The Dogs and Cats of Critterhaven Farm
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This is Gizmo. She was given to us in 2006 and is a little love. She is the boss around here, regardless of her size! She is a Schnihuahua. Part Schnauzer, part chihuahua! We love her to death. She is great with kids, dogs, cats, anything. She is our little guard dog. |
| This is Cuddles. She was one of my Christmas presents for 2009 and I have always wanted another full Keeshond ever since my beloved Tips passed away. She is the go getter and attention grabber of the farm. |  |
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This is Aslan. He was brought into the vet clinic where I work with a broken leg and I adopted him. He has been with the goats ever since he was 3 months old, WITH the pin in his leg, and he is a wonderful guard dog! He is a big ham..hogging the camera when I go in to take pics of the goats! |
| When I brought Cricket home from the flea market my hubby said "what have you done?" and then "you are never going to the flea market again." Now the dog is HIS and sleeps on his feet and everything! Crickie as she is known by is a little love. She can get cranky at times, but don't we all. She is a wonderful companion dog and the main house dog. She is a Jack Russell/Wire Fox Terrier mix about 8 years old. |  |
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This is Smokie with Keesha. Keesha is still here with us and misses Smokie terribly. I hope one day to find her another Keesie she can bond with. She is about 15 years old now and came to us as a rescue years ago after being shot in the gut. We fell in love with her and adopted her. |
| This is little Bea. She is the newbie around here. She is a CKC registered Papillon born Sept. 2007. Smart as a whip. Took her 2 days to get into the routine. Now we call her my little shadow! | 
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| This is Hawk. He just watches you...like a hawk! He was a rescue from the vet clinic I worked out after my beloved Mulder passed away. So now Hawk is the chief cat and bowl washer around here. Loves everyone and everybody, but he is THE BOSS. When a new dog comes in he will actually chase the dog until he feels the dog knows his place around here! |   |
| This is Purdy Boy, aka "Three Toes". He was born to a stray momma cat of ours and at the age of about 12 weeks got caught up in the fan belt of my husbands truck. Since it was our fault he was injured we set up a booth at the flea market and raised money for his leg amputation surgery. $350 later we have a three legged cat! He is very shy with his siamese personality, but loves to be loved on. | |
| This is Malley. He is about 13 years old. He too has survived the outdoors, ruling the roost as the boss cat outside. 'Malley Cat' is very affectionate, and really sneaks in a love here and there. He was found in a paper bag on the side of the road by a client of ours at the vet clinic when he was about 6 weeks old. He and Mulder were best friends. | |
| In Memoriam to those at the Rainbow Bridge | |
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This was Tips. She was the love of my doggy life. We went through college and after college together, dating my husband, and the birth of my children. I got her at a day old, and held her as she took her last breath. She will always be in my heart and I truly believe I will see her again. |
| This is Smokie. He was a big baby and momma's boy. He went to the road one day in 2006 and we found him in the ditch. It devastated me. He always looked like this..smiling. He is waiting for us to meet up with him at the rainbow bridge. He is buried out under the willow tree in the back yard. We have a bench there where we can go and remember him. |  |
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And this 'fat cat' is Mulder. We loved him very much and he left us at the ripe old age of 13 years in 2007, passing away in my arms one night after he seizured. He is running free now and waiting for us patiently. |
First we had one dog, then 2, then 3...well you get the idea. Actually each dog does have his or her place or function.
I got involved in Keeshond Foster and Rescue a few years ago. Due to lack of space and time i have had to stop that for now but after we get our own place I hope to start it up again.
My history with Keeshonds is this. My first experience with a Keeshond was the mother of my mixed baby Tips. Her owners had brought her in pregnant and sick with blastomycosis to the vet hospital where I worked. They paid me to take care of the pups since the mom was too sick to do it and then I got the pick of the litter.
Tips and I were inseparable until her death on August 7, 2007. My love of the Keeshond has developed from having her in my life, and now I have another girl to further develop that love.
Keesha came to me via a phone call. A local girl had found her shot in the stomach and wandering the streets and had nursed her back to health, but she could no longer keep her. I went to see her and possibly find her a home and needless to say she found one at my house. So Keesha is my first Kees rescue and is here to stay. She has overcome her timidness and her fear of even allowing herself to play...and with the help of her other wildly outgoing four legged pals that fear is being put behind her.
Then along came an email one day that there was a male Kees in a Nashville Shelter needing foster...so I volunteered and needless to say fell in love with the guy...ah the hazards of loving this breed. Well, for all intents and purposes Smokie was to have been a foster child only, but when he looked at me with those 'I've never been loved or known a home' eyes I couldn't resist. Smokie was adopted by me in Feb. of 2000 and joined Keesha as a member of the family. He has more than made up for any lack of love shown him in the past by giving twenty-fold back. When I'm sick he is the one to lay down beside me and guard me against whatever evils he thinks are lurking to bring me to such a level. Then one day in 2006 he for some unknown reason went to the road. We looked for him for hours til dark. My husband found him the next day in the ditch not two driveways away. I was devastated, and still have not gotten over his death.
I now rescue not only Keeshonden but Australian Shepherds and Miniature Schnauzers also. All three of these breeds have stolen my heart at one time or another. See my CAReS page to find out who may be in our foster care needing their forever home now.
A Foster Dog Poem
This was written by Diane Morgan, who does basset rescue, in addition to
writing several (good) dog books.
A poem to my foster dog
I am the bridge
between what was
and what can be.
I am the pathway to a new life.
I am made of mush,
Because my heart melted when I saw you,
Matted and sore, limping, depressed,
Lonely, unwanted, afraid to love.
For one little time you are mine.
I will feed you with my own hand
I will love you with my whole heart
I will make you whole.
I am made of steel.
Because when the time comes,
When you are well, and sleek,
When your eyes shine,
And your tail wags with joy
Then comes the hard part.
I will let you go--not without a tear,
But without a regret.
For you are safe forever--
A new dog needs me now.
by Diane Morgan
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(NOTE: Critterhaven.com is not affiliated with Critter Haven but we wholeheartedly support all their efforts and programs)
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