the motor is running!

Today was an exciting day up on the field, as we call the main flat area where the dogs are housed; it was a bit of a shake-up for dogs and people alike. Hurrah!

Recently we asked Heather Roberston, an accomplished dog trainer who lives only 45 minutes from here, if she would be willing to come once a week to work with us. She has been coming off and on as a volunteer almost since the word go, and we had directly experienced the benefits of her intuition and skills, even on some unruly dogs. Her speciality (and love!) is pitbulls - right up our alley - but she generally just has the common sense and willingness, plus years of training experience, to work with any dog.

She was happy and excited to be part of our team - and has so many great ideas, and energy - that it feels like the engine has been oiled and primed for some action. Today it really began! Nearly every single dog on the field - i.e. around 24, I think - was moved from one run to another. A lot of to-ing and fro-ing and barking and hoop-la all around. Several of the ferals who had never been on a leash before walked! (well, sort of ran hither and thither) to their new accommodation. But they had real human contact in a way that has not happened before. Nails were trimmed, body weights assessed, coats groomed of excess hair: everyone touched and stroked, perhaps after a little tussle of fear, and being subdued by 2 people. After a while, they could relax into it and see that no-one was going to hurt them, that the stroking means love.

Heather has confidence and calmness, and is prepared to test the dogs - never beyond their limits - to that place where they (and we!) have to move out of our comfort zones and take the next step. It is just what we need. It has been great doing what we have so far with them, but everyone is ready to stretch that little bit further.

Ebony, seen above hiding out in her igloo, was one recipient of attention - nails clipped, massive clouds of hair coming off in the hand. Next week, Heather says - a bath and shave!!

It wasn't only the ferals that got a look-in; the 'walkers', as we call the gang, also got moved around, and the ones who are now targeted for adoption training have been grouped together in a row.

It's funny how one person can create a ripple of change like this. I see we are all hungry for it, as Tara's Babies continues to develop and transform. Heather's input gives everyone skills and confidence to know that the best way forward for the dogs is right at the end of the leash already in our hands. We look forward to more days of learning, growth and having fun!

A travelling twosome!

Meet magnificent Pi-Pi, soon to be a new face at Tara's Babies; I caught my breath when I saw this photo - what a glossy, elegant majestic stance.

Since their childhood, Pi-Pi and his female companion/sister Ru-Ru, had wandered about at the rear of Yang Mei Senior High School, in Taiwan. Suffering from serious skin disease, they usually slipped into the school kitchen to find something to eat. Consequently, they were often beaten. Ms Wu, a schoolteacherwho began an animal rescue from the schoolyard, finally intervened, and placed the two dogs in an animal hospital for treatment and safety.

The skin disease cleared up, and Ms Wu secretly brought them back to the school dog park to settle down. Every weekend she took them to a department store to try and find adoptive homes. Unfortunately, it seems black dogs are not popular pets. They are friendly and playful, including with kids, and have never shown any aggression nor bitten - despite having been beaten.

They were briefly adopted by a factory owner, but it was not to their liking, and they escaped after two days. It took Ms Wu one month to locate them again, they were already sick and weak, and as thin as material draped on bone.

Now they are fully recovered and are healthy again, playing happily in the dog park at the school. However, those long agile legs enable them to jump over the fence into the campus whenever they get the chance. What fun for two young lovable dogs! But this has put them at risk, as this is breaking the rules, and the principal may decide to have them carted off to a detention place where they will be euthanized within 7 days if not claimed by an owner.

So now they are packing their trunks and moving not across town, but across the ocean. Hopefully their stay at the Valley will not be too long, but instead they will find a secure large yard to romp around in, without fear of execution for simply being big gorgeous dogs.

Ru-Ru

i'm going home, i'm going home!

This is Susie Q's song, sung to a drumming tailbeat and a rollicking dance. We all join in the chorus - this is the moment we all wish for, for most every single one of the dogs in our care. Only a couple of those with us now will probably never leave, because there is an edge of unpredictability that means Dakini Valley is the very best loving home for them. But for everyone else, the wish is that they will pack their swags and move on - to a forever home overflowing with love.
Well, Susie Q has her destination in sight. And it's someone she already knows! Susie was one of many dogs rescued by KAT 5 Animal Rescue last year, from a terrible hoarder situation. KAT5 is a 501 (c) (3) comprised of volunteers from across the country who came together in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to rescue animals. It intervenes to protect animals when a natural or man-made disaster strikes, and is named after Hurricane Katrina ("KAT" for Katrina), and category 5 storms, symbolizing any disaster.

Four of these dogs headed west to the high country of Arizona. One, a delicious Swiss Mountain dog (true Swiss chocolate eyes) was fostered several months ago, and is now being adopted by his carer (hurrah!!). Two others - a sweet older two-some, who now live apart and are happy with that! - still wait hopefully for a home together or individually. Susie Q was the fourth - a full-of-energy bundle of love, who tip-taps her paws with excitement at the very thought you might come in and visit. Not to mention the ecstasy of belly rubs!!!

Well, Scott is a KAT5 volunteer who formed part of the network re-locating the rescues to their new homes. He fell in love with this pale golden girl. He told me of sitting in Nashville, at the transfer point for the next relay of drivers, cuddling with her and feeling forlorn that they would part. He thought, at the time, it was for the best - that she would surely find a new home very soon. It didn't take long to regret that decision.

Scott has a heart bigger than the State he lives in, and ended up adopting other rescues from the hoarder, joining the family of dogs he already had. His heart breaks when he hears of or sees the suffering of animals, and his life is living proof of that. A couple of the dogs now sharing his home shows signs of having been abused, and he is working through love to teach them to trust.

So Susie Q stayed in his mind, and when he heard she was still here, that was IT! It doesn't matter that it will take days to drive here and fetch her, he is simply overjoyed to know that finally he again will be able to hold her in his lap and rub that tender belly.

And Susie Q - well, she isn't fully in on the secret yet, but I think I detect an extra hop in her dance. I know I will see it when Scott finally arrives. And for us - we couldn't be happier. Not only because Susie will soon be exactly where she deserves to be - in a home where she will be treated with respect and tender love, but also because Scott's kindness is another reminder that goodness and compassion is to be found everywhere.