About Our Dachshunds
FOR THE LOVE OF DOXIES
I first got involved with Dachshund Rescue in 2002. It all started with Oscar, the most adorable black & tan smooth puppy I had ever seen.
Oscar (a/k/a Pie and Monkey Butt)
Oscar is my canine "soulmate". If I was a dachshund my personality would be just like his (except I probably wouldn't lick the kitchen floor and chew my toes). We both are avid readers. When Oscar was about 8 months old I thought it would be nice for him to have a doxie brother or sister so I searched the internet and found dachshund rescue. I was instantly smitten with Charlie, a smooth red senior boy who had been neglected by his owner and dumped at a Jacksonville Humane Society.
Charlie (a/k/a Binks, Mr. Frosty Paws and Wise Old Owl)
Charlie had a severe periodontal disease, his breath was so foul it could be smelled across the room. The Humane Society knew they could not afford the cost of his vet care so they contacted Dachshund Rescue. Rescue took wonderful care of Charlie, they had him neutered, brought up to date on his shots and had him heartworm tested. Most importantly they got him the necessary surgery for his mouth. He had to have all of his teeth extracted, some were so rotted they literally crumbled out of his mouth. Due to the loss of teeth he was very drooly when we first adopted him and his breath was still quite foul. His tongue was always slipping out the side of his mouth. But soon he adjusted to his lack of teeth and the drooling stopped and his breath got better. He now gives sweet smelling sideways kisses! A year after we adopted him he had to have back surgery and then hernia surgery. And after all that he had a severe neurologic reaction to some medication. But through it all he remained a happy, happy boy with his tail always wagging. Recently he has again been experiencing some back problems but with a great neurologist and lots of crate rest he is still able to get around and do his special Charlie dance. And most importantly he is happy and content. Yes, I spent over $10,000.00 in vet bills but I would have spent 10 million, he is worth every cent!
Update: My beloved Charlie went to the Rainbow Bridge on June 18, 2010 leaving a giant Charlie size hole in my heart. Godspeed Mr. Binks, you were one of a kind and I'll miss you every single day for the rest of my life.
My next rescue kid was Jacob an 11 lb chocolate boy.
Jacob (a/k/a Bean, Bean O' Ween, Butter Bean, Jake the Snake and The Snakeinator)
Poor Jakie, he was found lost and alone, wandering the streets in Jacksonville, clearly he had been abandoned and had been on his own for quite some time. He had lost most of his fur, his nails were so long they had grown over his paw pads and he was also covered in waste. Dachshund Rescue to the rescue! Initially the vet thought Jacob was about 15 years old but once he was cleaned up and got some fur back his age was estimated at around 6. While in foster care his foster mom discovered something else: poor Jakie was ill, he suffers from epilepsy and was having seizures (this is why he was covered with waste when they found him). Can you imagine being a tiny 11 lb doxie all alone on the streets and having seizures with no one to comfort you? His story broke my heart and I had to adopt him too. He was a scared crusty little guy for many months after he came to live with us, but as soon as he felt secure and knew we were going to love him forever and not abandon him he turned into the most loving cuddlebug.
Becoming a Member of Florida Dachshund Rescue has truly changed my life. There are just so many doxies that need help! I had my first foster, a tiny longhair named Reilly, and found him a wonderful home. My next foster was Heidi, an AKC registered smooth chocolate & tan dapple girl.
Heidi (a/k/a Heidi Lou Who, Star Belly Sneech, Louis, Lou Lou and Loopy Lou)
Her family dumped her just before her 3rd birthday because they got new carpet. Unimaginable to me! As soon as Heidi walked in my door I knew I could never let her go. She is the sweetest, kissiest little girl. I believe she was abused by her first family because when she first came to live with us she was very submissive and would cower and roll over whenever we would try to pick her up. Since she's been with us she has learned that the hands in this house do not hit but offer only soft petting and tummy rubs.
And then along came...
Vinnie (a/k/a Vinster and Bambino)
Our local Humane Society called me and asked if Florida Dachshund Rescue could take in a senior red male. He was a stray with no identification and after a week in the shelter no one had shown up to claim him. So of course I rushed over to pick him up. He was literally skin and bones, I could count his vertabrae and ribs. I named him Vinnie because it rhymed with "skinny mini" which is exactly what he was. Also he is missing all of his front teeth which reminded me of my husband's favorite hockey player, Vinnie LeCavalier. Vinnie lost a few more teeth when we had his dental done. The missing teeth give him comical expressions, his lips get hung up on his incisors which we call his "Elvis Lip" and his tongue sticks out in front as if he's giving a big ol' raspberry. Poor Vinster has also been diagnosed with a high grade heart murmur. So far it's not affecting the quality of his life, he's a spunky little guy but the vet suspects he'll eventually need to be put on heart medication. Vinnie is the sweetest doxie I've ever met. He may have a "boo-boo" heart but it is 100% full of love. I've never bonded with a ween as quickly as Vinnie. He is a gentle soul with wise, understanding eyes. He was supposed to be a foster but after only a few days with him I knew he was meant to stay right here with me and the gang.
So now I'm mom to 5. I'm passionate and dedicated about dachshund rescue. There are so many doxies in need and with vet expenses, heartguard medicines, flea medicines etc. it always seems there are more doxies needing help than money to help them. That's why we donate merchandise for fundraisers as well as a portion of the sales proceeds of our Support Dachshund Rescue tees to Florida Dachshund Rescue. Rescue work can be heartbreaking but it is also the most rewarding thing I've ever done. Thanks to folks such as yourself who are taking time to read this and who have shopped at What's Up Dox Dachshund Shoppe we can make a difference every day in uniting an abandoned, abused or neglected doxie with the perfect forever adoptive family.