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Dakota Dachshund Rescue
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Animal Success Stories
"My little dog---a heartbeat at my feet." Edith Wharton Our lives will forever be enriched because of the dachsies that touched our hearts in rescue, but we know the real healing does not begin until they leave our care. We encourage, we celebrate, we do everything we can to give them the skills they need to put their best paw forward as they wait for their forever families to find them . . . and then the time comes to say goodbye. Often we shed tears. We remember when they came in, how far they’ve come, the hiccups along the way – we laugh, we cry – and then we always say a little prayer as we send them on their way. We hope they find the confidence to keep that best paw forward, because we know, when they do, they will truly flourish. It is then, they will heal; it is then, they will find peace. If you have adopted one of our adorable dachsies, and would like to contribute a Success Story, please e-mail dakotadachshund@hotmail.com, and we will add it to the website. Be sure to send us a current picture. We do love pictures!!! Please visit our Success Stories page to read all of our stories!
 WELL, WE FAILED "FOSTERING 101"! AFTER VOLUNTEERING TO FOSTER MISS GRACE, SHE STOLE OUR HEARTS AND WE KNEW THAT SHE HAD FOUND HER FOREVER HOME WITH OUR 3 SENIOR DACHSIE BOYS. SHE IS MY SILENT SHADOW AS I GO ABOUT MY DAILY CHORES; MY LAP COMPANION AS I WATCH TV; SLEEPS ON THE BIG BED AFTER GIVING EVERYONE GOOD NIGHT KISSES. SHE HAS ANOTHER NEW NAME " MISS MOMMA DOG GRACE" BECAUSE SHE SENSES WHEN EITHER DOG OR MAN NEEDS A KISS OR CUDDLING. SHE IS STILL VERY CAUTIOUS AROUND STRANGERS (ESPECIALLY FEMALES) SHE WILL HIDE UNDER THE BED. WE DON'T PUSH HER ON THIS. WE ARE BOTH WORKING THE HOUSEBREAKING ISSUE. AS A FORMER PUPPYMILL DOG, SHE WAS NEVER TRAINED! ALL SHE KNEW WAS HOW TO PRODUCE LITTER AFTER LITTER TO MAKE MONEY FOR SOMEONE. ALL OF THAT IS BEHIND HER NOW AS SHE LEARNS HOW TO PLAY AND THAT IT IS OK TO GO OUTSIDE AND THAT SHE CAN COME BACK INTO THE HOUSE, AGAIN. 8/2008 PAWS UP...TAILS WAGGING.. BOB DONHAM, AKA "DONHAM-OLESON RETIREMENT HOME FOR SENIOR, ELDERLY AND GERIATRIC DACHSHUNDS" 8/2009 UPDATE: 1year ago, Grace came into our lives like ray of Sunshine! Whether we've been out to the store, or came back inside from taking out the trash, collecting the mail or stepped out of the shower, she is at our feet, her front feet and legs boucning off the floor! At this year's annual dental checkup she 14 of her 18 remaing teeth!! All she has left are her 4 upper and lower front cannines! Dry kibble became out of the question! But we were no closer to the concept of "Going Potty Outside"! I would open the dining room door, put her out on the covered porch and close the door. Within 2 minutes, she would be screaming in terror and throwing herself at the glass door! AFter a few more minutes of this and afraid she would break the glass and be hurt, we would open the door and she would scurry down the hall into the office where she had her "daytime security bed" next to my desk! But when we weren't looking, she sneak out into the hall and there would be a puddle or worse. We had learned more and more about puppy mills and that sometimes survivors like Grace never get over some of that trauma. So the Steam Cleaner became our best friend! Until a week ago! The "Senior Boys" were out in the backyard. I sat on the top step of the 2 steps leading from the porch into the backyard watching 4 old Dachshie Gents barking at the same 2 squirrels on the back fence that they had barked at 10 times a day since Noah let them get off the Ark! Grace came running out of the open dining room door flew across porch and skidded to stop at the top step next to me! Barking and bouncing up and down but not trying to go down the 2 small steps. Suddenly, the light came on! I picked her up, put her down on the grass and she went dashing across the backyard to join the boys in the bark-a-thon! Grace didn't know how to go down those 2 steps!!! Kept in a small wire cage for 8 years and having 16 litters of pups, she had no idea how to go down steps and was terrified of falling and being hurt and not have a clue how to get back up again! Since then, about every 2 hours, I walk toward the door know Grace will be at my heals. I pick her up, put her down on the grass and say "Gracie, Go Potty Outside?" And with seconds she does! As long as I am sitting on the top step, she wonders all over the back yard, studies every blade of grass, sniffs at the lilac bush and watches birds. But, if I get up and go inside she dashes to to bottom step screaming in terror! She has no idea how to climb those 2 steps! In the last week, have only had to get the steam cleaner out once...when Gus threw up! PAWS UP...TAILS WAGGING.. RESCUERS NEVER STOP LEARNING.. Gracie's "Daddy Bob" |
