Lone Star Shih Tzu & Lhasa Apso Rescue and Adoption

Now everyone can help Lone Star Shih Tzu & Lhasa Apso Rescue help more and more needy fluffs and it won't cost you a CENT! 

Simply vote for us in the Shelter Challenge below and we MIGHT win!!  You can vote daily - so PLEASE DO.  I will remind you daily!  This means saving more lives so I won't apologize for bugging you!!

The Animal Rescue Site $100,000 Shelter+ Challenge has started today, September 14th. The Animal Rescue Site is awarding $100,000 in grants to eligible Petfinder.com member rescue organizations. The grand prize is a $20,000 grant. You don't have to register, and voting is free. Can you imagine how many needy fur kids we can help with even a fraction of the award grants!   

PLEASE FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS:   Go to www.theanimalrescue site.com.  Click on the purple button to "click here to give - it's free."  Then, when the second screen comes up, scroll down to the bluish banner with "The Animal Rescue Site $100,000 Shelter Challenge."  Click on the white oval "click here to vote."  On that screen, search for "Lone Star Shih Tzu" and click on the HOUSTON Lone Star Listing!! 

Read about many, many more that we were able to save because of our volunteers and donors at www.shihtzu-rescue.org and www.lonestarshihtzurescue.com.

Posted by teresa at 06:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

So, here's the story.  This little guy was at our local Houston city animal shelter, BARC.  His time was up.  In fact, his time was PAST. 

I went over to the shelter for a function - one of the volunteer groups was holding an adoption event.  I asked if this little guy got adopted and was told no and today (last Saturday) was the last day.  Well, he was cute, young and very friendly, so we took him home.

He was pretty filthy.  I took him over to Deogi, our little dog daycare for a bath and shave down.

But he sure looked better after the shave and a haircut.

To help us with our mission to save abused, abandoned and neglected shih tzu and lhasa apsos, CLICK HERE TO DONATE VIA PAYPAL.  Thank you.

Posted by teresa at 10:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you want to feel good today, read this story...

Little Casey Turner came to Lone Star Shih Tzu & Lhasa Apso Rescue as one of our typical "hard cases."  (No pun intended)  He was having what the owner described as horrible, long seizures at least once each week and during the seizure he would scream and cry as if he was in severe pain.

Of course, little Casey's folks couldn't afford to do any vetting to figure out what was wrong with him so wanted to turn him over to us to care for.  Once we saw that adorable face, we couldn't say no.

We brought him to Houston and, with your financial help, took him to Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists - Dr. Carley Giovanella, a neurologist, to see what was up with him.

Turns out Casey has a very rare disease found predominantly in Lhasa Apsos called Lissencephaly.  In this disease, his brain is SMOOTH, there are no folds.  This causes seizures and mental slowness.  We worked for over a year to get his seizures under control with medication.  We were able to slowly refine the dose of phenobarbitol to the point where he has seizures only about once a month and they are relatively mild. 

We figured at that point, Casey would be a forever foster with Lone Star and we were happy to have him.  But, just a few short months ago, we received an extremely good application to adopt Casey.

At first, we thought the applicant was just looking at his cute pictures and didn't understand the severity of his condition, but after numerous phone calls and emails, we found out that she is a wonderful nurturing person and WANTED Casey because of his disability.

Yesterday, we received this wonderful, happy picture of him with his new "brother!"

THIS is why we do rescue, people.  It is so unbelievably rewarding to take a dog with no hope and put him in a situation like this. 

Want to feel good?  Come foster for us!!

Posted by teresa at 10:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

So, as I was walking out of BARC with little cute Jensen, the attendant offered that they had a couple of other shih tzu at the shelter and asked if I wanted to look at them.

I walked with her to another cage bank and as I was turning the corner, my eye caught a movement in the crate to the top left of the bank just inside the door.   And here is what I saw..

Wow, in that shape, how do you tell what kind of dog this is?  Long flat nose.  Black and white, maybe lhasa mix, tibetan terrier mix or havanese mix.  In just pitiful shape and scratching constantly. 

Sherry, our intake coordinator, is going to beat me to a pulp, but how could I leave a dog like this sitting at the shelter?

The BARC philosophy definitely has changed lately, too.  The told me to go ahead and take the dog on a medical release - this means that if the owner shows up within the legal hold time, I have to give him back.  Yeah, right.  Notice the dog does have his own collar on?  Yes, he has an owner somewhere.

So, he too, is in the iso ward at home.

He'll head to the vet tomorrow.  Wish him luck.  Hopefully no heartworms!

Posted by teresa at 05:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I went over to a function at our local Houston shelter this afternoon.  Mainly to give some Deogi coupon books to the adoptions group Project71.com but also to see if anyone had adopted that little cute dog I posted about earlier in the week.

Yes, this one.  Ugly thing isn't he?  Well, guess all of the adopters thought he was ugly cuz his time was up when I was there.  So, he came home with me and is now in the iso ward at my house.

This little guy is C U T E!!  Now, tomorrow, off to Deogi Dog Daycare, Spa & Resort (after hours, of course) for a shave and a haircut!!

Posted by teresa at 04:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Folks, our local shelter, BARC, is undergoing some dramatic changes.  One, in particular, is an attempt to shift from a "rabies control" facility to being the catayst for a no-kill community.  It takes the entire community to make this happen, including you and I.  The shelter is now focused on getting as many dogs as possible out the front door - but as anyone who has been around animal shelters knows, there is such an unbelievably large number of dogs coming into a shelter, that to go "no kill" means the ENTIRE COMMUNITY must get involved and become dedicated.

We've been asked to take in this adorable little three year old dog and we desperately need a foster home for him.

Email me at teresa@shihtzu-rescue.com.  You will have to go through an approval process.

Posted by teresa at 07:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Now everyone can help Lone Star Shih Tzu & Lhasa Apso Rescue help more and more needy fluffs and it won't cost you a CENT! 

Simply vote for us in the Shelter Challenge below and we MIGHT win!!  You can vote daily - so PLEASE DO.  I will remind you daily!  This means saving more lives so I won't apologize for bugging you!!

The Animal Rescue Site $100,000 Shelter+ Challenge has started today, September 14th. The Animal Rescue Site is awarding $100,000 in grants to eligible Petfinder.com member rescue organizations. The grand prize is a $20,000 grant. You don't have to register, and voting is free. Can you imagine how many needy fur kids we can help with even a fraction of the award grants!   

PLEASE FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS:   Go to www.theanimalrescue site.com.  Click on the purple button to "click here to give - it's free."  Then, when the second screen comes up, scroll down to the bluish banner with "The Animal Rescue Site $100,000 Shelter Challenge."  Click on the white oval "click here to vote."  On that screen, search for "Lone Star Shih Tzu" and click on the HOUSTON Lone Star Listing!! 

Claude Galvez - 10 year old lhasa boy left abandoned in a rural field south of Houston.  Had heartworm treatment, a massive abcess in one ear, had ear ablation surgery and then recovered from a massive stroke.

Hasani Katy, AKA Henry.  Rescued from a local small commercial breeder - blind.  Had urine scalds all over his belly and penis.  Successfully got well and is now adopted and living the life!!

Chalupa Davis - adorable young shih tzu boy - badly broken jaw - fixed and just about ready to go up for adoption.

Read about many, many more that we were able to save because of our volunteers and donors at www.shihtzu-rescue.org and www.lonestarshihtzurescue.com.

Posted by teresa at 06:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Little Baylee Turner - what a story.  Here's a brief synopsis so you can understand what your extremely generous donations did for one little dog.

Flashback to June - Lady working as a vet tech in a Phoenix-area veterinary clinic wants to turn in a dog.  Communicates to us that the dog was turned over by her owners because she had hurt her back and the owners were finding it too difficult to keep her appropriately confined.  We were told that the dog had recovered and was walking. 

We even received a note from the vet herself that the dog was fine and walking - dated July 6.

Our volunteer picked up this little dog in mid July - she was handed to our volunteer wrapped in a towel.  The volunteer got all of the necessary paperwork completed, jumped in the car with the little dog and headed home.  What a shock she got when she got Baylee home - Baylee COULD NOT WALK.   The volunteer was in tears.  She knew that times were tough and we had so many, many little dogs that had been waiting for surgery - she was really distraught.

And, we were confused since the original vet said the dog was walking. 

We took Baylee to the local specialist and had an enlightening discussion - Baylee might have been doing what is called "spinal" walking - but was absolutely NOT using her legs in true "walking."  And, she had been like that for at least three months, according to him. 

Regardless, we scheduled her for surgery - the specialist thought that if we did it quickly, there might be a chance that she would walk - she still had deep pain sensation.  So, we did it.

Here is the result - two months later.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6oP567Ekhs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8EUNdy7aHo

And the ultimate:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg5BXrPTmlU

As you know. we are so unbelievably thankful for you all.  There is no way on earth we could help so many little broken pups without your help.

I personally thank each and every one of you - you make my job easy.  I get the fun stuff - seeing the flower blossom!

Teresa

Posted by teresa at 08:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Say hello to the newly-adjusted Chalupa.  His surgery went well.  In addition to removing the destroyed part of the mandible, the surgeon wired the two mandibles together at the front - not sure it will hold, but it was worth a try.

He's eating soft food right now - you can see how swollen his face is but no longer crooked.  YAY.

You can see on this photo, how swollen his jaw is. 

Chalupa sends many, many hugs and kisses to all of you for helping him get fixed.

Posted by teresa at 07:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Thanks to many, many, many unbelievably-generous people, this little broken boy finally checked into GCVS this morning for surgery to fix this broken jaw.  I don't have a clue what he will look like afterward since the surgeon, Dr. Heidi Hottinger, will be removing a piece of one very ugly-looking mandible, but he will be able to live life normally.

I think I will be able to bring him home tomorrow - can't wait.

Brenda, one of the surgery techs at GCVS checked him in this morning.

This boy is about the cutest and happiest little dog I've met.  It says a lot about dogs - someone literally kicked his jaw in and yet he holds no hard feelings for humans.  If only humans could be half as forgiving!

CLICK HERE to read other stories about Lone Star Shih Tzu & Lhasa Apso Rescue's saves.

Posted by teresa at 09:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I took Mae Mae in to GCVS for a check up.  Remember that her surgical incision site in the roof of her mouth opened up two weeks ago and she had to go in for emergency surgery to close it back up. 

She has to eat softened kibble right now.  No canned food, no mushy food, no dry kibble, no raw, etc.  Only partially softened kibble.  I have to soak it for exactly 20 minutes to make it the right texture.  Too little and the kibble will be too hard and might break through the opening again.  Too long and the food will be too mushy and she might break through the opening by putting pressure with her tongue to get the food down her throat.  AHHH.

Her check up yesterday went well.  She's here with Brenda, one of the wonderful surgical techs.

I also had my own Ginger there for an oncology check up - and the oncologist, Dr. Carreras couldn't put Mae down either.  Mae loves to be held and was seriously soaking up the attention!!

Posted by teresa at 08:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Adorable little blue-eyed Hazel Ranger found her forever home this weekend.  She really took to her new mom and her little fur brother! 

Posted by teresa at 08:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Ok, obviously this puppy is NOT a shih tzu or lhasa.  He's what we call a pseudo-tzu.  He and his brother, Frijoles AKA Bean, were literally dumped on the doorstep of Deogi in June.  I swear I thought someone was checking in for boarding and just put them inside the gate, but nope, no people there - just the little dogs!

So, they became honorary Lone Star dogs!

This truly is a rags to riches story because little Taco was adopted by Kim and Michael Moore and their kids, Mason and Rylee.  And Taco has a sweet three year old fur-brother too!!  Oh yeah, that Michael Moore is OUR own Dr. Michael Moore - the best vet in Houston.

Posted by teresa at 08:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

LeSimba Katy gets a home!  Yes another of the Katy 34 found a wonderful home with Susan and Dennis and his new brother Jack!  LeSimba is the little brown boy on the right.  

Thanks for all you do to allow us to save cute little puppers like this!! 

Posted by teresa at 08:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I just cannot tell you how great I feel now that Mae is recovering from her many, many procedures.  This little dog feels better today than I've seen her feel in a year!!

She got a new haircut today - our groomer does great work - and is ready for her post-op check up tomorrow morning.  Wish her luck!

Thanks for all each of you did to make this little girl healthy again.

Posted by teresa at 07:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Again, you guys amaze me.  Today, when I opened my emails, I was amazed to see donations and pledges that will almost completely cover Chalupa's surgery on Thursday.  All I can say is THANK YOU THANK YOU!  I am beside myself with joy for this very happy little boy!!

Huge thanks to Gabrielle Dopp, Sarah Cabello, Barbara Grabell, Byron Leger, Mary Jane White, Dale Stone, Debora Wheeler in memory of Travis Alexander, Wendy Barnum, Doug Cameron, Mary Jane Lastick, Cindy Ruby, Darlene Keisler, Cheryl Oyaski, Kathy Jackson, Kathy Brooks, Jean Smith, Rosemary Montgomery and anonymous JS for the wonderful wonderful donations!!!

Chalupa says many thanks and I cannot wait to show you his post surgery pictures.

Posted by teresa at 08:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)