Yorkie Times
Newsletter for Yorkie Rescue
November 2020
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"Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received.
Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse." ~ Henry Van Dyke
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Editor
MaryElizabeth Dugmore
Technical Editors
Amalia Spaulding
Laura Morrisey
Contributors
MaryElizabeth Dugmore
Hannelie Vermeulen
Deborah J. Thompson
Sally Reboul
Mary Prebys
Athena Maria Dugmore
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Thanksgiving wishes from MaryElizabeth Dugmore |
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Dear Yorkie Lovers
Celebrating Thanksgiving this November 2020 will be a celebration like no other. COVID-19 has had an impact on all of our lives and our lifestyles. It has stretched our coping skills, yet built our resilience. It has physically distanced us, yet emotionally kept us close. We all proved who ever said “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” wrong. We all adjusted to changed circumstances and changed our behaviors to remain safe and keep those around us safe. In the process we kept supporting each other - and the mission of rescue. We kept loving. We kept saving lives.
Never underestimate the impact of teamwork and connection - especially when it comes to rescue. Our members and supporters continued on despite a pandemic, personal health related concerns, hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires. We witnessed an outpouring of love and support, the power of innovation and inclusion - and as always, we witnessed people managing the challenges and making a difference! Having been blessed to be a part of our animal loving YTNR community since it started 22 years ago, it has been inspiring and heartwarming to notice the adjustments and the outpour of support for each other on our blog and in emails.
On October 10 we had our annual Board meeting and discussed the changes we faced as a rescue over the past year, as well as planned for the future ahead of us, and the adjustments needed to remain safe amidst an ongoing pandemic affecting our intake, foster and adoption process.
Weather-wise we are facing a cooling down this month, and some areas are bracing for the first snow of the season, and soon it will be freezing cold. To celebrate the last bit of warmth, we are including a short article to introduce some of our members’ summer gardens to warm your hearts.
This month we also face an election. As we all prepare to vote, let us remain respectful, let us remain considerate of each other, and let us remain kind. Most of all, let us remember to love each other, despite our differences, and let us remember that we all love our beautiful and bountiful country.
Kindness is the key to community, both inside of YTNR and the world outside of our little bubble. May we celebrate love and kindness at our Thanksgiving tables this year, whether it is a much smaller table, or a Zoom celebration. May we celebrate community, our accomplishments, our connection to each other, and our hope for the future, just as the Pilgrims did during their first Thanksgiving celebration on American soil, as outlined elsewhere in this edition of the newsletter.
May we also focus on self-care, which in the challenging times we are currently facing, is more crucial than ever. Let us all take deep breaths, practice gratitude, ask for support when we need it, and reach out to others who may need us. Focusing on our own health and remaining safe is crucial during this pandemic we are facing together. Our health and safety also allows us to support loved-ones around us, and the animals who need us. It helps us bring joy to so many. To support that, eat well this Thanksgiving season, and keep your bodies and minds nourished throughout the season to come. Remain thankful for our blessings and for each other.
My wish for all this month is health, love and safety. Thank you to each and everyone for being an essential part of our Yorkie loving community. Thank you for financially and emotionally supporting our rescue, physically fostering and caring for our Yorkies, and helping them find forever homes. Thank you for supporting each other in these much needed tasks, and for remaining an integral part of Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue.
May you have a blessed Thanksgiving, and a lovely month overall. Be well, be kind to yourselves and kind to others.
With love and gratitude,
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MaryElizabeth Dugmore
President and Founder, YTNR
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Background and History of Smoky
Smoky was a four pound Yorkie who was found in an abandoned jungle foxhole in New Guinea in early 1944 by a soldier whose jeep had stalled in the jungle.
The next day the Yorkie was sold for two Australian pounds ($6.44) to 20 year old Private First Class Bill Wynne. Bill and Smoky flew combat missions and went through many air raids together. She lived on rugged army tropical food including at times C and K rations, while they served 18 months straight in combat. They traveled 40,000 miles overseas.
One of the highlights of the Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue Annual Gathering is the announcement of the winners of the yearly Smoky Awards. All our rescues are special and we like to acknowledge them and their rescue stories. All rescues adopted between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020 were eligible for nomination.
Since new people have joined our great group since the last time, it might be fitting to retell the story of WHO the Smoky of the "Smoky Award" is. We turned to Bill Wynne whose heart was stolen over 60 years ago by his four pound Yorkie, Smoky - his angel in a foxhole. Watch Angel in a Foxhole here.
When YTNR was planning its very first rescue Ball in 1999, the first thing that came to mind was creating a special award for the Yorkie Rescue of the Year. It seemed logical to name the award after Bill Wynne's world famous Yorkie rescue. After nominations came in, it quickly became clear that each story was special and touching. Each rescue is a great rescue, just as Smoky was. She started a movement, in rescue, in therapy, in obedience that showed people what a four pound dynamo could do.
Announcing the year's Smoky Awards each year, is something we look forward to, through laughter and tears. It reminds us of why we do what we do, and how much it is so worthwhile.
We receive many nominations each year. It is never easy to narrow the field; each dog has its own story, fortunately ending happily with a new and loving forever family. Some of these little dogs are senior citizens; some have health issues requiring ongoing care; some never knew human love before; some were strays; and some came from families who loved them but could no longer care for them.
Yorkie Doodle Dandy by Bill Wynne the full story of this WWII hero is available in our Yorkie Angel Boutique www.YorkieAngelBoutique.com
OUR SMOKY AWARDS WINNERS
Now, May I hear the drum roll please......
THE 1st RUNNER UP:
♥ ELLIE MAE ♥
Ellie’s Story
My precious Ellie, formerly Bella, came to me on January 1, 2020 an unsightly matted, and smelly mess. Her previous owner said she had gotten her as a pup, but soon became too busy with children, career, and then a divorce. This left her with neither the energy nor the time to care for Ellie properly. I understand these things happen in life, so I was relieved to receive Ellie into rescue. When asked how long Ellie had been left to her own devices, I was informed it had been 11 years, and you guessed it… Ellie was 11 years old.
I finished my business with the previous owner and put Ellie in my car. Honestly, she smelled so bad my eyes and nose were running. Nonetheless, I had to take her out of her crate and just hold her for a moment. I expected a hyper, overly excited, and out-of-control little dog given the level of neglect, but instead, as soon as I put her in my arms, she relaxed as if to say, “This is all I need.”
I got her home and immediately gave her a warm bath. Unfortunately, one bath was not enough to quell the stink of 11 years living in her own urine and feces, so a second bath was necessary. In the meantime, my husband was washing out her crate, putting her blanket in a hot water and bleach wash, and throwing out her “food.” I don’t know what they were feeding her, but it smelled as bad as she did.
Because her hair was long and matted, I dried her with the blow dryer the best I could and cut out the giant mats in her coat. She looked dreadful, but at least she was clean, warm, and safe now.
The next order of business was to make sure this little one ate something healthy. I gave her some wet food with just a little kibble mixed in. She smelled the food and was excited about it, but she began to fiddle about the bowl. She’d lick at it, step back a few paces and then give it another go. I thought, “What a peculiar way of eating,” and continued about my business. When I picked her and the still-full bowl up, I knew instantly what the problem was.
Ellie had an absolutely appalling odor emanating from her mouth. In my haste to get her clean and fed, I neglected to look inside her mouth. There weren’t too many teeth in there, but what was there was completely covered in plaque with the unmistakable odor of infection. The dental disease was rampant.
I reached out to Ellie’s former Veterinarian to get her medical records and they told me that in the past 7 years, she had been in for nail clips 3 times. That’s it! No shots, no dentals, no wellness checks, no blood work, no nothing! My blood was boiling, and my heart was broken.
Of course, I brought Ellie to my Vet ASAP and gave her what limited information we had. The outcome was better than I thought it would be. She was in remarkably good health despite the level of neglect she suffered but only one tooth could be saved. The Vet said that her dental disease and infection was so great that she was undoubtedly in considerable pain. That explained the dancing around her food bowl. Poor baby wanted to eat, but it was just too painful.
I brought her home to convalesce from the dental and shots, so she could go to a good home both happy and healthy. But… that isn’t exactly what happened.
Adorableness is wonderful, but there was something else happening here. We were bonding. Ellie became my shadow and my mini-me. I found that I couldn’t leave the house without her. We went to the grocery, the bank, the hairdresser’s, Hobby Lobby, and of course, Petco. She went everywhere with me. I even asked my doctor if I could bring her with me for my check-up. She said no, but I had to try, right? The more time we spent together, the more I just knew I couldn’t be without her.
So, I approached my husband to talk with him about the possibility of adopting Ellie and that turned out to be a gigantic waste of time in the best possible way. My husband could see what was happening and knew we couldn’t be apart.
It’s almost nine months later and I didn’t think it was possible, but I love my Ellie more every day. As I write this, she is in one of her many beds on top of my desk helping me. She is my joy, my partner-in-crime, and my best buddy. She owns my heart and has trained me very well. I’m so grateful she rescued me.
Sally Reboul
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♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
THE 2nd RUNNER UP:
♥ CURLY ♥
Curly (Lambeau) Prebys
It was an early Christmas morning when, after 25 years of waiting and begging, Mary Prebys was FINALLY granted permission to adopt a dog.
That's right, for 9,125 days, Mary had been begging her mom to let her adopt a dog and finally, she was given the ok and it was the best Christmas present! But this wasn't just a Christmas present, Mary was given the gift of adopting a best friend after so long.
Now, the fun part... to find the right one for her!
She had already done extensive research on various ways to find an adoptable dog, one of which included the app Petfinder. She quickly found and fell in love with a little man in a bowtie named Curly. His Petfinder bio described how he was abandoned with his sister and mother after his owner went into hospice care and the people that were supposed to take care of them left them for months on end. Mary's heart broke for this little cutie and immediately filled out an application with Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue.
Within a few days, Mary heard from Jackie Wolfe and scheduled a phone interview. This was it, it was happening! She was so nervous for this phone interview that she almost forgot to introduce herself to Jackie! But Jackie was kind and understanding and listened to Mary explain her current living situation and why she wanted to adopt Mr. Curly specifically. Jackie must have been able to tell how much Mary wanted to meet Curly because they were able to schedule a home visit for later that week. This was Mary's first ever home visit with a rescue and she was very nervous.
When the day rolled around, a cold dark Wednesday morning in early January, she was running around the house preparing- making sure all her paper work was in place, that the house was clean and impressive so Curly could see himself living there, getting some treats ready for him, even setting up his bowls, toys, and bed area. Curly came in with Jackie and his foster mom and he immediately jumped on the couch and sat down. A little nervous and apprehensive and this new environment and the strange people who kept looking at him, Mr. Curly stuck close to his foster mom. However, after a tour of the house and a few treats, Curly allowed his future mom to hold him and that is when Mary knew that this was her dog. Letting him go and buckling him into Jackie's car was very difficult for Mary but she did it, thanked Jackie, Curly's foster mom, Michelle, and said goodbye to Mr. Curly, hopefully not for long. Mary was texting Michelle all day checking in on Curly, seeing how he was doing and anxiously awaiting any news from Jackie about if she could call Curly her own.
It turns out, Jackie could tell how much Mary loved Curly and, even though another family was interested in him as well (who wouldn't be?!), Jackie gave Mary the greatest call of her life. She said that Mary could adopt Curly and be his new forever mom. She was so excited!!
Jackie, Michelle, and Mary coordinated and just 48 hours after meeting him, Mary was able to take him back to his forever home on Friday, January 10th 2020!! She and her mom, the only people in the house at the time (pre-COVID), went immediately to Petco so Curly could pick out his new bed and treats. Even though he was so nervous just a few days prior, he sat on his new mommy's lap the whole day!
Having gone through so much, most of which we don't even know, Curly was understandably anxious to get to his new home and get settled. It only really took a few days for him to make himself at home, and even shorter to claim his favorite couch spot. And as they say, the rest is history.
Every day with Curly, Mary is still just so surprised and cannot understand how she got so lucky to be with such a sweet, cuddly, kind little doggie. Curly has the kindest heart of any animal (and most humans) Mary's ever known. He is so protective of his family and gets very upset when he thinks something is wrong with his mom. For example, Mary got sick in early February and, even though they had barely known each other a month, Curly stayed and cuddled his mom until she felt better. He continues to be glued to his mom's side and even refuses to let her go to the bathroom alone.
Curly's Petfinder bio said that he was a "fun little man" and that would be the perfect way to describe this cutie. He loves attention and belly rubs and if he cannot see his mommy, he WILL go find her (he LOVES quarantine!!) Since he is a bit older, the vet says about 7 or 8 years old, he likes to be lazy and cuddle with his mom on the couch while she works or watches TV. One of his FAVORITE things is going with his mommy to Starbucks to see his friends and maybe even get a pupichino!
There is so much that goes into what makes Curly the most incredible dog that it cannot be all explained in 1,000 words. But he has truly been such a gift to Mary and his new family. They are all incredibly thankful for YTNR, Jackie, Michelle, and everyone that helped bring this little bundle of joy into their lives. After 25 years, it was definitely worth the wait because now, Mary has the most perfect best friend for her that she will treasure for the rest of their lives.
THANK YOU,
YORKSHIRE NATIONAL RESCUE!!!
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YTNR Congratulates the 2 runner ups!
Thank you for these beautifully written nominations
and for their Happily Ever After ♥
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Giving Thanks by Hannelie Vermeulen
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In August of 1620, the Mayflower set sail from Southampton, England, with 102 passengers. It was a difficult journey, followed by a brutal winter once these immigrants arrived on the American shore. Over a half of the pilgrims, as they were known, did not survive the first winter, where they remained on board the ship struggling with the weather, illness and malnutrition.
In March of 1621 they moved ashore, and were taught local farming (corn, maple sapping, fishing, etc.) by the local Native American tribes. They traded with them, built homes, made friendships, and their first crops flourished. In the Fall of 1621, they reaped their first successful corn harvest, and celebrated what is now known by some as the first (American) Thanksgiving, with their Native American allies, for three whole days. In North America, now the United States of America, it was said to have initially been dedicated as a day of thanks to God by the Pilgrims, for the bounty they have been blessed with on the American shores. Today we still gather as a nation to celebrate it with friends and/or family, and we still give thanks for the many blessings we enjoy, on the fourth Thursday of November. (There are also some who believe Thanksgiving may date back to 1619, making this year the 401st year anniversary of a recorded event in Virginia.)
Thanksgiving and harvest celebrations span cultures, continents and millennia. It is said to have roots in religious and cultural traditions across many nations, but today it is also celebrated as a secular holiday.
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Over the centuries the menu has changed, but we still celebrate with the bounty of Fall. Our typical Thanksgiving meal consists of a turkey with all its trimmings, cranberries, candied yams, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and of course, pumpkin or sweet potato pie! As palates keep changing, some of us cut back on the fat, others of us celebrate with vegan or vegetarian meals – but the message of Thanksgiving remains the same: to give thanks - as we gather together to share a meal, visit, watch a game, or the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade.
On this Thanksgiving Day 2020, which we will be celebrating amidst COVID-19 restrictions and health related fears, let us be thankful for all the blessings we still enjoy - our freedom, our friends, and our family, including the non-human members. Let us celebrate love, resilience, empathy, caring and togetherness.
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On the note of being thankful, please join us in celebrating 22 years of Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue, and the wonderful volunteers, donors, supporters and adopters who make it possible to give our little Yorkies second chances and loving homes.
On behalf of Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue, we would like to wish everyone a blessed and happy Thanksgiving 2020. During your celebrations, please also make sure to keep your dogs safe and healthy, by ensuring they do not end up with table scraps or rich food, to include turkey brine, spiced vegetables, onions, garlic, corn cobs, grapes or raisins, nuts, chocolates, turkey bones, pumpkin pie with spices in it, etc. If they do get into your food, call your veterinarian, your local emergency clinic, the poison pet line, or your doggie’s insurance’s help line. Vomiting, diarrhea, refusal to eat or drink, and pancreatitis can be very dangerous, painful, and life threatening – please find an open clinic if advised to do so. Overall reduce their stress (and yours) by keeping them safe and secure, away from the table, noise and overstimulation, and away from doors that open when they can run out into the cold or the road.
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With gratitude,
and Thanksgiving wishes for love peace and laughter,
YTNR
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We are so thankful for all our supporters and volunteers, and for all those who go the extra mile to help us extend our pennies to save more Yorkies.
Lynn Garcia, a proud Yorkie mom and YTNR adopter, has been collecting recyclable bottles and cans, together with a few other Oregonians, for a couple of years. She has gathered her neighborhood together to also hand over theirs for a good cause, and at 10c redemption per bottle or can, it has been making a difference!
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Lynn with some of her collected bounty.
A huge thank you to Lynn and her neighbors, but also to Roxy, Marilyn, Kathleen, Summer, Angie, Jill and Tanya, for helping to secure a donation of $400+ (that’s over 4000 cans our volunteers redeemed one by one), with more to come before the end of the year. We so appreciate the extra mile everyone goes to help our rescue’s ability to provide care for Yorkies in need.
** If any of you would like to share ideas of how to help us raise money, please email them to [email protected]. We would also love pictures of your endeavors.
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What Does Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue
Mean to Me? By Deborah J. Thompson
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Being a longtime rescue family, I found YTNR after losing my tiny 3.5 pound Yorkie, Chrissy Marie, to immune-mediated encephalopathy brought about by vaccinations. She had been a kennel breed dog and was not only much too tiny to breed, but also, much too small to take all the “required” vaccines in one day. She taught me a lot about how to safely space out vaccinations and bolster our pets’ immune systems.
I adopted Sophie Rose from YTNR—she was another kennel breed dog. She was also small—6 pounds, and full of personality and spunk. She helped me to heal from the loss of Chrissy Marie, and later to cope with the loss of our beloved Maltese, JAZZ. And the outpouring of support from our YTNR family when JAZZ and Sophie Rose crossed the bridge overwhelmed Herb and me and endeared YTNR to us forever. This organization is truly special and sincere in everything they do.
There are many ways for us to help support the work YTNR does—transporting, lifting each other up, prayers, adopting, financial donations, and fostering just to name a few.
Before YTNR, I had failed “Fostering 101,” having adopted every dog that I had planned to find a home. But our resourceful and encouraging “Aunt” Corrine Ellison convinced me that I could do even more good by fostering since I couldn’t possibly adopt as many as I could foster over time.
I won’t lie—it wasn’t easy to say good-bye to Max, Rudy, Missy and the others. But they are all in loving homes leading fabulous lives with awesome parents. And I get updates and photos that help me to know that through fostering, I was able to help so many more deserving Yorkies to find their furever homes. That feels good.
I recently heard that we have over 600 people in the YorkieSpice group! That’s an amazing tribute to our founder, MaryElizabeth Dugmore and our leadership team. Thank you all for the tireless work you do.
And it occurred to me that if each of us were to commit to a monthly donation of only $10, that would raise a consistent $6,000 every month. Most of us could easily donate $10 a month, and many could do even more. Think about the financial impact we could have if we all made a monthly donation of whatever amount would work within our family budgets.
So today, I’m asking you all to think about what YTNR means to you and how you can give back a little for the joy these lovely, special Yorkies bring to all our lives. You make a difference in the lives of the dogs we save and in the lives of our members each time you demonstrate care and concern when one of us needs it.
Would you also give serious consideration to transporting, fostering, adopting, or making a monthly financial donation? YTNR continues to thrive because each of us choose to support in whatever way we can. Bless you all.
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Please click on the above image to read more about this very lucky boy
who found his Pawsome Furever home!
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
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Ladies, we are home and Little Bit is settling in so well. He was a perfect traveler. Sat on a soft blanket the whole way and went to sleep. We’ve only heard him bark once.
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He’s not eating much unless I hold the bowl in my lap.
He loves to walk but is much faster than my husband or myself. I ordered him a few new doggy items. I had few things from our previous Yorkie but he needs a bigger size. I definitely can’t pick him up with one hand.
Thank you both for your help getting us sweet Little Bit. He will be a wonderful addition to our family. Ruth Ann will check with you if I have questions.
Many thanks,
Jim and Danelle Borland + Little Bit.
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Thank you for opening your hearts and homes for these
precious rescues and for making their dreams come true!
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First tonight in thirty three plus years that I have not had a yorkie at my feet. This morning Tinker could not stand or walk. I had helped her to her piddle pad about 3 this morning and she could not stand. We knew it was her time. I tried to get her over this but....
.... She watched me from her bed while I lay on the couch watching her every move just about off and on during the entire night for the second night last night. She would look right up over from her bed and look into my eyes as I made certain she could see me all night. She could not see me from her bed in bedroom so we went to the living room for a couple nights as I wanted to be there every minute she might need me.
She still watched me as a vet that I have used off and on for forty years helped her leave to join past the pearly gates all my other babies and actually the yorkies, her own mom and dad yorkies that is, and also our other yorkie Buff she grew up with.
Keep us in your prayers or minds. We are having a rough time of it as I know many of you have had such many times in the past. I never could handle these times as I know all of you have experienced too. I want to thank all of you for your help, advice that you gave me the last days of Tinkerbell's time on earth.
Love all of you for every bit of help you gave me. You all mean the world to me.
Helen.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
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"It is eerily terrifying that there is no sound when a heart breaks.
Car accidents end with a bang, falling ends with a thud, even writing makes the scratching sound of pencil against paper. But the sound of a heart breaking is completely silent. Almost as though no one, not even the universe itself could create a sound for such devastation. Almost as though silence is the only way the universe could pay its respect to the sound of a heart falling apart."
- Nikita Gill, The Sound of Heartbreak
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Volunteers are from all walks of life: men and women, single professionals, married couples, retirees, business owners and just plain folks.
We need them in every State to help us foster and take care of the yorkies needing our help.
Volunteers are Yorkie-owners and Yorkie lovers whose passion for the breed extends into an active desire to serve and help the breed through rescue efforts.
No experience required to join us, we have State Directors and Helpers to walk you through the guidelines necessary to get a dog ready for it's forever home. If this sounds like you please fill out an application and we will add you to our YorkieSpice list of volunteers and supporters that will help and support you.
(Please click on the picture above to be taken to the volunteer application).
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
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We received some lovely donations to help us raise funds for our little dogs.
Please browse our latest listings.
Check back often as we are adding more things as we get pictures and descriptions.
Thank you for supporting our rescue efforts.
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Summer Time Gardening by Hannelie Vermeulen |
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The benefits of getting your hands dirty are so nourishing for the soul. Seeing your plants grow, and your garden explode in color, covered in flowers, fruit and vegetables - brings happiness and health. It soothes the eyes, calms the mind, and feeds the body. Thank you to so many of our supporters for kindly sharing their gardens and summer projects with us (in the pictures below).
Personally I love waking up to hearing the sprayers, and checking on the seedlings in springtime. I enjoy digging up the soil and readying the beds, and planning on what all to plant. This Spring Pieter built us a greenhouse that we lovingly refer to as our COVID-19 project. It changed my gardening world. It has been so much fun to start off from seed in the cold Oregon weather, and protecting the plants until they are strong enough to weather it outside. We got addicted to getting up and checking on the growth in the mornings, and making a final walk-through in the evening to check for changes.
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Little Suzanne, a mommy’s girl, started running to look for her mom at the greenhouse when the back door opens, before checking any other spot in the garden. When summer came about, she made a bee-line for the garden, initially climbing through the trellis fencing with the agility of a young dog, then being slowed down by growing tomatoes and kale - forcing her to do a regular run-through - but with just as much excitement. Palemon usually rests in front of the garden in the sun, and LeeLee makes a pit stop as she runs to bark at the mini-horse or squirrels close by. Caroline also enjoys the walk in her own veggie forest, but Rowdy can care less - unless his dad is out there. Gardening provides us with so much fun family time. |
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Lisa’s little Pete also has a huge garden to inspect on a daily basis -
and a few horses to bark at.
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Our family adjusted to spending lots of time at home, and no time in the gym. With every chocolate I eat, I remind myself that gardening is considered moderate exercise, and I’ll soon burn the calories. It also exposes one to sunlight, which helps produce vitamin D, to help us absorb calcium, which is good for our bones. Vitamin D is also a synthesizer of the brain chemical serotonin that induces happiness. Of course we still need sunscreen protection, and a good hat to shield our faces, as I’ve learned after burning red as a tomato.
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MaryElizabeth’s garden project. |
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Overall, indulging in a summer garden, sharing plants with neighbors and friends, and the fruits (and veggies) of our work with snails, slugs, birds, squirrels and the greater neighborhood, gives us a sense of community. The project has also been such a stress reliever. Horticultural therapy is real - and nature provides us with respite from the world of stress and electronics (and COVID-19). The happy chirps of the birds, and seeing them bathe in the drops of the sprinkler or the bird bath, brings such joy. We’ve started noticing the different types of birds, while keeping a keen eye out for the red tail hawks and turkey vultures - they are scary to have around tiny Yorkies. |
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MaryElizabeth’s ducks and ducklings add to her bird menagerie.
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Bald eagles and bunnies visiting in Julie’s backyard. |
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Gardening connects us to nature, it grounds us in the here and now, and allows us to live in the present moment. It calms us down, like a deep breath. It also gives us a sense of responsibility as we nurture our plants and wait for our vegetables to grow. According to some studies, it even reduces our risk for dementia, since it involves critical functions such as strength, endurance, dexterity, learning, problem solving and sensory awareness. Other studies also suggest it can provide stress relief to caregivers, and even some relief from physical pain. |
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Lisa’s yearly bursts of color. |
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My Mom, Gertie’s purple corner.
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I love the sweet smells of the flowers, the bright colors, and to watch the hummingbirds being drawn to them. I enjoy watching the different types of bees pollinating the plants - and love to see my veggies grow! It is awe inspiring and a boost for my mood. The beauty of nature makes me feel happy. |
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Lynn’s amazingly colorful patio garden -
with her little dogs adding to the therapy.
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The dogs have learned to tour the garden with us, and snack on raw veggies. Together we vie for the ripening zucchini and squash. We are all eating healthier, and our friends get to enjoy “farm to table” meals too. Nothing tastes as good as a sun kissed tomato, or a vine ripened pea. Nothing as great as a home grown peach or pear. It feels so good to be self-sufficient. |
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Corrine’s little Yorkies awaiting her return to the garden. |
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Mother Nature brings us satisfaction, but also teaches us acceptance - and that life is not perfect. We can’t predict everything, and we can’t always be in control. When Palemon is found sleeping in the lettuce bed, one can just hope there are a few survivors. When the slugs attack the ripe strawberries overnight, we learn patience as we wait for a new crop to turn bright red. When the kale looks amazing and then suddenly gets covered in aphids, we have to figure out a remedy. We can look at gardening “disasters” as an antidote to perfection - and move on and grow personally as our plants regrow.
Despite small setbacks, life is so worth living in the slow lane - even if it took COVID-19 to let it sink in. I can attest first hand that in times of high stress, keeping your hands busy in the garden, calms your mind and allows you to focus. There’s a Japanese expression that translates to “forest bathing”, something our own gardens allow us when we immerse ourselves in the greenness thereof.
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Gigi’s path through her forest of green. |
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So many of our YTNR members have immersed themselves in their gardens this year - big or small. We’ve all felt the decrease in stress, anxiety and depression when we allowed ourselves the joy - and our little ones shared it with us. |
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Corrine’s spots of vibrant color amidst real forest bathing.
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May we all ease into Fall with our last crops of Summer, and the final bursts of color, as the leaves turn around us. I’ll be enjoying some of my huckleberries as I freeze the rest for Thanksgiving, and will pull out the other frozen berries for pies, to warm the heart and tummy amidst the coming winter cold. May we all have a cozy winter, and a lot of herbs and other plants wintering over through the short days and the dark nights, until we are filled with the joy of new life again in Summer 2021. |
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We would Love your support! |
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Just click on the above image and you will be ready to shop
♥ Yorkies across U.S. will Thank You, as will YTNR ♥
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Special Thanks to this month's Donors |
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Thank You to the Many Wonderful & Generous October Contributors
General Fund
Ray Beatificato
Mahmoud Loghman-Adham
Karen Roff in memory of PeeWee
Mary Elizabeth Dugmore
Hannelie Vermeulen from the Oregon Recycling Group
Laurel Sullivan in memory of all the dogs I have lost over the last 5 months:
Cookie, Gracie, Chloe, Lil'Rascal and Bella.
If love could keep them alive they would never die.
When I am with my pet I am complete. I am incomplete!
Yorkie Angel Donors *
Sandra Flolo*
Karin & Alan Nakashima*
Kathryn Schuller*
Pieter Vermeulen*
Hannelie Vermeulen*
MaryElizabeth Dugmore*
Mary Jane Sanders*
Carla Pucket*
Betty Jo Williams*
Ron & Amalia Spaulding*
Lindsay Hardin*
Stephi Jackson*
Ann Sousa*
Joan Willner*
Bette Gae Dart*
Paula Scott*
Lisa Ellison*
Julie Gedro*
Patricia Johnson*
Jessica Damisch*
Paula Fonseca*
Sandra Grumbein*
Carrie Unger*
Karen Roff*
Linda Connor*
* monthly donor
Any donation large or small helps us help those more desperate cases that would otherwise be left in the system.
We can't do the things we do without you...
The Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue Inc. is run solely on private donations and fundraising efforts made by people like you who love this Breed. We very much appreciate your support.
We are a 501 (c) (3) organization, your donation is 100% tax deductible.
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Supermodel Athena Maria Aphrodite
The Goddess of Wisdom and Love.....
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In the spirit of attempting to prevent a Thanksgiving Day disaster in your home, here are some common exposures that we get called about during the week of Thanksgiving.
- Fatty foods such as butter, bacon, fatty meat drippings, gravies and meat scraps may seem harmless but can pose very real threats of pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas that can result in clinical signs of vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite and abdominal pain. Some breeds, such as miniature Schnauzers are very prone to developing pancreatitis but all dogs ingesting a large enough quantity of these foods are at risk. Symptoms may not be immediate and can occur up to 4 days after exposure.
- Discarded food items such as corn cobs, discarded turkey trussing's, and bones can result in an obstructive risk or gastrointestinal injury that have the potential of requiring surgical removal or repair.
- Turkey Brine: Who would have thought that the recently popular trend of brining your turkey prior to Thanksgiving would be a risk to your pets?! When you remove the turkey, this salt-saturated solution can be very attractive to dogs and cats, who will readily lap it up resulting in salt toxicosis. Clinical signs are excessive thirst and urination, vomiting and diarrhea. This can potentially result in serious electrolyte changes and brain swelling.
- Xylitol: Candies, desserts or other foods that are sweetened with an artificial sweetener called xylitol are dangerous to pets. Xylitol can result in a rapid drop in blood sugar in dogs along with liver damage. In the past, we saw xylitol limited to the ingredient lists of sugar-free gums, mints, and dental products but xylitol is now very commonly used in sugar-free or low-sugar baked goods, vitamins and even peanut butter! Even quantities that appear to be very small have the potential to quickly become life-threatening to dogs. Always check the label!
- Raisins, currents and grapes found in some of our favorite Thanksgiving foods are a very serious concern for dogs as they have the risk of resulting in acute renal failure with even small ingestions.
- Chocolates in our desserts or treats are dangerous to our pets. Remember that the darker the chocolate, the more serious the ingestion, and the less they will need to ingest to develop clinical signs of vomiting, diarrhea, agitation, tremors, increased heart rate along with potential seizures.
- Nuts are high in fat and carry the risk of pancreatitis. Macadamia nuts are more serious as ingestions can result in vomiting, diarrhea, inability to rise or walk normally (they take on a drunken appearance and can even drag their rear limbs as if injured).
- Holiday decorations are a concern for many reasons. The bouquet of lilies you received from your guests can result in acute renal failure in your cat. Bittersweet flowers are many times included in fall floral arrangements and can cause gastrointestinal upset. Candles can result in burns and flameless candles contain batteries, that when ingested can result in gastrointestinal burns and corrosive injury.
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Many Thanks to Lifeline4Paws |
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Chris Hogan,
Executive Vice President
of the Hogan Family Foundation Inc,
is the Program Director of Lifeline-4-Paws.
She is a YTNR member and has generously supported
our rescue efforts, contributing tens of thousands of dollars
to hundreds of our dogs since 2007.
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