Carolina Pyr Rescue

2 days ago

Ike's Tale (Tail?!)

Chapter 5: Furever Home

After just over a year in rescue, four surgeries, and months of recovery and physical therapy, Ike was cleared to leave us. He wasn't the longest resident of the rescue in our history, but he's up there.

You know what? Ike is worth it, and we were in no rush to place him. We knew he was going to need a very particular kind of home -- one without playful dogs who might inadvertently injure him while rumpusing; one without too many stairs or a lot of climbing to get in and out to the yard; one with a family who will keep him active and mobile but who aren't looking for a Pyr who will hike the Appalachian Trail with them; and one with folks able to take on any future PT needs he has.

We tell people all the time that the right people come to the rescue for the right dog at the right time. That's the miracle of rescue. We care for the dogs until they are well, approve good applicants, and then get out of the way. That's how rescue works best.

Tom and Shelley were approved and waiting to come meet the Pyrs when Ike became adoptable. They are experienced Pyr/Pyr mix owners, and they lost their last boy recently to a tumor.

Ike adored them at first sight, and, well, the feeling is mutual. And so Ike's story, at least this part of it, ends in a furever home where Ike is the center of his humans' attention, is loved by his new family and neighbors, and will continue to charm all he meets.

What a Pyrfect ending ... no, make that a new beginning to Ike's tale!

#CGPRAdopted #PyrsAreFamily #FureverHome ... See MoreSee Less

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Carolina Pyr Rescue

3 days ago

Ike's Tale (Tail?!)

Chapter 4: Progress and a Pawty

As we told you in chapter 2, Ike had two FHOs and TPLOs this past year. Just like humans, doggos benefit from physical therapy after surgery on their hips and knees.

After he had recovered enough to begin PT, Ike made regular visits to Vet-REC, a veterinary rehabilitation clinic located near the rescue in Indian Trail, NC.

As he has done everywhere else and with everyone else, Ike charmed the staff and became a favorite. Here he is enjoying a pawty when he completed his regimen with them and was cleared for adoption. Just look at that smile!

You might be wondering what this all cost. Ike's vet bills came to just over $7,000. Ike was initially worried that he may have to get a job and pay that back, but we explained that this is what we do, and we can do it because he has friends has hasn't met. We're always glad for donations to cover the cost of care for dog's like Ike. Your support through birthday fundraisers here on Facebook, AmazonSmile, our calendar contest, and monthly donations through PayPal make new knees and second chances possible! Ike says thank you to all who help us help dogs like him!

We'll finish Ike's Tale with one last post tomorrow. You won't want to miss that picture! ... See MoreSee Less

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Carolina Pyr Rescue

4 days ago

Ike’s Tail (Tail?!)

Chapter 3: Ike Becomes a STAR

During his recovery, Ike went to live with Nancy and David, longtime supporters of the rescue, and Josephine the Basset. As a post-operative foster, Ike was there to heal, but Nancy quickly realized that this social boy needed a job to be happy.

And so Nancy brought Ike with her to work at STARworks Center for Creative Enterprise. Now, if you have never been to STARworks, put it on your Carolina day-trip to-go list. Located in an old mill in Star, NC, this community center for the arts hosts resident artists, offers classes for adults and kids, has a beautiful gift shop, and throws fun special events and festivals (many involving beer!). Their blown glass pumpkin patch is upcoming!

Ike was a quick study and rapidly developed mastery of glass blowing and ceramic techniques – just kidding! Ike doesn’t have thumbs, silly!

Ike became the STARworks greeter and porch guardian. He welcomed artists, staff, students, and customers each day. Once, he prevented a horde of stuffy sock monkeys from breaking in. (Ok, not really…but he did destroy that plushy.) Folks there keep dog treats around the facility, and Ike learned where *all* the stashes were. Everyone at STARworks adored him and were sad to see him go back to the rescue when he was strong enough for his last surgery. He was a STAR! They are all hoping his furever family brings him to visit!

Thanks to Nancy, David, and the folks at STARworks for letting Ike be the doggo-in-residence!

Tomorrow we’ll share the story of Ike’s first pawty. For what?! Tune in for chapter 4 to find out! ... See MoreSee Less

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Carolina Pyr Rescue

5 days ago

Ike’s Tale (Tail?!)

Chapter 2: Twists and Turns

Yesterday, when we began this series of posts, we told you that Ike’s story had twists and turns. I bet you thought we were talking about his antics, heroics, or other zany adventures.

We wish.

We were referring to Ike’s back legs. When you were seduced by his charming smile in yesterday’s pictures, did you notice that his legs were positioned at an odd angle? Ike was born with congenital defects in both hips and rear knees. Although Ike could walk, he was in pain, and it wasn’t going to get better with age. Without surgery, Ike was likely unadoptable. The alternative to surgery was euthanasia, but we’ve always committed to providing surgical care as long as the Pyr can enjoy quality of life on the other side of recovery. Even with bad hips and knees, Ike was pure joy, so we had to try. To have the best chance of success, we had a brief window in which to provide surgical correction and give this growing boy a chance at better – and painfree – mobility.

And so while Ike’s brother Mike was adopted into a furever home in fall 2020, Ike had the first in a series of operations. The Pyrs’ veterinarians operated on his left knee, then his right hip, and, finally, his left hip and right knee at the same time. Yup, Ike has had two FHOs (femoral head ostectomy) and two TPLOs (tibial-plateau-leveling osteotomy).

The result is nearly a year spent recovering in foster and at the rescue and a series of crazy hair cuts and periods of fur growing back in which Ike had no fur pants, partial fur pants, and, for a brief time, a very cute set of fur anklet socks. Pictures for evidence! Ike, however, didn’t seem to mind or care that he had no fur on his back end, that his mobility was being restricted, or that he was going to yet another vet visit. He has always been the happiest of boys and grateful for any kindness and attention.

Speaking of grateful, we want to thank the folks at Commonwealth Animal Hospital in Charlotte, who operate on and care for our Pyrs when they need extensive veterinary care. Drs. Watkins, Hendren, and Benitez were part of Ike’s road to mobility.

While Ike recovered, that road led to some fun places, including a “job.” More on that…tomorrow in chapter 3! ... See MoreSee Less

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Carolina Pyr Rescue

6 days ago

Let's start the week with a happy story!

We are going to tell you this in several chapters because, well, like all good stories, this one has twists and turns, and our hero had many adventures along the way.

Shall we begin?

Ike's Tale (Tail?!)

Chapter 1: Mike and Ike

In July 2020, a woman emailed us on behalf of an elderly couple, relatives of hers who had been gifted two Pyr mix pups. Could we take them?

Readers, you would be surprised how often we receive emails about unwanted presents of puppies. *Never* gift puppies. Especially to elderly folks, parents of new babies, first-time home owners, the newly divorced, spouses of deployed servicemen and women, and anyone else who "should" want a dog for company but may, in reality, not have the interest, energy, or resources for a dog. Especially a puppy. Puppies are part time jobs. Puppies are like lovers -- everyone does best to pick their own.

We sometimes take in Pyr mixes, and these brothers sure are cute. We said yes and that we could take the dogs within a week or two. When we reached back out to arrange their surrender, however, the pups were gone.

We never quite made sense of the next part of the story, and our friends at the shelter were also confused. It seems when they couldn't find a new home for these boys immediately, the owners turned them out. Animal control officers picked them up as strays.

And so after a stop off at one of our shelter partners, two eight-month-old Pyr mix pups arrived at rescue.

We named them Mike and Ike, and as you can tell from the photos, these wiggle butts were exactly what you would expect from dogs that age. They wouldn't sit still even for their pictures!

Of course, their mix quickly became a matter of debate. We see Pyr mixes all the time that look like a lot of things. We decided these boys probably are a very Carolina combination of Pyr, hound, and Golden. Ike is the fluffier of the two. Whatever they are, they are Pyrfect.

And that's where we will leave it for today. Check back tomorrow for chapter 2!

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Carolina Pyr Rescue

1 week ago

#CGPRAlum Louie (formerly Squiggy) and #CGPRAlum Billie Ray (formerly Vee) sure seem to have the Pyrfect rescue sibling relationship. A little bit rumpus. A little bit sharing a rest. 🥰😆

#PyrsAreFamily #FureverHome ... See MoreSee Less