rescue

Special Needs Pet Feature: Fiona McSnuggles

There are so many caring pet parents out there who take care of special needs pets. To bring more attention to these joyful animals, and extraordinary people, this is a new feature to my blog. If you care for a special needs pet and would like your pet featured, please email me through my website contact. Send a photo and I will forward the questionnaire for your pet to be featured in an upcoming post.


What is your pets name?

Fiona McSnuggles

How old is your pet?

Approximately five years old

Where did you get your pet?

She was adopted from the Shelby County Animal Shelter in Shelbyville, KY

What is your pet’s physical challenge?

She has no eyes. They were removed a little over a year ago since they were painful and non operational.

What is your pet’s favorite thing to do?

Snuggle time with anyone that will pick her up.

What is your pet’s favorite thing to eat?

She isn’t very food motivated but likes soft treats best.

What do you love most about your pet?

The way she walks around wagging her tail, being a happy dog all the time.

What has your pet most taught you?

Nothing is impossible if you want it. She has no fear and will climb and jump all over the furniture.

Anything else you’d like to share?

She is a great example of making the best out of a bad situation. We were afraid that she would be nippy or fearful since she’s blind but she’s the happiest little dog and just wants to be loved. She’s a doll baby and so loving.  When she was originally examined by the vet in KY, the shelter was told that she had incurable cancer that would soon take her life. They took her home to live with them but she got better. When we adopted her, we still thought she had cancer since there was no follow up X-ray. My vet called with the great news-no cancer! As a matter of fact, she was incredibly healthy. My vet thinks is was severe pneumonia that was just mis-diagnosed. Lucky for her that the shelter had such a compassionate director who gave her a chance and a No Kill group that paid for her surgeries. She’s a shining example of how No Kill shelters save lives and how life is what you make of it.

Please note that Fionna McSnuggles is also a registered therapy dog providing love and joy to the elderly and patients at hospitals.  No doubt in my mind that Fionna snuggles right into the hearts of those she meets!

Review of “Lost Souls: Found!” Inspiring Stories about Dachshunds

 

So if you follow me on my blog you know I am a HUGE, HUGE, HUGE (did I say huge?) Dachshund lover!  I can’t get enough of them.  If I could, I would have a house full of them, but then that would mean my husband would move out.. so even though now and then that does seem like a viable option, most days I will say are pretty great with my hubby. So I will continue to HUGELY love my little Frankie… and ok, I will share a bit of that love with husband John, also.

So here comes this fun and loving book about Dachshunds which had me laughing, crying, saying “awwww” quite often and left my heart feeling all warm and fuzzy. Authors Kyla Duffy and Lowrey Mumford of Happy Tails Books did a superb job gathering all these stories into one precious book.

The stories are all about dachshunds that have been rescued  Sharon Smith, President of DARE (Dachshund Adoption Rescue Education), Florida as quoted from the book, “There are so many Dachshunds in need, and I am just one among many devoted volunteers who have given our hearts and souls to make a difference in their lives.  Though difficult and draining at times, rescue is the most rewarding thing aI can think to do with my life.  I hope the stories in this book encourage you to consider making rescue a part of your life, too.”

If you have ever been loved by a Dachshund you know the many faces and antics of these little ones.  There simply is no other breed like them!

My favorite story in the book is, “Don’t Read This While You’re Eating.”  Little Skippy, a paralyzed Dachshund found his forever home with Angela Johnson.  Angela had never seen a dog in a wheelchair before, yet opened her heart to care for Skippy.  What she didn’t realize is because of his paralysis he could not control his bladder and bowels.  After cleaning carpets again and again, trying doggie diapers and belly bands and baby “onsies” Angela became quite overwhelmed.  She finally learned about “expressing the bladder” which she first did on a pee pad, but then did what I also now do with Frankie, which is express Skippy on the toilet!  Genius!  Skippy and Angela have formed a deep bond– no doubt because Skippy knows how much she loves him.

While some of the stories are tough to read, like “The Ripple Effect” where one little six-pound dog was left to die on the side of a busy road, she caused a ripple effect of love when many opened up their hearts to  help her heal, that this is what this book is all about.  Dogs have souls, I truly believe that, and this sweet little doxie they named Joan of Arc had the will to live and just needed a little help.

To look into the eyes of a Dachshund (or any dog for that matter) is to see what is good with the world.  No matter what they have been through they will love humans unconditionally, even if a human put them in a dire situation. These Dachshund short stories (pun intended!) will have your heart feeling complete joy and just may have you wanting to bring one into your lives.

Order a copy today for all the Dachshund lovers on your holiday list!

A portion of proceeds from the book are donated to Dachshund rescue groups.