on my way home dachshund rescue

Feeling Grateful for Each of You…and So Much More!

Posted by Barbara Techel

2013-11-28 18.42.24 eI hope your Thanksgiving was warm, cozy and full of laughter, love and all good things. May all those good feelings continue through the end of the year and into next.

If you are like me, you may be busy decorating the house for the holidays, curled up reading a good book or perhaps spending time with family and friends. Or maybe you are out shopping.  You won’t find me shopping though. No malls for this girl! But hey, if that’s your thing, happy shopping!  Did you notice that rhymed?  🙂  I am actually out the door soon as I’ll be helping with the set up of my friend Cassy’s new studio and shop like I did on Wednesday.  It is coming together nicely!

I just want to take a moment to say how grateful I am for each of you and being a part of my Joyful Paws community. When I left on my sabbatical in September, I was fearful I would lose some of you. But I came back to find you were still here, waiting patiently,  supporting me in your hearts. I am so incredibly thankful for all your support and kindness when I left, and now with my return.

I believe being grateful is a choice. I am reminded of that during this season of joy. We can certainly find many things wrong in the world just by turning on the news. But I choose to look for the good and find much to be grateful for. It is usually in the smallest of things or moments that I find my greatest joy. I encourage you to make a list of the things that bring you joy, which automatically leads you to feeling grateful.  Here are just a few of mine:

  • Smooching the girls (and John too!)
  • Snuggle time with the girls (and John too!)
  • Laughing with John
  • Curling up to the wood stove with a good book
  • Watching snow fall outside my writing cottage window
  • Listening to holiday music
  • Lighting candles

I really could go on and on, but I’ll keep it short. What brings you joy that you are grateful for?  Just leave a comment below- I’d love to know!

PS:  This year I want to say an extra special thank you to someone I am so grateful for.  That person is Stephanie from On My Way Home Dachshund Rescue who loved little Gidget with all her heart…. enough to let her go, even though it was one of the hardest things she ever had to do. She gave me such an incredible gift in Gidget. I’ll always be thankful for what she did for me.

Come See Gidget’s Video of Her Journey from On May Way Home Dachshund Rescue to Me! And How Well She Walks with IVDD.

Posted by Barbara Techel

This video was done by On My Way Home Dachshund Rescue of Gidget’s journey to me!   Many wanted to adopt her and were in love with her. But because of her special needs she had to find someone who had experience with IVDD doxie’s.  Whew, I am so happy I fit the bill. I really do feel like I won the doxie lottery!

In the video you will see how well Gidget gets around because of the love, care and therapy she got from Steph at the rescue.  They lovingly referred to Gidget as their “Wobbly Wiener.”   She still has her wiggly, wobbly moments, but I’m amazed at how well she is doing.  She also has moments of side benders where her front end goes around a corner but her back end is still giving thought how to navigate it. But all in all, it is quite endearing to see her move about on her own.

When I began my search for another dachshund with IVDD, I truly thought I’d adopt another one who was in a wheelchair or needed one.  While I didn’t know the full extent of Gidget’s range of motion when I first learned about her,  it was the connection I felt with her, that I knew I needed to pursue adopting her.

In some ways it feels strange not having a wheelie dog after having them for the past seven years. But I also am enjoying seeing a new side of adversity and perseverance in little Gidget who is proud to prance about as if she never even had IVDD. I just set her down and away she goes– no winding her up or anything!

My heart is silly in love again and it feels deliciously good.  My forever thankfulness to Steph and all those that helped Gidget get to her forever home. I’ll be forever grateful.

I’ve Been Keeping a Secret from You..Wait until you hear… and SEE!

Posted by Barbara Techel

24731384-1-800x0Meet Gidget!  My New Dachshund Love.  And wow, is she a love!

Do you have any idea how hard this was for me to keep from you?  I truly thought I was going to burst at the seams keeping this in.

Gidget, already nicknamed Lil’ G by me, arrived in Wisconsin last evening. Now you might think she is a retired showgirl when you hear she came from Las Vegas, NV- but she actually is from a wonderful rescue called On My Way Home Dachshund Rescue . Stephanie, who runs the rescue is a dear, kind, caring, wonderful lady who I will be forever grateful to for delivering my new bundle of doxie love.

Gidget has IVDD, but considered a highly functional case.  With therapy she was able to regain walking on her own and walks most endearingly with a little wiggle-wobble-wonk.  Like most IVDD dogs, she does need help with her bladder and needs it to be expressed, which as you know, I’ve got some good experience around just that.  Because she is an IVDD dachshund, Stephanie, was very cautious making sure Gidget went to the right home. Many people wanted to adopt Gidget and I’m beyond thrilled she chose me and has given me this honor to love and care for Gidget. I can find no words to even express my deepest gratitude for this.

We think Gidget is about 6-years old. Her main color is considered black and secondary merle (blue). But it was those eyes that drew me in.  It was this connection n I felt all the way to her soul when I saw her that I just couldn’t deny. I just knew we were meant to be together.  Arriving home after 11:00pm last night, it not only felt so good to be home with Gidget wrapped in my arms, but to have my heart completely enveloped in doxie love makes me feel home again too. This is what makes me JOYFUL!

I am head over heels in love!… and it’s official as Stephanie took this photo of Gidget and me declaring me Gidget’s Forever Mom.

me and gidget 1200

Stay tuned as I share more about her in the upcoming days!