Mr. Magoo

I'd like you to meet one of the special little furry fellows rescued on Feb 27th by the CSPCA here in Montréal. They have given him the name Mr. Magoo... a most bittersweet name for a most adorable little creature that will pull at your heart like no other.

Take a closer look please... Mr. Magoo is not asleep in my arms, nor is he blinking; he has no eyes.

It's unclear if he was born without them or if this was caused by neglect. He also has an open molera or "softspot' on the top of his head (a not completely uncommon health issue in Chihuahuas that are purebred and ... inbred), their skulls don't entirely fuse. But Mr. Magoo's is larger than normal, which means he needs to be handled with extra special care. He will be held for observation for a few weeks before they decide to advance him for adoption. They want to be certain that he does not suffer from seizures or other complications from this.

In the meantime, now at least he is receiving that specialized care.

Mr. Magoo is just one of over 60 dogs just rescued at the Montréal SPCA (on Feb 27th 2009)

Mr. Magoo along with his mill-mates need help. You CAN help him and many others... To find out how go here ...

It's easy and takes only a moment of your time. I posted the pick above of me and Mr Magoo on my Facebook page along with his story and the link (above), about an hour ago and 20 mins later I received an email telling me I had received an 'e-card' from Canadahelps.org. When I clicked on the link, this is what I received...

With this added note:

"A donation has been made at CanadaHelps.org in your honour and Mr Magoo."

I am not exaggerating when I tell you I got very choked up and my eyes got very misty.

One of my facebook friends was very moved by Mr. Magoo, and as he wrote to me later when I thanked him...

"I'm just beside myself. My grandmother had a Chihuahua that looked exactly like Mr Magoo, so seeing him really hit close to home. I have two dogs, Lola and Spot, crazy as they may be; I love them and can't imagine what my life would be without them."


And can you blame him? I know that's how we feel about our Santiago.

The soon to be happy ending here is that I know Mr. Magoo will go to a loving home, as will his mill-mates. What is NOT a happy ending is that stories like these are far from over...

One happy ending and counting...

I'm happy to announce that our friend Marty has become a Doggy-Daddy and has adopted the sweet lovable fur-ball... Wembley (The Chihuahua Westland Terrier mix) he met today while volunteering at the SPCA.

Dreams can come true; for these four-legged (and two-legged) creatures.

Here we go again.

Puppy Mill surrenders 60 dogs to the CSPCA
(pinched from N@)

Surrender sheds light on the ever-present problem of Puppy Mills in Quebec

(Feb. 27, 2009) — This afternoon, the Canadian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals took in approximately 60 dogs from a puppy mill just outside of Montreal. The dogs were voluntarily surrendered by the owner of the mill to the CSPCA on Friday February 27th.

The dogs, all small breeds, arrived at the shelter filthy and scared. They are being cared for by CSPCA volunteers at the emergency shelter in Montreal, where they are being given veterinary treatment, grooming and socialization before they are placed up for adoption.

“We are pleased that the owner of this puppy mill facility took it upon herself to surrender some of her animals to the CSPCA and we certainly encourage others to do the same. We were fortunate that the dogs were surrendered to us because, while the conditions of the dogs at this facility were certainly unacceptable, the owner of the facility was acting in conformity of the Criminal code* and therefore we were powerless to take any legal action in order to seize the dogs,” said Alanna Devine, Acting Executive Director for the CSPCA. “This case once again demonstrates the problem with our current legislation and enforcement; The Criminal Code does not adequately protect animals against neglect and the current Provincial animal welfare structure is doing little to stop puppy mills from operating in this Province”.

On February 12th, The Minister of Agriculture, Me Laurent Lessard announced the creation of a working group to bolster existing measures concerning pet cruelty. The working group will be headed by Geoffrey Kelley, MNA for Jacques-Cartier and will focus, among other things, on the issue of registration of puppy mills.

“The fact that we are only able to rescue these dogs because the owner of the facility surrendered the animals is more proof that Quebec must take a stronger stance against puppy mills. The public of Quebec has expressed loud and clear that action must be taken so that puppy mills can no longer operate in this Province. We are hopeful that the working group organized by Minister Lessard will facilitate sorely needed meaningful changes in Quebec Provincial animal welfare legislation and eradicate puppy mills once and for all” said Devine.

For more information, contact Alanna Devine, Acting Executive Director at (514) 735-9172 or (514) 659-0499

- - - - -

Me and Didier met our friend Martin (who was considering getting a pooch of his own) and N@ and one of her neighbours at the SPCA today to lend a hand with meeting the initial needs of the latest rescues.

They were still being looked over for the first time by vets, getting their hair shaved off (as the ONLY means of tackling the infestations of lice, mites, fleas and ticks) or simply because they were so matted their coats of hair were like a straight jacket) getting bathed, and otherwise just starting to feel what it is like to be held in the arms of a human being that wants nothing more from it than to hold it and love it...

This what the forth Mill Raid aftermath that I've helped with and witnessed and I can tell you this, it does NOT get any easier. Each and every raid has produced horrific stories and the proof is in the poor abused creatures you see. The same little creatures you are there to help. To hold, to feed, to clean, to love.

When we got there the first thing we got put on was KP. There were a hundred or so bowls to be washed and dried. D and I did that while N@ and her friend began bathing a pooch and Martin went to give some lovin to the others. Shortly after D and I bathed a beautiful Husky female. (DAMN! their fur is like a sponge! you cannot dry a husky with towels... no matter how many you have. It just ain't possible!)

Then we just did what we could, cleaning cages, holding and petting and walking and playing with dog after dog after dog.

Here are just a few of the pooches we helped today...
(Pardon all the devil red-eyes, it was more about the dogs we were there to see than the photography)


Martin and a big black and beautiful girl (who shortly after when under the clippers and while is now a short hair, is not also far more comfortable and no longer infested)...




Didier with one sweet sweet Chihuahua...




Martin with an adorable Chihuahua-Westland Terrier mix...




Yours truly and a luscious caramel coloured Chi...




Didier and Martin with the sweetest, most gentle Daschund (who had just recently given birth)...



N@ and her friend with another Daschund, belly rub time!...



Me and the most bittersweet Chihuahua you could ever meet (More on him in the next post)...



N@ and the teeniest wee little poodle ya ever did see...



Each and every one of these sweet sweet things breaks your heart and fills you with their love all at the same time.

- - - - -

* Basically, if you feed an animal give it water and shelter then you are in compliance with the law...

There is nothing on the books that says if you keep 120 of em in your house and otherwise ignore them except to ensure they breed like rabbits then snatch those puppies away and sell then for profit, ignore any and all grooming and attend to health needs and concerns, then it's all good.

SICK!

Happiness is...

...cold noses on the O-ring.

Our pride and joy Santiago had his first Puppy Play Date today and even had his first boy-girl kiss... He also had a little man on man doggie action too...

I think he might be bisexual... Oh well there are worse thing... He could he a Satan worshipper...

And they called it Puppy Love...

OH MY GOD.

Didier, N@ and I went to the SPCA today to volunteer because of the crisis they are under due to the raids on two puppy mills here in Québec last week. Over 300 dogs were rescued, most have survived and they need love and support and many many many helping hands.

I knew my heart would break, but I was not prepared for the love WE received from these dogs. Dogs that have spent their WHOLE lives in cages. Some in Large rubbermaid crates even! You can only imagine and I think we all don't really want to... That they had any love to give US really speacks to the souls that these furry little beasties have.

We arrived at 1:00pm in time for the easiest part of the day... 'socialization time' All we had to do was go from cage to cage, take the dogs out, one at a time (if they'd even come out at all - it's sad that because when that's all they've ever known, they actually feel safer in than out) It was our job to just hold them, hug them, pet them, scratch them behind an ear... whatever they seemed to respond to.

Sounds easy right? Well it was and it wasn't. I think I cried as I held the first 3 or 4 of them. Some so small and under nourished you're afraid to pick them up. But you had to, you felt compelled to give these poor abused creatures some love. And how remarkably open they were to it. Some just nuzzled into your arms or neck, a couple licked your hands or your face while others just wanted to walk for a few minutes on the floor.

The first dog I held was not in good shape, she was all flea-bitten skin and bones and as uncomfortable as it was to hold her at first, she was just so happy to be held, licked my cheek that seconds later she became the sweetest, most beautiful animal you ever laid eyes on.

Some waited patiently just for a few minutes of affection, mostjust spun in their cages til you got to them. When you put them back they were calmer and would just sit and watch you with the next dog.

Another I took care of, a black and white spaniel (of some sort) had terribly mis-shaped front legs due to his life in cages. Once out he simply sat down next to me, and looked me in the face. I kept scratching him behind his ears and could have taken him home in mere moments because he was just so calm and serene.. When it was time to go back to his cage, he walked right in and curled up, lay down and just watched me the rest of the day. I had to come back throughout the day, his eyes; his eyes were just so loving.

I'm going to head back for a couple hours after work on Tuesday and then once or twice a week after my parents visit. These dogs need so much love...

If you'd like to volunteer too, you can find contact info here or check with your local chelters. I know we all have love to give and these little furry bundles so greatly need it