"Until there are none...Rescue One"........."Until there are none....Rescue One"



American Maltese Specialty
New Orleans, La
1999

We hope you enjoy these pictures and stories as they were told at the AMA Specialty.

We wish to thank the members of the AMA for honoring our rescue Maltese and adoptive families and making them feel so special....

" From the Mills to the Ring of Champions "

 

"Rowdy and Baby Girl"


Carol Baby Doll and Rowdy.......Baby Doll and Bob

Rowdy and Baby Doll at the 1998 Maltese Specialty in New Orleans....

    Rowdy and Baby Doll's owner passed away very young and they were returned to their breeder, where he put them in the back yard to free breed. After 4 years of constant puppies I received a call saying that he couldn't take care of them anymore and wanted to donate them to rescue. When I arrived I saw two poor little matted babies, extremely obese from fluid, a large sore on Rowdy's face and bad teeth, and an extremely healthy looking owner. I could hear labored breathing and knew they had heartworms. I took them home and then to the vet the next morning as Rowdy could hardly breathe. The vet suggested that I put Rowdy down as he had heart worms that were too bad to treat, abscessed teeth that had erupted through his face and he could not live through the surgery, plus he had so many ear infections that went untreated that his ears had grown closed and he could not hear. I took them home and started Rowdy on heart worm treatment. I stayed with him all night while he fought for life. The next few weeks were tough as he clung to life, then his infection got really bad and he had to have emergency surgery. He lived through that and came back home again and continued treatment. After three months of treatment Baby Doll and Rowdy got a negative heart worm test and Rowdy was ready for surgery. Rowdy had three ear surgeries he could hear and have normal ears, was neutered and ready for a new home and life.

    Carole Campbell called and wanted to adopt a dog but could only have one so I took Bubba over to meet them in Houston, but I took Baby Doll and Rowdy for a ride along. We got there and met Bob and Carole and they met the dogs. Immediately Baby Doll walked over to Bob and jumped in his lap. She would not leave him during the entire visit. Bob was the one who decided only one dog, but Baby Doll changed that as after the visit Bob was so attached to Baby Doll that they stayed. She is quite a Daddy's girl and Rowdy is a Momma's boy so it was a match made in heaven. All the dogs touch my heart but this pair took a permanent part of it with them. I can still see their little faces every day and can still feel Baby Doll curled up in my arms at night. I miss them terribly, but I know that they have the best home in the world with people who love them as they have loved all they meet, unconditionally!

"Blake"


Blake with Dennis Johnson, Larry Stansberry giving award.

    BLAKE was adopted by Tracy Hughes in Mass. Tracy could not be at the Specialty so Dennis Johnson took her place in the Rescue Parade with Blake


    Blake was a mill breeder ~ when his legs went bad, his life went bad. He could no longer serve his owner, he was no longer fed. He came to Rescue at 2.8 pounds, Blind from starvation, no will to live. He was tube fed until he realized he was no longer in a mill and he was loved. He then began his fight for life. Blake needed a lot of medical and surgeries. Through the Grace of God and the love of our Champion Breeders, their Breed Clubs, and Pet lovers from around the world, Blake received the 3,800.00 medical and surgeries he needed to stand, walk and run today. A very physically fit young man, now making great strides toward a strong emotional recovery in his new home in Mass. with his new family.

    Watch for Blake in the upcoming article in the Maltese Magazine. (to order the Maltese Magazine go to their web site at: http://www.fix.net/~dogmag/maltese/maltese-home.html.)
    We wish to thank the Maltese Magazine for their articles in support of Rescue and to Jenny Drastura for writing these articles

    We also wish to thank Tammy and her husband who made a special trip to take little Blake home to his family.

"Ellie"
"Ellie & Nancy"

ELLIE adopted by Jeff and Nancy Graff

    Ellie spent most, if not all, of her 5 years of life in a puppy mill producing puppies so her owners could make money. Finally, she required a Caesarian section which was poorly done and she developed many adhesions and uterine abscess. She lived in filth and had chronic ear infections from mites. Her toenails were never cut, so they curled under until she could barely walk. The smell of the dirty conditions was embedded in the hair itself so that even several baths did not take the odor away. When she was handled, it was roughly and without kindness or love. Despite all of this, they tried to breed her yet again and it didn't take, they got rid of her because she was (quote) "no longer a good breeder". On the day she was given up, her foster mom picked her up and took her home. Ellie was so scared she rode on a lap for 2 and 1/2 hours without moving or blinking because she had never been anywhere. For the first week, all she wanted to do was hide in the hallway. She liked it when she was picked up and cuddled but each time she couldn't believe that something bad didn't happen. All that happened was that she was loved and talked to. Soon she was spayed and what a difference. She must have been feeling very bad because she didn't even notice that she had surgery. She felt so much better after. From then on, she progressed by leaps and bounds. She started walking faster and finally running (it felt so good with her toenails short) and finally bouncing around. She began carrying her head and tail higher and higher. She even found out that she could express herself without getting in trouble, so first she tried a squeaky little whine and finally mustered the biggest little bark that she could. Today Ellie met her new Mom and Dad who loved her way before they saw her, and she is going to live her life in the love and in style like all Maltese should.

"Flower"
"Flower and Jean at the AMA Specialty"

FLOWER
Adopted by Jean Ensor

    Flower was a puppy mill brood bitch. She had a horrible heart murmur but was being bred anyway until last July when at 7 years of age the miller turned her into a shelter because she was very ill and the last attempt at breeding didn't take. Although she came from a small, in-home breeding operation, she as filthy. It took many weeks to get rid of the mill smell and to get her ears clean. She tired very easily, had trouble breathing and for many months had a haunted, weary look in her beautiful eyes. She would run in circles and when she tired of running she would sit breathing so heavily that her little body would sway with each breath and she could barely keep her eyes open. But she was afraid to go to sleep. Her heart was so bad the vet would not spay her but her teeth and gums were so bad that something had to be done. Even with very light sedation she barely made it through the procedure. The vet let her mom stay to pet and talk to her while he worked and believes that is why she survived. Today, Flower can run and play almost all day with the young dogs. She is happy and loving and her eyes no longer have that haunted weary expression. Her kind, loving, forgiving spirit glows through those beautiful eyes. She is at peace with her world. She has paid her dues and deserves every second of happiness. Jean called me about Flower and I went to Missouri to see her. After feeling her little heart struggling to work, I told Jean that she would only last a few weeks and cautioned Jean not to get too attached to her, but I knew that was silly as she already loved her so much. I am amazed to see Flower here, almost a year later, as she is a complete miracle, she has proven the vets and me very wrong as she is still going strong. I know in my heart though, that she wouldn't have survived this long if not for the love and dedication that Jean has shown her. She is a very special Mom.

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