees everywhere. You won't believe what it entails, flying a firearm in cargo. Forms to be declared, the whole 9 yards. There are blanks that you have to load into the gun and when it goes off, it sounds like a cannon. I have ear protection with me, in case I get a clear shot to fire the thing.

As Annie was right below me, snarfing up that food, I held the net out the window and dropped it right onto her little white butt. BINGO.

It snagged her back leg. I got out as fast as I could, and by that time she had untangled herself from that net and she was off to the races again. My heart sank. I could not have been any closer to capturing her than I was right then. Yes, of course I will try this again, if given half a chance.

I proceeded to have no less that 20 sightings of her that first night, Zig Zag, She loves to cross the street in this quiet residential area.

It is really quiet except when one of the residents come barrelling down the street at over 55 miles an hours. God must be protecting her. I see other animals run over each morning and the turkey vultures cleaning up the remains. Not Annie. I think she may be even faster than these cars.

Finally I was so exasperated that I just stood in the middle of the street, in the stillness of the darkness and began to somehow try to sing to her. You all have told me how these mill dogs seem to respond to me singing. I don't know why. I don't understand it, but it was worth a try. To hear the melody of what we sang, yes, you were all there with me, click on this link.

"Jesus, Jesus, Jesusssss, there's just something about that nameeeee. Master, Savior Jesussss, like a fragrance after the rainnnn"

I swear to you on all that is Holy. I swear to you on the life of my Monkey Man. She appeared, STOPPED and looked straight at me. She came towards me from down the road. This was the slowest I have ever seen her move, right towards me as I live and breathe.

I continued while tears began to well up.

"Jesusss, Jesusss, Jesssus, let all heaven and earth proclaimmmm"

She had her tail down between her legs and then it started to WAG, staying low. Tears that had welled began to fall. God Lord God have mercy. He is going to deliver her right into my waiting arms.

"Kings and Kingdoms will have all passed away, but there's somethingggg about that nameeee."

I continued to sing in the still of the night with just she and I out there.

Thoughts of Tennessee Tommy came to me and of the time I felt closer to God than any other in my life, as if He stopped everything to help us,. and that little dog out there in the icy Ohio woods, that cold winter day.

Annie was walking towards me and was probably about 20 feet from me when one of those racing cars came out of nowhere and off she went again , like a frightened wild animal, because that's what she is right now.

She disappeared and I did not see her again that night.

My heart is filled with hope that if I got this close to her, people, please listen to me, I believe with my whole heart and soul that we will recover this one, too.

This little lost lamb is being protected the very Hand of God. There is no other explanation for her survival for this long in a land of predators and fast cars.

And if He is protecting and loving her, think how much He is protecting and loving YOU.

He loves you more than anyone else ever has and more than anyone else ever will. To be loved like this is beyond my understanding. I only know that I am so grateful that He does love us this much. And He loves our little frightened Annie, too.

I don't know why this is happening. I only know that I trust Him. I trust Him. I trust Him. There must be some reason we are going through this with this precious little girl, who has been so abused in an Amish puppy mill.

I have given out my card to everyone I see there, as well as one of the fliers that EARS made with her picture on it.

The next morning, Thursday, the neighbors were calling me to tell me that she was out around where the school bus picks the kids up for school, running away, of course. By the time I got there, (I was not out there bright and early. I had stayed out there until 1:30 A.M. the night before and had spent the night being run over by trucks) she had disappeared for the day, again.

Annie seems to be out in the early mornings and late at night. During the heat of the day neither she or the other resident wildlife is anywhere to be seen. In my mind's eye I wonder if she has been taken in by a family of raccoons, and is being taught to forge for food and water, and how to avoid being et by an alligator.

Yes, there are also snakes out there. BIG snakes. Lauri Caron, just almost stepped on one.

Thursday night, when there was lots of cloud cover and the black asphalt was even blacker than normal, it was coiled up and ready to strike. Oops.

Lauri got her snake stick out and hooked it and moved it to the side of the road. It was a red racer, she said, and I wasn't going to get any closer to it to try to argue with her.

Laurie has been sent by God and the Florida Fish and Wildlife people, via the Octogon Wildlife Sanctuary. If you want to email and thank her, this is her email addy. (animals@octagonwildlife.org)

She drives 1 1/2 hours one way, to come out here in her every spare moment. She brings the dart blow gun, which only she is licensed to use, because it involves using a controlled substance, as the drug.

She leaves her own rescue effort, a wildlife sanctuary where she feeds 30 tigers, 12 Bears, I don't even know how many Lions, a Liger, leopards, primates, reptiles, and various other wild critters. BIG ONES. She raises the funds to pay for the food, all by herself. The meat alone run $6000.00 a month.

They take the animals no one else will take because of illness or age. Sort of a Small Paws for Big Honkin' Paws, if you get my drift.

Their Mission Statement.

"Our Mission for the Future: Even though Octagon's founder has passed on to be with all those he cared for, it is still our "Mission" to create habitats for abused, abandoned, injured and orphaned wildlife resplendent with lush vegetation to produce a more comfortable environment for both the animal inhabitant and the visitor. The experience will be an interactive one with constant emphasis on environmental education. We hope visitors will recognize the huge demand for immediate action in the areas of prevention of animal cruelty, causes and effects of environmental depletion and the importance of general conservation. Our concept has several phases and is adjustable according to available resources and changing environmental concerns."

Lauri has made probably 7 trips here and back, so far. She darted Annie last Monday night, but was not able to follow her to find where she went nighty- night.

By the way, we desperately need a GPS dart. NO ONE in this whole state seems to have one. The Fish and Wildlife people are trying to find one but so far, no luck. IF ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY WAY OF LOCATING ONE OF THESE PLEASE LET ME KNOW. E-mailing and asking if we called here or there isn't going to help, as I am out at the site. If you now of a way for us to procure one of these, please let us know.

IF you locate one, you can call me on the cell phone at 918-638-5854. Sometimes I have cell service. Sometimes I don't! Sorry!

Laurie is determined to catch this "zoomy" white dog. She drives a truck with a lion picture on it. She told me of the difficulties of having such a facility. The insurance, the food bills. She goes to sleep every night wondering if she can keep going, even one more month.

I remember those early days of Small Paws Rescue and you do too.

Her husband and his father started the sanctuary and they have both passed away. Lauri is producing this one woman show, basically by herself.

Small Paws wrote a check to her Octogon Wildlife Sanctuary for $500.00 on Thursday night. Lauri isn't charging us for her time, when she could be doing just that.

One quote we got from one source with a dart gun and licensed shooter was for $3000-5000.00. It was the least we could do to help this woman who has done so much to help us.

She told me she wouldn't be able to come out last night, as she has to prepare for the public to visit the sanctuary on SAT and SUNDAYS.

I knew I would be out there alone last night. Annie had not been spotted since the night before. Laurie and I saw her about five times, in the dark, running, the night before, on Thursday night.

Laurie tried to get there on Thursday evening in the day light around 7:00 P.M., in order to try to get a clear shot and be able to track her afterwards.

But there was a fire on one of the Interstates and traffic was rerouted. She didn't end up getting there until dark and that night it was REALLY dark.

I thought I was on my own last night until, one of the times I was driving up and down this one street, there on the side of the road, sitting in the dark, with a gun aimed out the window, was our Miss Lauri.

I told her not to shoot me in the butt with that thing, even though the target was wide and visible.

She sat in the same area she had darted Annie once before, and almost darted her a second time. In case. She was ready.

We drove and watched, watched and drove and that day, there was no reported sightings of Annie that night. I was a little worried that she had either moved or, worse. Let's just say I was concerned.

Lauri stayed until past 10, I stayed past 12:30 A.M. Nothing.

I went to the 24 hour Walmart for some breakfast things for the apartment, and a new cell phone car charger as mine had gone kaput. While in there, Katie called me to tell me a resident had just called her and had seen Annie just two houses up from where Lauri and I had set a have-a-heart live humane trap.

We had proof of life and it was in a good area, right near our trap.

This morning I was called by the resident whose yard we used for the trap. We chose this family, since they have a Bichon. We trained the husband on how to release anything from the trap, that wasn't Annie.

This morning at 6, I learned we had a raccoon in the trap and the husband was afraid of it. I buzzed out there and released the little thing who scampered off to find his buddies.

The neighbor was astounded that I hadn't been attacked by the killer raccoon. Uh-boy.

I stayed out there for three hours this morning with no further sightings. The temps are going to be up over 85 today so I know she won't show herself in the heat of the day.

I used this time to come back here, and write to all of you, who are supporting this rescue effort, and the recovery of this one, elusive puppy mill rescue, named Miss Annie.

I also have carefully measured valium, and if I see her in daylight hours, I am going to slip her a mickey in a meatball, and try to follow her for 15 minutes until she goes down. We can't just make her sleepy. We are using enough to actually get her to be totally knocked out. This amount has been calculated by a vet and if we lose sight of her, it will not kill her. It will make her appear to be RUI. (running under the influence)

This will not be used unless I can determine I see her in daylight, and that it will be her and only her who will take the bait. If anything else tries to take it, I'll frighten them off, so as not to drug anything other than Annie.

That's where we are. It's costing me probably $60.00 a day here with food, gas, and rental car.

If you've been touched by my report of the search and rescue efforts going on right here in Engelwood, Florida, for little Annie, and if you can support even one day , it would be so appreciated.

To donate to Small Paws Rescue you may use your major credit card securely, at this site.
This is our own credit card server. It is secure!

Bonnie Ferguson, Executive Assistant is operating Small Paws in my absence and doing a fabulous job of it.

We have some urgent emergencies and you will be getting a newsletter about that, directly after delivery of this one.

I don't know when I will be able to write to you again. It will probably be next week. Bonnie is answering my e-mail and her's, so please don't email unless it is about a rescue emergency.

We can't have jokes and stories filling up my box, when Bonnie is handling both her email and mine, ok?

Ok, that's about it for now I think. I am going to try to grab a nap and get back out there tonight, hoping to be able to nab her. Annie is a real night owl and I am becoming one. All My Love, Robin

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

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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Small Paws® Rescue: The Gift Shoppe
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