Me and You and a Dog named Dribble

Dear Dribble,

How have you been? 

Don't think we don't know what scrapes you've been getting yourself into! Just so you know, we have been getting updates from Shauna, your Person. 

We know you have been chasing squirrels and birds in your garden as if that's your mission in life. We know you have been trying to attack the small dogs in your neighbourhood with an insatiable zest. We know you are still terrible at meal times, still needing to be coaxed to eat your greens. We know you still haven't mustered up the courage to jump into that swimming pool of yours, no matter how inviting it looks. 

You are so busy every day chasing your squirrels, going for evening jogs and long walks, hopping on to the car for rides, hiding under the bush to enjoy your bone, rolling about the grass in your garden just for fun... I am sure you don't pause to think about just how lucky you are. 

It's not every dog that gets to meet a family like yours. So, while you climb into your comfy bed for the night, don't forget to count your blessings before you slip into doggie dreamland. 

I am so happy you've found your family, Dribble boy. The moment your dirty red collar was removed and replaced with your shiny new blue one, I felt like there was a change of guard, a hand over of some sort. 

Do you remember that when we first embarked on our weekly walks, you were afraid of everything? Hah. Being Dribble, I am sure you will claim to have no recollection. But hey, there's still me... I remember. 

I remember when I lifted the dustbin lid to throw poop on our walks out, you would jump out of your skin in shock when the lid banged back down. 

I remember the first time you jumped over one of those little drains along the pavement, your hindlegs fell in and it gave you a scare. We kept practising on the drain and other slightly bigger ones until you became the Master of easy drains. 

I remember when I first started walking you, you were unruly! You would walk where you want, how you want, dragging me along in your excitement, like a bossy puppy. 

I remember I stumbled across the Dog Whisperer program and was inspired to instill some discipline in you.  I would disrupt your precious walk at intervals and press your butt down insistently, adamantly refusing to budge until you sat. 

I remember you would sulk and I would sulk and we would both sulk as we walked back to the shelter after those training walks. I would complain to Wee at the end of day about how very difficult you had been and how you were very angry with me. 

Sulky faced

I remember the first time you sat on command, without the need for treats or cajoling, and the pure joy that took a few seconds to sink in. Sitting became so automatic for you after that. All I needed to do was slow to a stop and tug on the leash... and you would sit. You were an extremely adorable sight sitting by my side at the crossroads as we waited for the traffic light to turn green. 

I remember that with practice, I didn't need a leash or collar to let you know we were going for a walk. All I needed to do was to stand by the gate of your compound and call your name. The other dogs would come forward as well but you would always be faster. I would hold open the gate just a little and you would slip out nimbly. This would set off the whole shelter barking in indignation. I would scurry out of your compound sheepishly, put on your collar and leash, grab my bag and together, we would set off. 

I remember how the walks grew longer in duration over the years. At first, we stuck to our usual route. But as we gained momentum over time, we began to explore other roads leading out from the shelter. The walks were very enjoyable. We were without a care in the world and our only mission was to put one paw in front of the other to cover new ground. 

So Dribble boy, all I want to say is that... my shelter experience would have been very different without you. Building a routine together takes effort and some perseverance. I can't believe we managed. 

But that was the limit of what I could do for you... giving you a routine and a meagre bit of stability in your life. A routine is sadly not a warm home with a loving family. 

For the life of me, I couldn't understand why nobody paused to really look at you all this time. Beneath all your naughty ways, you are the sweetest dog ever. Don't cringe, Dribs. I'm sorry to inform you that's what you are. 

You're more sweet than macho the way you would sidle up next to us on the bench, the way you would rest your head on our laps, the way you would lick our faces approvingly when we looked you in the eye... 

You were very easy to love. 

I was busy manning the booths at our Adoption Drive/Flea Market last December. I wasn't there to meet Shauna and I didn't promote you vigorously. In fact, one of our regulars warned that you were a handful and perhaps not such a great fit for a first time handler. 

When we brought you for your trial homestay at their place, we were also quick to give them a full and frank disclosure of your faults. 

Dribble can't get along with other dogs. Dribble is inexhaustible. Dribble is not toilet trained. Dribble might dig the garden. And as Florence would say (to which I wouldn't entirely agree!), the list goes on...

But you won the family over any way. You did it by being you. 

And that makes me think that, perhaps it was all meant to be. This family was meant to be yours. 

It so happened that they picked you out of so many dogs in need of a home. It so happened that they decided not to adopt a puppy. It so happened that you looked like a dog the family had many years ago. It so happened that they are a big active loving family to provide the exercise and affection you need to keep you happy. 

You're Dribble Sim now. You are a part of a family. 

Look who's gazing longingly at the turkey at a family dinner over Christmas?

There is Papa Sim who brings you for evening walks after work, Mama Sim who brings you for car rides and impromptu trips to the supermarket, Sister Sim who defends you staunchly whenever anybody thinks your lack of pedigree makes you inferior, Grandmama Sim who coaxes you to eat your meals and plies you with treats, Helper Sim who feeds you, bathes you and clears up after you with nary a complaint. 

Best of all, there's your Shauna Sim, your Person... who slept with you on your first night home so you wouldn't be afraid, who brings you for long 5km jogs around the estate, who takes you all around the island to explore new parks, who brings you back to the shelter for visits, who updates us, your worried guardians, about your new life and who basically saw this whole adoption through. 

I have always firmly believed that one day, you would be adopted... And then that intangible one day became a very tangible today... Before I know it, it has been more than a month since you left the shelter. 

So this is really the end of the Dribble chapter in my shelter story. It's a chapter that has been filled with lots of exasperation but also a lot of laughter and love. The idea that I can no longer expect you to be waiting at the shelter for me to take you out for a walk gets me a little nostalgic. 

But the thought of you having a loving active family and a warm cosy home to protect you from the downpours that you hate fills me with a rush of gladness. 

With that, it's time to say goodbye. 

You have an exciting new life ahead of you, Dribble Sim. You have new friendships to forge and new humans to protect and love, not forgetting all those squirrels and birds to chase. 

Please continue worming your way into their hearts the way you have been doing! 

In the van, on the way to his home...

And please update your Facebook Page!

See you soon! And be good. 

Love lots,
W

Dribble has been a shelter dog all his life until he got adopted last December. Dribble turns 3 on February 28. 


Photo credits go to Sebas, Jialing and of course, Shauna and family. 

A field day

Hello 2012.

It's another brand new year,  another a brand new start.

And that calls for a new year resolution...

I know I haven't been too prompt in my updates.

And I resolve to work on that.

I am no natural born writer. For me, writing takes practice. Right now, I feel like I am extremely rusty at the edges.

So let me start off with a short update.

2012 started off with a blast. Furry day today was rather perfect.  The weather was as blustery as it could be. The threat of rain seemed to hover over us but it never materialised.

If furry day ever had fervent supporters, it has to be the weather gods. Time and again, they have been extremely merciful. I can just imagine the group of them grinning from side to side as they look down on our excited pooches on their day out.

For that, we are absolutely grateful.

Another highlight of the day had to be the fact that we finally managed to bring Baby out to the beach. We have been organising this event for over a year and a half now. Baby has been with us all this time. Yet, it is only today that we managed to coax her to join the rest of her furry friends out at the beach.

Meet Baby

From what I know, Baby and her good pal Buddy were rescued off the streets when they were little.

Meet Buddy

But they were handled by workers and were basically lacking the personal touch. To put it simply, they were neglected dogs, trained by experience to shy away from human affection.

They detested being leashed or touched.

For years, we were unable to shower or walk them.

Whenever we so much as advance toward them with a leash in hand, they would growl quite ferociously to warn us to stay away.

But recently, Florence made inroads with Buddy.

At the beginning... 

Through time, she cultivated a relationship with this reticent wary dog. He was the first dog she greeted whenever she arrived. He was the first dog to enjoy special treats that she was giving out. He was the first dog to have the special privilege of roaming free in the small area outside our shelter. In many ways, Florence made Buddy feel special and loved.

And then we discovered that Buddy was slowly but surely reciprocating.

First of all, he allowed Florence to touch him. She could touch his face, clean his eyes and basically brush her hand across the whole length of his body. Soon, she was able to bathe for him. Then, his tail began to wag whenever he saw her. And he began to follow her around the shelter.

He loves her back

It was as if Buddy was slowly learning to trust.

Just like a flower blossoming, watching Buddy opening up was a very gratifying experience.

We are still unable to leash Buddy and bring him for a walk. But the progress he has made has shown us his potential for even more. We expect him to be part of our canine pack in the many furry days to come this year.

Then, there is Baby. Baby hides in her cubicle most of the time. I don't know how she whiles away the time in that sparse room of hers.

Baby for you

On good days, she will venture out of her room. She will be excited during meal times.

On bad days, she is cooped up in the room all day. When you feed her lunch, she would refuse to eat until she is certain you are no longer peering in to look at her.

Wee told me previously that it was easier to leash Baby than Buddy. But she would struggle and gnaw on the leash vigorously. Previously, we left her well alone because we did not want to provoke this rather temperamental lady. But some time ago, Wee decided to give it another shot.

He used a loose lightweight metal chain to leash Baby. As expected, she resisted and tried to bite through it. I think she soon realised that it was futile. With Wee leading her, Baby made her first tentative steps out of the shelter. It was her first time out in years.

Imagine the sense of satisfaction.

On the wings of victory, Wee even carried Baby up the van and drove her to the park.

Baby's first time out in over three years

With the ground work in place, we were more confident about bringing Baby out for furry day this time.

Our amazing Choo took up the reins that Wee had put in place. He leashed and led Baby out of the shelter. Another one of us, Feng, held on to Baby's leash and together they trawled the park.

Throughout it all, Baby's tail was up.

She was hesitant but we could tell she was curious and... happy to be out.

With a firm human hand and some determination, Baby experienced her very first furry day. In the crystal ball of her future, I see many more of such outings to come.

Baby, at furry day January 28 2012

Now, this dog can see for herself where her furry counterparts head to for one whole morning each month. Now, she knows what their excitement is all about. Now she is able to experience a world outside the four walls of the shelter.

We are so absolutely thrilled for her.

As for the rest of our dogs, furry day went without a hitch.

The spirits were high. The volunteers were marvellous. And I can't emphasise how glorious the weather was.

It's a good start to the year.

It was a great day today.

May every day be as wonderfully rewarding as this very day has been.

Happy chinese new year, one and all.

Gongxi, gongxi.

Picture credits go to Sebastian and Jialing. 

Lost dogs and lonely hearts

As a shelter, we believe that the reason for our existence is to rehabilitate, recover and rehome dogs who have lost their way in our world, a world in which the odds of survival are often stacked against them. 

When we take dogs into our shelter, we can cure their immediate need for food and shelter.

But we were never and can never be a remedy for their lonely hearts.

Only adoption and the accompanying stability it brings can help bring the rescue of these dogs to a full circle.

I recall someone asking on Facebook whether any of our dogs were up for adoption or if they were simply housed at the shelter permanently.

We were quite surprised.

We do our best to make the shelter as comfortable as possible, by ensuring the dogs have at least a warm fragrant meal each day, two walks and a shower each week and an excursion to the beach each month. We never meant to give the impression that we intended to house the dogs permanently.

We do not hoard dogs. We are not a permanent solution for the plight of the dogs.

We are a halfway house for the dogs until they find a home of their own. As Florence puts it, we are an orphanage with the mission of finding families for our homeless charges. Until then, we try to inject some sort of stability into their lives.

Recently, we have been extremely fortunate to be able to facilitate a string of adoptions.

The whole process of adoption from meeting the unfamiliar potential adoptors at the shelter for the first time, to conducting a house visit, setting up a trial home stay and finally confirming the adoption some weeks later can be the most amazing thing ever.

Inevitably, some homestays will fail to work out.

But for those that do, the transformation that we observe in our dogs makes us realise that all dogs really do yearn for a human home of their own.

Take Doris for example. She is one of the longest standing residents at our shelter. Wee whisked her away from Death's doorstep after she was discarded by a breeding farm, some four years ago. Even though Doris often lay on puddles of water on the shelter ground and got her fur wet, she seemed happy. 

Shelter life was a huge improvement from breeding farm conditions. There were people who fed her, showered her and walked her. Most of all, there was Wee, her hero, who had seen her through the lowest period of her life. Time and circumstances created a bond  between man and dog. Doris would always gallop around happily when she saw Wee appear at the shelter.

So when there were some adoption queries for Doris, we were in two minds. On one hand, we wanted Doris to find a home of her own. On the other, we were extremely worried she would suffer from a bad case of separation anxiety. At her age (we suspect Doris to be about 9 years old), such a condition could not be taken lightly. Previously when Doris fell sick and was sent out to be fostered, she lost a ton of weight and appeared unsettled. We had never seen any dog happier to be back at the shelter.

We thought long and hard about the matter. Doris meant the world to us. If there were a canine representative of the shelter, Doris would be it. We weighed the possibility of separation anxiety against the endless days at the shelter where the dogs only had human contact (in the form of Wee) about 3 hours a day on weekdays and (in the form of the rest of us) 5 hours a day on weekends. Even then, not every dog received individual attention. In recent times, they were also exposed to the chilling wind, the lashing rain, the cold air and the wet grounds.

Doris' potential adoptor, Ann and her family, seemed to have a wealth of experience handling older dogs who were previously used to breed. They had two other rescued dogs of their own, Cookie and Jack, and it appeared as if the family had nothing but love to offer.

Doris with her new canine housemates, Jack and Cookie

We decided to take the plunge. The day that Doris went away for her home stay was a cold and rainy one. I recall Ann, Florence and I scurrying to find a shelter over our heads at the car park and getting drenched to the skin when we found none.

Not being able to say goodbye that day, an anxious Wee visited Doris at her new abode the next day, along with Florence, Lorna and Sebastian, old time volunteers with a long history with Doris. Doris was overjoyed to see so many familiar faces. In fact, when they got up to leave, Doris wanted to follow them out.

However, three weeks later, when we went to visit Doris once more, this time to confirm the adoption, things were very different. Wee recalls that he heard Doris growl and walk away when she first saw us enter the house, as if she were protecting her territory and her family, as if she were worried we were here to take her away. But as she retreated back into the house, Doris hesitated slightly and then turned and walked back to Wee with her tail wagging.

Doris slightly grouchy because it had just rained heavily

Wee confided that when he heard Doris growl and witnessed her hesitation, his heart grew heavy. But at that exact moment in time, he clearly understood that after her long, arduous journey, Doris had truly and finally  found a place to call home.

Doris sitting by her doorstep and watching us leave

Deep down, all dogs pine for a home, regardless of age, breed or temperament.

Dexter is a dog that not one of us expected to be adopted - at least not before all the other dogs scurrying for human attention and affection.

It has always been Dexter's style to be laid back and reserved. When the other dogs ran up to greet you upon entering their compound, Dexter would hover in the background, uncertain whether to go up to you, as if he were used to being forgotten.

I labelled Dexter our underdog in an earlier entry. He never made a fuss about himself. He was neither extremely happy nor sad at the shelter. He seemed contented enough curling up with a raw hide or going for his twice weekly walks.

So we were very surprised to see how quickly Dexter managed to settle into a human home, despite never having entered one all his life. Dexter's experience made us believe that perhaps all dogs are wired to live among humans.

If Dexter is so reticent, how did his adoption come about? His adoptors, Dean and Julianna, already have a dog of their own in a friendly and energetic Japanese spitz, Snowball. They were looking to get a companion for her and told Florence that they were looking for a gentle and calm male dog. Both of them had been down to the shelter on a number of occasions and were open to trying any dog that fit the bill. Florence decided to let our Dexter have a go at a home stay with Dean and Julianna.

Florence came to the decision easily enough. If she hadn't given Dexter a chance, he would always be a few paces behind the other dogs.

Dean and Julianna came to take Dexter home the day of our Adoption Drive. Dexter looked uncertain and slightly confused as we leashed him and brought him outside ahead of all the other dogs. Wee had to coax him up the car. As we watched Dexter speed off in the direction of his new life, we couldn't help but worry a little. This boy had never known life outside the shelter or life without his mother Dior and sister Dyana. How would he cope in a  foreign environment all by himself? Would he be happy?

It turned out that our concerns were unwarranted. With Snowball as his competent guide to everything he needed to know about living in a human household, Dexter had the easiest transition from shelter to home. Snowball didn't take to all other male dogs. The family previously had male visitors of the canine variety calling on them and Snowball didn't exactly warm to them. As a result, Dean and Julianna were very surprised and highly amused at the way Snowball fell head over heels in love with Dexter.

Snowball in love

Perhaps it was Dexter's rugged shelter aura (haha!). Perhaps it was his unruffled laidback temperament. Whatever the cause, it made Snowball willingly give up to Dexter her favourite spot in the house as well as the only dog bed in the house. This new canine companion that her folks brought home had Snowball's stamp of approval all over it.

With her new bed, Snowball is now able to sleep beside her Dexter!

We visited Dexter's new home about one week later to confirm the adoption. I was especially curious to see Dexter in his home environment. We met the family downstairs. They had just returned from an excursion. When Dexter entered his new home, he headed straight for the water bowl to quench his thirst. He later flopped down in front of the couch in the living room where we were all gathered. He seemed perfectly comfortable in his new home. Snowball was her usual self running all over the house in excitement.

When we got ready to leave the house, Dexter hovered uncertainly behind Dean, as if worried we were going to take him back to the shelter. It took all of one week in a home to convince Dexter that he was ready to put nearly 3 years of his shelter days behind him. This caused Florence to jokingly retort that this was going to be very bad for the shelter's reputation!

It dawned upon us that the homestay gave Dexter the attention, love and walks that he never knew was possible. At the shelter, all these were divided over 35 dogs. For a quiet, unassuming dog like Dexter, the proportion received was likely to be significantly less.

Seeing Dexter happily settled and ever so ready to begin the next chapter of his life with his new family made our hearts sing. With folks to call his own, a warm roof over his head and the most gorgeous canine girlfriend, our Dexter is certainly underdog no more!

The last dog to wrap up this entry is our little girl Drizzle. Drizzle was found by two of our regular volunteers, Feng and Long, when she was just a puppy of not more than 5 months old. This little orphan girl was found wandering along a large field, with no other dog in sight. Unlike the typical stray dog trained by instinct and self-preservation to be wary of us humans, this unsuspecting little girl with her trademark ears had no qualms about approaching humans who had food in hand.

Drizzle, as we first found her

When Feng and Long informed us about their encounter, we were concerned. This girl was such an easy prey she was bound to be captured by the stray dog catchers. Wee and Florence agreed that if we met her again, we would take her into the shelter. In the vast troubled stray dog world, a second chance encounter was a rarity. We were doubtful about our chances of ever meeting that dog once more.

As it turned out, Destiny still had a few tricks up its sleeves. By a twist of fate, Feng and Long chanced upon the puppy once more - one week later. With her large funny ears and a wound on her cheek, it had to be the same dog that they had previously seen. As predicted, it was no trouble capturing this little puppy, even with inexperienced hands. Feng and Long brought the dog back to the shelter, where she was christened Drizzle and began a new chapter of her life as a shelter dog.

Through interaction with her, we discovered that Drizzle was one of the gentlest dog we had ever come across. It didn't take long for her to warm up to humans and learn to walk on a leash. With her good nature and calm ways, Drizzle could get along with almost any other dog. This also helped her slowly worm her way into the hearts of our volunteers.

Just last month, almost six months after Drizzle's arrival at the shelter, one of our volunteers, Angela, proposed bringing Drizzle back for a trial homestay. The homestay proved successful and Drizzle's adoption was very quickly confirmed. I didn't tag along for the house visit the rest made to Drizzle's new home. But based on the pictures alone, Drizzle sure does look every bit the blissful dog.

We hear that in just a few days, Drizzle has successfully mastered the simple game of fetch!

Drizzle playing fetch

This little girl also has a very amusing habit of stealing Angela's slipper for company whenever Angela leaves the house. 

My human's not around, at least let me have her slipper

 From a stray puppy out in the wild, to a shelter dog and now a house pet with a place to call home, 2011 has been a whirlwind of a year for Drizzle. Still a puppy, Drizzle is growing bigger and stronger every day. We have nothing but best wishes for this easygoing darling in her new life ahead of her.

It never fails to amaze me how easily dogs settle down into new homes, so long as they are provided with shelter, food, exercise and affection. Each home visit and subsequent adoption just serves to affirm and strengthen our belief that, regardless of breed, age, colour or size, it is every dog's dream to have a home of its own. Shelter life is a merely a stopgap measure for many a lost and lonely dog. 

On the first day of the new year, we would like to take the opportunity to wish all the adoptors and readers a great year ahead. We're standing on the very first page of a brand new book. Anything is possible! We fervently hope that in the year to come, we will continue to have a bountiful supply of adoption stories to regale you guys with. 

Happy new year once more!

With love, 

from all at Gentle Paws

For Daisy, with love

There are always so  many things happening in the shelter. 

Each week, dogs come and go. With each dog, we create and collect new memories. 

The joy of furry day written all over Dollar's face

Memories become hazy over time. This makes photographs important because they freeze the exact moment in time. The blink of an eye, the twitch of the ear, a smile, a frown. Photos capture everything down to the last detail. 

Our beach babes

From the very start, Sebastian has been with us snap, snap, snapping away on his camera. He was later joined by other volunteers who were also photography buffs. But Sebastian will always have a very special place in Gentle Paws because of all the images he captured and all the precious memories that he helped to preserve, right from the very beginning. 

If ever we had an official photographer, Sebastian must be it. 

Puppyhood days... From left: Denise, Dexter, Daryl, Dyana and Diya 

It definitely doesn't hurt that Sebastian's photographs are so very gorgeous. They come in extremely handy when we are preparing our publicity material. In fact, this very blog would be nothing but a big yawn without his photographs to complement the words. 

That is the impact of Sebastian's photographs. 

What a sweet slumber. They surely must be dreaming...

Why am I suddenly going on about Sebastian and photographs, you might wonder. 

Ah. Let me take a moment to explain. 

You see, Sebastian, together with his wife Lorna, are also the adopters of our Daisy. You can read about Daisy's story here, If you have been following the blog, you will know that Daisy has taken ill recently. She has been plagued with a whole string of medical conditions. It all started from an injury to her paw. This was followed by problems with her blood count, an eye condition and a liver infection. Now, it appears that unknown masses have been found on both sides of Daisy's abdomen. 

Poor Daisy girl

This family has been in and out of the vet for almost 2 months now. This has been nothing short of hellish for them, both emotionally and financially. If ever you have had a sick dog before, I am sure you would understand. 

Yet, because Daisy has become such a cherished member of their family, Lorna and Sebastian have had no complains whatsoever about the costs of prolonged medical care. 

She's a part of their family now

Every time I log onto Lorna's Facebook page, I never fail to see updates on Daisy's progress. When Daisy's condition shows signs of improvement, Lorna is hopeful and upbeat. When Daisy's test results aren't the most positive, you can sense Lorna's sorrow, her frustration and her heartache. 

Daisy and Lorna: In healthier times

Throughout it all, the cost of veterinary care has never been the on the forefront of their concerns. All they want is to see Daisy happy and healthy again.  

Lorna and Sebastian are trying to help Daisy smile again

As the shelter where Daisy was from, we couldn't bear to stand by idly and watch this family fight their battle without pitching in to help. That is why we suggested that Lorna and Sebastian set up a Daisy booth at our Flea Market to help bring in whatever they can for Daisy's medical expenses. 

Daisy on the alert!

Now, we have another idea up our sleeves and we are hoping to receive a positive response. 

Sebastian is a wonderful photographer with a good eye for aesthetics and detail. So we were pondering... why does his skill have to be confined to shelter dogs? Good things ought to be shared, don't they? After some discussion with Sebastian, we decided that... Sebastian is for hire! 

The first cat picture to appear on this blog, this is a random photo taken by Sebas

See what I mean by Sebas having an eye for detail?

They say animals are often the most difficult subjects. Sebas doesn't make it look too hard!

Stoic and serious. What could he be worrying about?

If you are interested in capturing precious moments between you and your beloved pet, if you want a memento of your pet to hold on to when you are old and gray and your memory starts failing... Please contact Sebastian at ds.photo.mua@gmail.com. Packages and rates can be further discussed with Sebastian himself. The best thing about this is... you'll be indirectly lending a hand to Daisy's medical fund!

While I am admittedly very much biased towards Sebastian as a friend and co-volunteer, here is some objective evidence of his competence and skill. 

Because he has helped out at the shelter for so long (almost 3 years now!), Sebastian has had the chance to hone his skills at pet photography. After viewing the above pictures, surely you have to agree that he has a way with capturing crucial moments that say it all. The joy of pet ownership is encapsulated simply and clearly in the pictures above.

Let us just say again that if you are interested in taking similar photographs with your beloved furry friend, please do not hesitate to drop Sebastian an email at ds.photo.mua@gmail.com. By taking on Sebastian as your photographer, you not only get beautiful pictures, you also derive the joy of helping another dog in need.

Meanwhile, we will be saying a little prayer that the days ahead will be better, happier and brighter for our darling Daisy. Because she was once a Gentle Paws dog, she will always be a Gentle Paws dog. Go Daisy!

Credit for all the photographs in this entry go to Sebastian.