George Oscar Bleuth

This is George Oscar Bleuth. This handsome 3-year-old was rescued by Austin Pets Alive! three months ago, quite literally off of the euthanasia table. His spine was fractured after being hit by a car, but with some TLC and physical therapy, he is now doing well and continues to progress. He gets around great with his walker and is surprisingly very fast! See him in action:

In T.J.’s Memory

Rest in Peace, T.J.

A few weeks ago, I met a sweet ol’ pittie named T.J. who was looking for a forever home. He was being fostered by a sweetheart named Cathy and her husband, as well as their three dogs. I took some pictures of him for his online profiles in the hopes that someone would see them, fall in the love with T.J. and adopt him. After losing our own T.J. just a few months ago, this T.J. had a special place in my heart before I even met him.

This T.J. was a gentle giant. There is no telling what went on in his life before Cathy came along. From the looks of his scissor-cut ears, it wasn’t pretty. But he still walked with a soft step and looked at Cathy and his four-legged housemates with a great and playful love.

I found out this morning that T.J. passed away earlier this week. Cathy was his forever home, and I’m so glad that he had her to show him what true puppy love is. And I’m thrilled to have been able to give her some photographs that will always show his sweet face, healthy spirit and goofy tongue sticking out.

Today, in T.J.’s memory, I encourage you to take a picture of someone you love. It doesn’t have to be technically perfect. Just capture a moment, a memory or a tongue sticking out. I hope that looking at it makes you smile.

Meet Annie

A Smile From Annie

I can’t believe I haven’t posted a photo of Annie yet. Annie is my current little sister with the Big Brother/Sister program at Austin Pets Alive!

She’s a shy beauty. Better on leash than any other dog at APA! right now (but maybe I’m biased). She’s very curious, always keeping her eyes and nose open to what’s around her. And she’s good with other dogs, at least those a bit smaller than her. I visited with her a few days ago, and she was sharing a pool and a pen with two scrappy little male dogs.

Annie is also good at reading your signals when you’re walking with her. If you stop, she’ll stop. If you sit, she’ll sit by your feet.

She’s going to make a great companion for someone.

Must Love Dogs

I put this little video together for the Austin Pets Alive! dog-walking program. I’m there every Tuesday night with my walking shoes on and treats in-hand. If you’re interested, please join us!

Visiting Sheila

As I do every Tuesday during my lunch hour, I went to the Brodie adoption location today to take pictures and videos of the Austin Pets Alive! dogs. My little sister, Sheila, was there today, lounging in the sun with about three toys and a swimming pool full of fresh water. I think she knew who I was as I started walking toward her from the parking lot and she wagged her tail faster and faster the closer I got. That’s such a good feeling!

She is a such a happy girl! She was tossing a little yellow bear around her pen, wagging her little nub of a tail, pressing her cheek against her pen for anyone and everyone to say hello. I hope she finds a great home soon. I can just picture her curled up at the foot of someone’s bed, on a big comfy bed of her very own.

Sweet Sheila

Oh, Sheila: My New Little Sister

I have a new little sister at Austin Pets Alive! Sheila. I just met her last night, and I must say, she’s pretty darn cute. She’s a good sitter, but definitely needs some work on being a lady on her leash. We’ll get her there!

A Plea for Candy

Sweet, Sweet Candy

This is a personal plea. I hope you’ll share it with your dog-loving friends.

Candy isn’t doing well in the shelter environment. In fact, she’s been diagnosed by two specialists as having extreme predatory drive, pushing her to bite a couple of dogs. If she doesn’t find a home — a special home at that — her future holds a huge question mark.

I love Candy. I would take her home in a heartbeat if I wasn’t worried about my two dogs and two cats, as well as our neighbors’ dogs and cats. I don’t know Candy’s full history, and I don’t know how far her killer instinct will allow her to take her drive for prey.

What I do know is this: She has a beautiful coat. She is a cuddler and a lover to the people that she knows and trusts. She loves a belly rub. She loves peanut butter treats. She has the cutest, most expressive ears. If I could paint a perfect picture of a future for Candy, it would be on a 30-acre farm with people who are there with her a good portion of the day, where she could take care of their pesky varmint problem to be paid only in love and a warm, cozy bed.

A regular neighborhood isn’t going to be ideal for Candy. She needs the space to roam and hunt, two good meals a day and someone who will work with her, and manage her predatory drive. According to the specialists, it can’t be trained out of her. But with the right home and the right person, she can thrive.

If you know of anyone with that 30-acre farm, a small-varmint problem and love to give, I hope you’ll point them in Candy’s direction.

Who Are You Calling Old?!

This is Gramps. He’s new to Austin Pets Alive! and is looking for a great home. I’m kind of in love with him.

Don’t let the name fool you, though. This boy has lots of life left in him. He’s a happy and spunky old man, and who can resist that crooked smile?

Gramps

Spoil ’em Rotten

I love the Austin Pets Alive! Big Brothers/Sisters program! I met my new “little” today, Candy. It makes my heart smile to know that she’ll find a loving home soon after being on a euthanasia list just last week. She’s a true beauty, part French Bulldog from the looks of it. Her coat is amazing, she’s not a big fan of the camera, and I can’t wait to see her continue to blossom.

Sweet Candy

And then there’s Mangy Max, my other “little,” who is making great progress every day. He’s a lanky, almost clumsy boy, with probably the longest legs at APA! right now. He’s a friendly boy, loves treats and loves to bark at birds to get away from his food.

I know some volunteers and visitors are hesitant to love on him because of his mange (which, again, is responding very well to treatment), but I talked to our family vet about that last week, worried about bringing it home. She said the possibility is incredibly slim. That by sanitizing before and after loving on each animal and keeping things clean, we’re doing just the right things. She pointed out that with all the mange she’s come into contact with, she’s never taken it home to her pets. That’s good, because Max deserves just as much love as anyone else.

Handsome Max

I hope they both get adopted soon, but until then, I’m giving them treats, making them new blankets, taking them on walks and giving them all the bellyrubs they can stand.

Sam Likes to Laugh

So, a dog walks into a bar…

Sam: He's fun!

Sam is a sweet, playful pup. He’s available for adoption from Austin Pets Alive!