This left Sammie along with 12 other dogs and other various animals needing new homes.  FLDR was contacted and when our intake coordinator and president told me about him…I immediately agreed to take the little ham into foster care.  Since his owner passed away Sammie has been very lost…yet trusting and seems to understand we are here to help him.   His owner did love him very much…loved him a little too much and spoiled him with food.  Upon arrival into foster care I set up a vet appointment to have him evaluated and all of his shots.  Besides being deaf and blind Sammie is epileptic and we are in the process of getting his seizure medications under control and his dosage adjusted.  Everyone involved with his rescue noticed that Sammie was having trouble breathing and snorting and rattling and it has been determined due to his weight…his extra fat is pushing against his esophagus thus causing swelling in his throat and mouth.  The vet said he was surprised he could even swallow at this point.  So today Super Sam had surgery.  He was neutered, had a dental and got his breathing issues addressed with a complete examination of his mouth and throat.  He is now on a crash diet.  He needs to lose weight very fast in order to help with his breathing or he may stop breathing at any time.  Since he has external stitches he is unable to exercise for two weeks and is on a special prescription diet food in order to help him shed pounds really fast.  Considering his disabilities and his medical issues, Sammie is very cuddly, very sweet and has quite the personality.  It always amazes me how well blind and/or deaf dogs adjust and quickly learn their new surroundings.  Sammie quickly discovered the room where Mr. Guniea the guinea pig lives and is very excited to have him as a new friend.  He loves the other members of the pack and has a great sense of humor being the little chunky clown he is.  With the type of disabilities he has I consider myself very lucky to have him as a part of my home and pack and am very blessed to have him in my life since most dogs with his disabilities would have been euthanized.

COOKIE
Age/Sex: 5 yrs. old female
Spayed/Neutered: Spayed
Color/Coat: red smooth
Weight: 13 lbs.
Adoption fee: $150
Location: Orlando
Contact: kbthill@gmail.com

I may need wheels to go for a walk, but my current disability doesn’t slow me down one bit! Several months ago, my back hurt really bad and I couldn’t walk, so my owners took me to the vet and I had to have surgery done. My mom and dad were very sad about it and between taking care of me right after surgery and also dealing with an ill family member, it was just too much for them to handle and they asked my former foster mom to take care of me—-so here I am, once again at the Thill’s house with eight other doxies. Initially, I wasn’t sure why I should be here, I missed my parents and my doxie sister, but now I know it was for the best. My foster mom got me this cool cart that she puts me in and boy can I run fast when I’m in it—she has to practically jog to keep up with me on our morning walks! We also go to a pool and I swim around and she works with my back legs. When I’m in the house I can scoot around to get anywhere I want to go with no problem. When I feel like it, I sometimes will play with the other dogs, but I mostly like to lie down on the soft beds in whatever room my foster mom happens to be. I’ll cuddle up with some of the other dogs to take a nap and whenever “mom” says, “let’s go outside!”, I’m right there at the door with the rest of them! I love to sit out in the yard and soak up the sun or rustle around in the plants looking for lizards! I also consider myself a good guard dog, because if anyone comes around, I make sure to let everyone know. My foster mom & dad have been working real hard with me to try to get me to use my back legs again. Maybe someday I’ll walk again, but if I don’t that’s OK, because I get along just fine the way I am. I don’t mean to complain, and I really do like it here—I really love my foster daddy—but to be honest, there’s too many dogs here and I’d really like to find a home with maybe just a couple other dogs.

Please don’t be afraid of me because of my physical disability, I’m a really good girl, just looking for someone to love and care for me and I promise if you take a chance on loving me, you won’t regret it one bit!!

Foster Mom’s comments: Cookie is a wonderful, sweet and obedient girl. Her spirit for life is apparent in her ability to move forward with the difficulties she’s been dealt. She is a “normal” member of the pack and wants to be treated like any of the other dogs. She loves to go for walks in her cart, sniffing and barking along with the rest of the group. She has gained strength in her back legs, but is unable to balance and coordinate any movements on her own. We do daily range of motion exercises and I have been doing swim therapy a few times a week. I would love to see an adoptive family that has a pool, as this will greatly assist Cookie in her rehabilitation. She does not empty her bladder or bowels, so we express them for her 3 times a day. This is not difficult and she does not have accidents if this is done on a regular schedule. Emptying her bladder must be done religiously in order to prevent her from getting bladder infections and a new owner must be committed to doing this. Cookie gets along great with the other dogs, loves to cuddle on our laps and sleeps in her crate with the door open at night—she likes to be covered with her fleece blanket. Even if Cookie is not able to walk on all four legs again she will give someone a lot of love for many years to come. Please contact me if you have questions about Cookie or if you’d like to have her join your family, fill out an application with her name on it.

MUGSY
AGE: 6 weeks– DOB July 7, 2010
Sex: male dachshund mix puppy
Coat/Color: smooth tan with black overlay
Spayed/Neutered: Not yet, must be done by adopter At 6 months of age
Adoption fee: $250
Location: Orlando
Contact: kbthill@gmail.com

Are you ready for a big personality in a small package? Mugsy may be just a baby, but he’s a little fireball already. As soon as he entered our home at 4 ½ wks. of age, he took control. He has the rest of our pack intimidated with his feistiness—taking on anything that comes his way. He loves to crawl all over the other dogs, biting and pulling on their ears and tails and is learning to play chase. He also enjoys chewing on toys and nylabones. He is still a puppy and must be watched like a hawk so as not to get into any trouble. He will go potty outside if taken out every ½ hr. – hour while awake and immediately upon waking from a nap or a bout of playing. He will go on a pee pad if it is relatively close by. Mugsy sleeps in a crate by our bed and will sleep through the night most nights.

Mugsy was found along with his mother in an abandoned Tampa apartment soon after he was born. His mother became quite sick and Mugsy had to be taken away from her in order for her to be cared for properly. Mugsy’s mother was a purebred dachshund, but we have no idea who the father was. Our best guess is possibly Chihuahua based on some of Mugsy’s physical features.

He is a very happy, healthy and active little guy who will bring a spark of life to one lucky family. If you have questions about Mugsy, please email his foster mom at kbthill@gmail.com. Mugsy will be available for adoption Sept. 1, so if you’d like to adopt Mugsy, please fill out an application with his name on it.

8/24/10–Lovey went to the vet this morning for a two week check up.  Our vet thinks that she should be trying to use her leg more even with the external pin and since she is not, they took more xrays.  The good news is that the pin is helping her bones grow back together and strong and that is looking really good.  She may have nerve damage from getting hit by the car or from the pin that is holding her bones together.  When the external pin is removed we will know more about the nerve damage and if she will regain feeling in her leg.  The leg is healthy and has blood flow and the bones are healing but she may not be able to use it due to the nerve damage if removing the pin doesn’t help her regain the feeling in the leg.  Right now the vet says to take it one day at a time and Lovey will be evaluated again in two weeks and from there hopefully we can start to get an idea of when she will have surgery to remove the pin.  Lovey seems to think she is perfectly fine and healthy.  She gets around to potty and for little bits of exercise during the day and gets around on her other three legs just like any normal dog.  Sometimes she looks down at her hurt leg as if to say…”What’s wrong with you?  Why won’t you GO!”  But her spirits are good and she keeps on going!  As you can see from the pictures she loves to play and fits in with the rest of the pack…she just tires out very easily and has to stay in her basket or in the crate for her own good.  Meds are on board to keep her comfortable and calm as she continues her healing process.  Lovey and FLDR appreciates all the kind words and thoughts and prayers and donations going to Lovey.  We could not take care of her without your support and continued support.  Lovey still has a long recovery ahead of her and more surgery and xrays to come.  Please consider donating to her medical fund, every little bit helps!  We have also put together a raffle bag to raise funds for Lovey thanks to kind donations from local businesses and dachshund boutiques.  Details on this raffle including what’s in the raffle bag and how to purchase raffle tickets will be up on Friday and all proceeds go directly to Lovey’s care so stay tuned for that!  Thanks again for all of your support and keep those donations and prayers for a speedy recovery coming Lovey’s way.  She sends wet kisses and paw high fives to all of her supporters out there!

Lovey is out of surgery and in recovery! She has a pin to hold her leg back together but the vet did not put a cast back on it! The vet says she can use it while she heals but it is up to her to move at her own pace and while she was in surgery she was spayed and everything! She has to spend the night at the vet tonight but should be able to come into foster care tomorrow! (You can follow her updates on our Facebook page)

You can also “Sign Her Cast”! Make a comment below and Sign Lovey’s Cast. This page will be printed out and given to her forever home! Thank you again for all your support of Lovey and all of our Foster Dachshunds at Florida Dachshund Rescue!

Name:       Tootsie
Age:          2 years
Sex:           Female
Weight:     7 lbs
Spayed:      Yes
Coat:         Smooth
Color:        Red
Fee:           $250.00
Location:    Melbourne, Fl.

Hi!  My name is Tootsie, I am a smooth haired mini little girl.  And I bet I am the cutest little thing you have ever seen!  I am also very portable and whenever my foster mom and dad take me out in public I get lots and lots of attention, I mean who could resist this little face and perfect little body????

I am a sweet little lap baby and I love to cuddle with my foster mom and dad.  And when I feel like it I grace my foster brothers and sister with my presence for play time.  I think they are a little jealous because I am so much cuter than they are so sometimes they tell me to leave them alone, but it doesn’t stop me from having fun.  I love everyone I meet and I really like kids, I give them lots and lots of kisses for as long as they will let me.  I am working on the potty training thing, I know what I am suppose to do but sometimes I forget and have an accident.  But if you have time to work with me I know that I can master it and be the perfect little girl for you.

I am crate trained but I would rather be sleeping with my foster mom and dad in their big bed, I mean after all I am a princess and deserve the best spot in the house.    So if you are looking for a sweet, calm and loving little lady and wouldn’t mind treating me like the princess I am, than I am the one for you.  Please fill out an application with my name on it so my foster mom and dad can contact you about becoming my new forever home.

Thank you.

Hi!  My name is Gunner (originally it was weiner, but my foster family didn’t think it fit), My original family became ill and couldn’t take care of me anymore so they called FLDR and asked them to help me find a new forever family.

I am a happy guy who loves to cuddle, if you have a free lap and some spare time you will find I will be right there with you willing accepting of a belly rub.  I play with the toys my foster home has and I get along great with my foster brothers and sister.  I am 98% potty trained, I have had a couple of accidents in my foster mom and dad’s house but they are working with me so it won’t be long before I have this mastered.  I am getting a lot better and only forget once in a while, but with positive correction I will over come that little issue and be a perfect guy for any home.  I love kids and get along great with other dogs, although I have a tendency to let the bigger guys know I am not afraid of them I mean after all I am a Dachshund..  I am up to date on my shots and nuetered and am ready to find my forever home.

I am crate trained but I would rather be sleeping with my foster mom and dad and once I get my spot I am set for the night.   I haven’t had a lot of trainig so I am kind of a blank slate for you to teach me anything you would like me to know.

So if you are looking for a sweet, calm and loving guy I am your man.  Please fill out an application with my name on it so my foster mom and dad can contact you about becoming my new forever home.

Thank you.

Name:  Parker
Age: 6 years old
Weight: 19#
Spayed or Neutered: He’s been Neutered
Coat: smooth
Color: Black & Tan
Adoption Fee: $200
Contact: Monkeydad3@aol.com
Location: Cape Coral Florida

Hello…my name is Parker and I’m a sweet loving boy….Some very nice people found me wandering around in a McDonald’s parking lot. I almost got hit by a car, but some nice people stopped and picked me up. They took me to the vet to see if I had a microchip, but I didn’t and I had no name tag or phone number for someone call. I stayed with these nice people but they could not keep me forever and that is when they contacted Florida Dachshund Rescue and, well… here I am.

The rescue took me to the vet and she gave me 2 shots and took a lot of samples from me to run some tests. The vet told my foster dad that all of the test results came back normal.

I am a very good boy and I want to be with a human any chance I get. I like all people and other dogs that are around my size. I am a little intimidated with dogs bigger than me. I have not been around cats at all. I do not like to be in a crate, but I am learning.

I have a lot of love to give and I promise I will be a good companion to you. I will follow you around the house and love attention. If you are interested in adopting me, please fill out an application and be sure to put my name on it. My foster parents are waiting to hear from you.

Foster dads note: Unfortunately, we do not have an accurate age on Parker as he was found as a stray. He listens to basic commands and is yearning for love and attention. He will make a great addition to someone’s home.

Name: Miss Amanda (Mandee) Blue Eye
Age: 5 years
Color:  Chocolate Double Dapple
Hair Length:  Thicker short hair
Sex: Female
Spayed/Neutered: We believe so but she will be spayed
Size: 12 lbs
Location: Jacksonville
Adoption Fee: $225.00
Contact: Laurel@MontereyMarketing.com

(written by her foster mother)

Mandee is a total lovebug which is amazing given her story.

Her Background

She had been living in the San Marco area (around Hendricks and Mitchell) of Jacksonville for approximately 1-2 years, apparently abandoned by her previous owner.  She’s been mostly living in the yard and shed of a home bordered by three streets, one quite busy.  She’s been crossing all three and often would lie in the middle of one of the roads; at least one with less traffic.  Whew.

Thankfully she’s had a lot of angels watching over her who have been taking care of her and catch her but she smartly avoided capture. For the past year, “Ray” has been feeding her every morning at 6:30 a.m. where Mandee (who he had named “Tweedle” for her tweed-looking color) would wait patiently in the middle of the road for him to show up.  Others tried to get her to come to them and/or have fed her.

A month before her capture on Saturday, 31 July, her latest angel “Momma Debby” noticed Mandee circling a stop sign at rush hour. Being concerned, Debby returned to check on her, on her way home from work.  Debby then proceeded to bring her food and water most mornings and nights for three weeks.  Over time, Debby met Mandee’s other angels from the neighborhood and then appealed to FLDR for rescue.   It took about 10 days of visiting Mandee, getting support from the Jacksonville Animal Protective Services who lent a trap, and an experienced animal rescuer with FLDR has been enticing her with the “trapper’s choice” of Original Flavor of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Mandee finally allowed herself to be trapped at 7:10 a.m.  YIPPEE.  You can see a picture gallery of Mandee, including the morning of her capture, here: http://tinyurl.com/2bpknz7.

It’s seriously a miracle that she’s in as good a shape as she is, and never got hit by a car or injured in other ways.  Definitely this little girl has been watched over closely by many angels.  And she sends special thanks to each of you; she knows who you are, even if we don’t.

About Her

It’s intriguing to see how quickly she is adjusting and it’s obvious she’s lived in a home before.  She’s just darling and clearly wants to belong to a pack (translate: family).

Two baths, a vet visit, and a pet store visit later following her trapping – she was already settling into her temporary foster home and was immediately dispensing kisses and snuggles.   In the first few days since her capture, she quickly adapted.  For two years, she wouldn’t let anyone near her enough to touch her.  Well, that’s just plain hard to tell as she’s a lap girl, and gives the sweetest kisses.  Her utter joy in getting into the “big bed” the first night was overwhelming. She was jumping up and down in bed she was so happy.  She’s most helpful following showers, helping to get the water off my leg by licking me.  Mandee clearly knows “bye bye” and loves her daily walks.

One big lesson she is learning is how to get along and interact with other dogs.  She’s perfectly fine with our Border Collie but she’s still learning what to do and how to communicate with the rest of her new pack.  She’s finally stopped torpedoing them with her nose.  Initially barking seemed to scare her; but in a houseful of dachshunds with daily howling sessions, she’s now joining in.  This may be good or bad, depending on how you look at it but it’s a clear indication that she’s relaxing and identifying with her new pack. She’s still a bit lap possessive but is learning to share and not charge and snap at the other dogs in the household who also want to be near mommy.  All this means that she’s learning to just hang out with everyone.

She still isn’t interacting much with my husband but she has interacted with other men. But it’s almost as if since Mommy is available (and I work from home), she doesn’t need to interact with anyone else.  When visiting a friend, Mandee seemed to love older children, especially a teenage girl.  She’s very brave in meeting new people which demonstrates her interest in being with people.

We haven’t had a single accident and she’s using the dog door all on her own.

Interestingly, she is quite delicate and discriminating about breakfast and dinner.  I often find myself hand-feeding her, for the time being.   She is exhibiting some separation anxiety which was expected given her background.  So when I leave, she may scream for a little while.  But she’s quickly differentiating between when Mommy is going on regular trips (such as rollerblading the Border Collie) and when it’s “worth it” to scream.  However, it’s very possible this behavior will continue for some time and as such, she needs a home which will be okay with the potential barking.

Overall she is in good health which is surprising given her years on the road.  That said, as many expected she is a low heartworm positive and will need to be on a gentle protocol with doxycycline and Heartgard for six months and retested them.  At that time, she may or may not have to undergo the typical heartworm treatment.  At that time, she may or may not have to continue the protocol. It can take up to 18 months to become heartworm free on the gentle treatment, but it’s far easier on the dog, physically, than the standard 3 shot treatment and ultimately just as effective. Her adopter must contractually agree to continue the treatment, retest every six months, send FLDR the test results, and her vet must notify FLDR when she is heartworm free. FLDR will cover the heartworm medication costs during her treatment period.

She is eager to please. And as such, is responsive to positive reinforcement which makes her wonderfully easy to train.

Her Furever Home

Mandee is going to bring years of love and joy to whichever home has the fortune to be a good fit for her.  And that’s a key concept – identifying the home which is the best fit.  She has some unique needs related to her life on the road all alone plus her potential short-term health issue.

She’s awfully cute and it would be tempting for anyone to want to adopt her but the type of household which would provide the best environment and for which FLDR will be screening includes:

• An experienced dachshund home which will allow her the time for her to evolve into the girl she can be

• • This means being very patient with her fears and her trying out who she is since she’s been out of a home for so long
• A securely fenced yard where she can explore but has no opportunity to get out
  • For example, our yard has landscape timbers buried along the fence line which is itself buried two inches into the ground, and our gates are always padlocked
  • She has enjoyed the outside for so long that an apartment home would not be a good fit for her
• Ideally a front door which is not accessible to the dogs and/or a gate can be erected
  • She is very adept at slipping past the gate in the hallway and in-between legs
• Comfortable with quietly but firmly training her but also letting her figure out things on her own
• No children under 8 or 9 years old
  • Their fast movements may be too scary for her and it will limit the chance for the door to be left open, etc.
• Willing to continue with the gentle heartworm protocol for six months
  • And depending on the retest, may need to continue the protocol until she tests heartworm free.
• Has one or two dogs, at maximum, who are comfortable with other dogs
  • She probably won’t make for a good single dog home due to her potential separation anxiety
• Okay with Mandee figuring out how to be with other dogs
  • This may mean she occasionally snips at the other dog(s) but she’s quickly learning how not to do this
• Comfortable managing separation anxiety
  • She would fare best in a household where she’s not left without human company for longer than a few hours a day
  • And she needs to be in environment okay with her potential barking; another reason an apartment is not a good home for her
• A commitment to feeding a high quality food with no corn
• An understanding that likely she should not be crated when left alone, and there really hasn’t been a reason to
  • But some people would consider this a good alternative to manage any separation anxiety; in her case, it’s likely to increase her anxiety
• A willingness to keep her name which she has quickly adapted to and fits her
• An interest in staying in touch with the rescue
  • This will need to be done for the first six months due to the heartworm but also her rescuers would like to stay in periodic touch

This list isn’t meant to discourage anyone but rather to provide a realistic assessment of which characteristics are needed to provide the best fit for a home for Miss Amanda as FLDR strives to make the best possible mutual match between our dog and its adoptive family. .  She will most assuredly be worth the extra care and time will need to be invested in making her feel safe and secure.  And we recognize that not all people have the time to do this which is perfectly okay.  We encourage you to check out the other wonderful dachshunds looking for a home. CLICK HERE to check them out!

What You Can Do

We recognize that there are many friends of Mandee that we may not know about.  If you’d like to share a story about Mandee’s life on the street, feel free to email her foster mom at Laurel@MontereyMarketing.com and put “Mandee” in the subject line.

If you are interested in being considered as an adoptive home for Mandee, please fill out an application here and put in her name — http://fldr.org/adoption-application.

If you would like to make a donation to support Mandee (and other dachshunds like her who need help), please go here and add her name in the “special message” section before you finalize the donation – Click HERE to donate

If you want to check out the ongoing picture gallery for Mandee — http://tinyurl.com/2bpknz7

Sign up on Facebook to become a friend of “Florida Dachshund Rescue” in order to get updates on Mandee.

Thank you to everyone for your support of this little one as well as your interest.

Name:  Odie
Age: 10 months
Weight: 10 lbs
Spayed or neutered?: Neutered
Coat: wirehair Color: Black & Tan
Adoption Fee:  $225
Contact:  cathym3612@yahoo.com

Hey!! My name is Odie and I am a 10 month old black and tan wire-haired dachshund mix.
I have had all my shots and an I’m neutered.  I weigh 11 lbs.  I have a little hair loss but the doctor said it will come back with good nutrition.
I love to give kisses and love to play!! I get along well with my foster brothers and sisters and I like them to play with me. I have lots of energy!! My foster mom is teaching me to walk on a lead and use my manners. My Foster mom says I’m a fast learner. I’m also learning to sit and stay.  I am in the process of being house-trained and I’m doing really well, I like using the doggy door all by myself. I am sleeping in a crate at night, but once I’m completely house broken I would love to sleep in the big bed.
If you would like to be my forever home please fill out an application and put my name on top – Odie!  Or if you would like to talk to my foster mom about me you can email her at cathym3612@yahoo.com