PCTC Rescue

The Potomac Cairn Terrier Club is a breed club that aims to be of service to members, fanciers, humane societies, and the general public, so far as Cairn Terriers are concerned. The PCTC Rescue Committee fosters, rehabilitates, and places Cairn terriers who are in need of new homes.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Rescue Corner - September 2012

By Veronica Hudak-Moe, Lois Cleland, and Ann Gates

The Rescue Corner column began in the August 2011 Thistle Talk. The Corner will keep you up to date on all the goings-on in PCTC Rescue and more. You’ll be hearing from several of us over the next several issues. We’ll tell you our stories about how we came to rescue and how it has enriched our lives. We invite you to enjoy our stories and maybe join us in Rescue, one of the most gratifying experiences the dog fancy offers.


Labor Day Weekend, members of the Rescue committee, a few volunteers, and their Cairns attended the Virginia Scottish Games at Great Meadows in The Plains, VA in order to educate the public on Rescue, our club, and our breed.

On Saturday, Maryland Rescue Chair Lois Cleland tended our booth with Lexi and Trouble. Lois said Trouble charmed everyone and was very good with all of the children, and Lexi was wonderful as well. Volunteers Sally and Baron Berninghausen brought their two adopted cairns, Binky and Otto, and they were perfect gentlemen.

On Sunday, Virginia Rescue Chair Veronica Hudak-Moe and Rescue Committee member Ann Gates tended the booth with member applicant Barbara Pennington. Despite the rain, we had a large number of people approach us who were interested in learning more about Cairn terriers and about rescue and our other programs. We sent them away with literature on the club and on field trials, as well as on the Cairn.

The dogs were wonderful ambassadors. We had Ann’s Boo (Ch. Whetstone Trick or Treat), Barbara’s Remi, and Veronica’s Brody. They were friendly and attentive all day, despite the heat, the rain, and the surfeit of French fries.

Westie Rescue asked us if we were running a daycare, since we had a lot of smitten children sharing our cover all day. One boy, going into kindergarten today, said: “These are lovely dogs. I can’t imagine any lovelier.” Now there is an endorsement.

The Rescue Committee will be attending Fredericksburg’s Gone to the Dogs, a fun-filled Dog Fair in downtown Fredericksburg, VA on October 6th. So, if you’re not going to the CTCA Specialty and you’re looking for something Cairn-y to do, contact Veronica for details on joining us at the Fair.

Rescue Corner - July 2012

By Veronica Hudak-Moe

The Rescue Corner column began in the August 2011 Thistle Talk. The Corner will keep you up to date on all the goings-on in PCTC Rescue and more. We‘ll tell you our stories about how we came to rescue and how it has enriched our lives. We invite you to enjoy our stories and updates, and maybe join us in Rescue, one of the most gratifying experiences the dog fancy offers.

Rescue has had a busy 2012 and we are only halfway through the year. As of July 1st, Rescue has already helped 32 Cairn terriers: 14 through foster care, 7 through direct referrals, and 11 through other rescue coordination efforts (i.e., courtesy listings and networking).

Our most recent addition to the foster program is 6-month-old "Dixie", whose owner was facing eviction because of her pets. Ann Gates is fostering Dixie and these are her observations:
Dixie really has no issues. Her toe nails are literally 2 inches long, I had to struggle to get her way too-tight collar off, her coat is a nice red-blonde, but it is a mess, and she may never have been out of her apartment, oh, and she isn’t house-broken; but really she is just fine.

She is affectionate, brave, cute, and she eats well. I have been taking her for walks with ZsaZsa (who is very sweet to her and shares) and Roxanne (who deliberately bumps her and threatens her when she thinks I am not looking). I don’t think she has been on any walks and everything is interesting or scary, but Dixie is game. She poohs outside, but does not pee – we will have to try to fix that. I think she was owned by total incompetents who were kind to her.
Lois Cleland is fostering "Cinnamon", a 3-year-old female who was hit by a car and dumped by her owner in a shelter with a broken pelvis. She did not require surgery, but she does require 10 weeks of crate rest. Lois said she has a lovely temperament even in the midst of all her pain. Lois transports her in and out of the house using a laundry basket.

Reed and Becky Sims fostered 5-year-old male "August" in May and June until they found a possible match in Virginia. Things didn‘t work out with the resident Cairn bitch, so August is now being fostered by Veronica & Ken Moe. No rest for the weary, however! Reed & Becky will be fostering another 5-year-old male that will be coming into Rescue shortly.

Our most recent placement was 6-year-old "Finnegan". He was definitely a diamond in the rough! Below are his before and after grooming photos.

BEFORE
AFTER

Finnegan is now living the good life close to the beach in Delaware…