One Year Anniversary for Trouper!

Hello!

I don’t know if any one remembers me, but I fostered Trouper the little Maltese that had his surgery a year ago. He is 3 years old now and we decided today was his birthday. I got a beautiful  calendar from the family that adopted him. He has a wonderful family and he is very much loved.  He is 100% healthy which is such a blessing. This amazing little dog changed my life.  He was the first foster dog I ever took care of. 

I will forever be grateful for all of the members of this group that helped me through that scarey time. Of course, Trouper was VERY brave (hence his given name….our little Trouper) Who could forget the great beach party we had in May in Chicago at Lake Michigan?

Today, I picked up my 4th foster…another cute little Maltese girl, Fergie. She is a little timid but just adorable. I have been able to foster and have wonderful families adopt the first 3. It is hard to let them go, but in order to keep fostering I need to let them go to forever homes. Trouper will always have a special place in my heart however because he was my first love and survived abuse to go on and live his life fully.

I love you all and thank you from the bottom of my heart!!

Love….Campsie in Glenview IL (hugs also from Trouper, Dolly, Koko and now Fergie)

 

 

Transport

Hello dear friends,

I got emails and pictures of Trouper and his new forever-home.  Let me tell you, it takes some of the sting out of sending him. He is so happy, surrounded by love, toys and 3 people who are always hugging, holding and loving him. He looks sensational and will be worshiped daily. I feel we ALL had a role in his rescue. This web-site helped me through his recovery and I will be forever grateful.

So, my latest adventure began Thursday. We got a call from a gal in Missouri who got 2 maltese out of a kill-shelter. I drove to St. Louis to get them. One was a 4 yr old mill-boy and the other was a 4 yr old owner-give up girl who was skin and bone. Loving?? Oh yes. So I drove to get them and bring them to Wisconsin. I had so much fun and just knowing I was going to save these 2 sweet babies. I only had them for 24 hours from pick up to drop off but they were mine for that brief time. It was a long drive, but just beautiful through the farm fields, sun-kissed trees and blue skies. I walked around under the St. Louis arch in the twilight, got the dogs and turned around.  A little crazy, yes,,,,but it was lots of fun. I truly am a crazy-dog lady but I wear that title with pride.

Gary and I are taking a vacation in a week and when we get back, I plan to take in another foster. I recommend everyone to consider fostering rescue dogs. It saves a life and it is fun to be part of their recovery.  Seeing Trouper go to a loving home has been so rewarding. I loved him so much but knew it was the right thing to do. Now I know I am able to do this so I hope to foster always.

Have a restful, holiday weekend fellow-dog lovers!! Dogs are God’s gift without a doubt!!!

Campsie

 

Trouper found his Forever Home

On July 30th, 2011,Trouper was adopted by a recently retired couple in McHenry, Illinois. They are very nice people and everything turned out well. I felt I did my job with my first foster and although I miss him terribly, I know he will be loved and well cared for. 

I met such wonderful people here and you helped me though the surgery and recovery.  I will always be grateful to you all. I am sad he is gone and sad also that all the others who wanted to adopt him were not able to.  But, he is safe, loved, and cared for, and that is all any of us can hope for.

I know there was going to be another Tripawd get-together this month, but I only have regular, ol’ four legged dogs now.  I would still go but I have family coming this weekend so can’t make it. My nerdy kids are all driving down to go to Comic-Con, which is a big deal I understand. Personally, if it does not have to do with dogs, I usually am not interested.

So, all’s well that ends well. I love all dogs and will always have a special place in my heart for little Trouper. I will post using this web site when I foster my next dog now that I know I can do it. I can’t imagine it will be as dramatic as last time, but I may end up as the designated-post-op half-way house for recovering dogs so who knows who I can help next time.

Friends to you all and special thanks,

Campsie and Trouper-Second-Chance

 

Out to Play on the Last Day of May

Hello to All! 

Just checking in to say hi to all my Tripawd friends! It is 2 months today since my surgery and my recovery has been great. I can now run up AND down stairs. It took me a while to figure out how to go down, but now I am doing it no problem. My hair is growing in where I had my hair-cut for surgery and I have soft, silky white hair that is going to be spectacular.  I eat, sleep, play, run and enjoy everything life has to offer. 

I don’t have the “link”, but if you go to North Central Maltese Rescue.com, you can read my adoption info. It does sound like there is someone who really wants me to be their forever-baby. We will be very happy and both very lucky. This is such a miracle to have a successful surgery and to make a full recovery like I have. I am here to tell all dogs and their families that being a tripawd is not the worst thing that could happen.  I will have a long, happy, healthy life and it is just fine.  Stay tuned for my further adventures!! Thank you everyone for all the good you do every day for all the dogs.

Trouper-Second-Chance (the amazing, 5 lb. Maltese)

 

May Day 5-1-11 Chicago Tripawds at the Beach

Trouper 2nd Chance on the Beach

 We had a wonderful day! Thanks to Cynthia B, we all met up and the weather was fantastic. Lots of Tripawds and sunny, dry weather at the beach in Chicago. Some of our dogs were in the water chasing and playing. Trouper Second Chance was happy to be held most of the day.

Gary Rick Trouper
Beach Day
Beach Dogs
Day at the Beach
The Gang on the Beach
Fun on the Beach

This was the group shot. Lots of fun. All sat when told, except Trouper and Mom.

Driving to the Party

What fun! Trouper was on the front floor mat. Actually this was after we left the beach and he was still in party-mode.

Great weather, great people and the coolest dogs on the beach were with our group. I can’t wait for the next get together.  Thank you everyone for being there and being such amazing people. Campsie, Gary and Trouper Second Chance.

April 23rd 2011

Hello to all,

Since I took time off work with the new addition to the house, I am way behind in my paperwork and patient visits.

This was the week to catch up and I can barely catch my breath. Thankfully, since Trouper Second Chance has come along, he has adapted beautifully and all the dogs are all getting along.

This measured food-feeding is time consuming but well worth it. And I have gone to a higher quality dog food so if they are eating less, they are getting better food.  I am using Fromm’s  Four Star Nutritional which is what the head of our rescue recommended. I take a quarter cup for Trouper mixed with one tablespoon of chicken, carrot and rice.  Some how I end up tossing in some more chicken to keep him interested and he loves it so. I just can’t deny him. But I am really watching how much he gets. The Fromm’s mix I do twice a day.

We had snow on 4-18-11 and I took some pictures of Trouper in the snow. It took me all week to  find the picture. This is the only one that turned out. Also, I am posting some oldies but goodies. One is the vet that did Troupers wonderful surgery, Dr. Brian Ray.

Today, I looked on the couch and who was up there? Trouper. Somehow he jumped up there and I don’t know how. He LOVES running to the door to go outside. I am telling you, he runs SO fast. It is like he is showing off. He can go up any stairs, down a few, but not down a flight. I wonder if he ever will. But for now I am picking him up and carrying him down. I tell you, in spite of everything he has been through, he is such a dear, happy little guy. I am just amazed. He loves being here with the other dogs and they “like ” him too.

This week he got his final worm pill, poor thing. He hates pills. I have given up on the Ultram because he just hates it and really does not appear to be in pain. He has one more dose of liquid antiinflammatory and then he is clean and sober. He just says no to drugs…..and yes to food.

If any one is interested in adoption, go to the North Central Maltese Rescue site and fill out an application. I know I have to start moving on his eventual adoption. It has to be the perfect forever home for him. He has to have the best since he has already been through the worst ( I pray he never suffers needlessly ever again).

To Be Viewed by Mature Adults Only

What the heck?
Buddy Welcomes Trouper
Geesh,,,,
Naughty BuddyBuddy Welcomes Trouper
Geesh,,,,
Naughty Buddy

 

April 16th, 2011

This was the day we brought Trouper home. Trouper was trying to find my car keys to drive himself back to the vet after he met naughty Buddy.  Buddy is a notorious humper when meeting a new dog. He is especially bad when the dog is smaller than him. He thinks anything smaller than him is a Barney Doll so he takes matters into his own paws.

Thank goodness, Buddy is not doing this at all any more. After the first day with a new dog around, he loses interest. Buddy has been known to clear out an entire dog park with this behavior which is quite embarressing to all witnesses, especially mom.

It is a rainy, cold day in Glenview today. I make everyone go outside,,but no one does much, then then come in and poop in the basement. They don’t like doing business on wet, cold grass. 

We started a new feeding regime here. I always “free fed” the dogs, but based on the research here on the Tripawds site, I realize Trouper must keep his weight down.  Based on his size, he gets the quarter cup of food twice a day. I feel like I am starving him, but that is the guide and I have a responsibilty to make sure he gets the right amount of food per day. It is going ok. I must admit, it is more work, but better than having food out round-the-clock

This was 4/7/11 Ready to go Home: With us One week Today!

april 7th at the vet
Trouper Second Chance on a 12" Square Tile

 

This is one week ago when Trouper Second Chance was getting ready to leave the vet’s office. Another North Central Maltese Rescue dog, Riley, came along to give him some moral support.

Today it is ONE WEEK ago this picture was taken. Today is the day he gets his staples out. I was reading over the other posts here about what to expect. I hope I don’t miss any staples. I see that can happen. I have hubby Gary here to hold him and be the patsy so Trouper will think he is causing the discomfort instead of me! Trouper will know I’m the one doing the procedure, but the blame will be shared. I am a nurse practitioner and have taken out lots of staples. It is easier and less painful than sutures in my opinion.  He got an Ultram pain pill a short time ago as a pre-med to help tolerate what I am about to do. Heck, it can’t be too tough….my Loki took her own sutures out after she had her ACL knee tear repaired. Did a pretty good job I must say, but at the time I was not too happy about it.

The head of the rescue, Mary Palmer found this picture interesting because these are small floor tiles and he pretty much fits on it. It gives  you an idea of just how tiny he is. I can see his hair (not fur on a malt) has grown out a little this week. Must be the chicken and cookie…that’s what Trouper says.

Thanks for all the support. I am not the same person I was a week ago when this journey began. It’s all good.

Campsie & Gary,,,,,,Trouper 2nd Chance, Loki, Toby and Buddy.

(yes,,,,there are 4 dogs in my house because FIVE DOGS would be just CRAZY…..4 is only a “little” crazy)