Disabled Dachshund with IVDD Needs a New Home ASAP

Posted by Barbara Techel

UPDATE:  Sully has found his new forever home!!!!  Thank you to everyone who helped!!!

Home for Life Animal Sanctuary in MN contacted me for help in seeing if I can help place another little dachshund that is disabled. They are full and can’t take him.

Jonn is the owner of Scully and due to financial reasons can’t keep Scully. Scully is currently staying at the vet, but can’t stay there much longer as Jonn is running out of money to do that.  The vet wrote a letter with information about Scully which I’ve included below. Jonn and Scully are located in Prior Lake, MN. His phone # is 612-760-5900. His email is jonn (dot) schumacher (at) gmail (dot) com. PLEASE CONTACT JONN DIRECTLY. As much as I’d like to be the go between, it is not feasible for me, but this is my way of helping try and place this disabled dachshund, so please direct all your questions and inquiries to Jonn.

May 3, 2012

RE:      “Sully” – Canine   , Dachshund

DOB: 04/28/2006

To Whom It May Concern:

Sully is a 6 year old Dachshund that was treated for intervertebral disc disease.  He had compression of his spinal cord at T11-T12 and T12-T13 due to a ruptured or herniated intervertebral disc.  He underwent a hemilaminectomy on January 30, 2012.  Since that time he has been treated with physical rehabilitation but has not yet regained any deep pain or motor function.  Unfortunately, Sully has also lost control of urine and bowel control.  He does very well in his cart and he is still a very happy and energetic patient.

Please call if you have any questions

Sincerely,

 

PriorLakePetHospital

By:   Josh Albright DVM

166800 Franklin SE, Prior Lake, MN

952-447-2855

 

Yorkshire Terrier & Fashion Icon Sophie, Gone Too Soon

Posted by Barbara Techel

 

Sophie brought so much love to her community. She was a local celebrity dog who did many fashion shows which were all done on a volunteer basis. LuAnn, Sophie’s Mom,  called me early this morning to let me know Sophie was put to sleep late Saturday afternoon from congestive heart failure. She was nine years old.

In her short time here on earth Sophie brought many smiles and much joy to so many.  She was also a therapy dog and visited Sharon S. Richardson Hospice twice a week for quite a few years. She had just retired from hospice work about a year ago and concentrated on her fashion shows which were always a huge hit.

As you can see by the photo above, Sophie also helped to raise money for a local cancer fund with a beautiful 2012 calendar of her in many of her stunning outfits, many of which were handmade by a friend of LuAnn’s.  She raised over $3,000 for the cancer fund.  The calendar will go on in memory of Sophie for 2013 and there will be local therapy dogs featured in the calendar next year. I’m honored and touched that Frankie will be one of the featured therapy dogs.

I recently wrote about the passing of Izzy, author Jon Katz’s dog who also did hospice therapy dog work. Jon’s book about their work together inspired me to start giving thought to doing hospice work also.  And it was LuAnn and Sophie who encouraged me to visit Sharon S. Richardson Hospice one day and visit with a woman whose husband had just passed away. Though I was initially nervous and scared to be around people who were dying, it was LuAnne and Sophie that guided me and Frankie on our first visit to hospice. It was a day I’ll never forget and it certainly was not our last– thanks to Sophie and LuAnn.

Dear little Sophie, so pretty always and oh so sweet, Frankie and I, as well as many others will miss you dearly. I can’t help but smile though, thinking of you doing fashion shows in heaven now. You’ll always be a star in our hearts.

 

Small Town Life

Posted by Barbara Techel

 The hub of Elkhart Lake and Off the Rail Cafe

I love living in a small town. Our population is 1,100. We are actually considered a village, not a town.  As I sat outside at the our little bustling cafe, Off the Rail, waiting for my lunch to go today, I found myself smiling.

The cafe is right in the hub of all the activity in the downtown area.  The second hub is only three blocks away. That happens to be the only 4-way stop in town.  Yup, you read it right- the ONLY 4-way stop.  You should see that 4-way stop on one of the race weekends here in the summer. It is super busy and sometimes we even need a cop to direct the traffic!  Elkhart Lake is known for Road America race track so we can attract over 100,000 visitors during some of the major races. I swear if I were flying overhead during one of those weekends, I’d see the little village bulging at the sides!

During warmer weather and when I have time, you will find Frankie and I at the cafe about once a week, dining outside, with my bike parked close by.  Sitting outside I can see the park and library to the left, Lake Street Cafe (fun dining experience!) to the right, and the train depot museum in front of me (where the Farmer’s Market is held each Saturday in summer).

As I waited for my lunch I was thankful for my small town. It feels like a cozy warm hug each time I venture out.  I’ve lived here for about 23 years now and within the past five years I’ve gotten to know so many more people because of Frankie. They have truly embraced her and her story. Someone is always asking me how she is doing if I don’t have her with me.

When I was young I thought I wanted to be a big city girl until I traveled to New York City for a college trip. I was terribly homesick. I’ve come to realize I love small town life and am somewhat of a homebody. I used to be embarrassed to admit that- silly, huh?  But now I embrace it and love it- it’s who I am.

So do you like small town life or are you a big city person?  And why?  I would love to hear your thoughts!