#readpawty postponed till June 8

Sorry loyal readers, but due to curmstances beyond my control, the parental units have been crazed. They need a bit more time uploading new books. And as long as we are talking about needing time, how about if we take off the month of July and get back together on Aug?

I will get it all together for #readpawty next week, June 8. We are changing the time to accomodate daylight! So we will meet at 8 pm EDT, 7 central.

don't forget to send me recommendations!

Love from your lovely librarian!

Neena Returns to Rescue

After 4 weeks of tears and treats and prayers and training, we have decided that Neena needs to go back to Stray Rescue. Since we have been working closely with Stray Rescue, they know that we have been trying very hard. It is obvious that the Kruses and Neena are not a match. She needs different care and attention than we can provide. She will return to her foster parent and will be loved and looked after until another adoption can be arranged.

I am sending her beautiful polka dotted collar and leash with a care package. I have put cat fur on them so they will be lucky for the next owner. We wish you much love and understanding in your next life, Neena.

New Pic of Parker!

Look at this face! His little white paws. Oh, what a crazy house we will have with Neena and Parker. All I can say is thanks to Lynne and Beth for a gorgeous baby. He comes to us at least by June 20, maybe before. Kinda like waiting for a human baby, huh? You never know.

Neena Is Reformed!!!!!

The parents are oh so relieved! The trainer Stray Rescue sent got her behavior corrected and turned around in 2 hours! He showed M&D what to do. They aren't learning as fast as Neena did, but they are trying as hard as she is. I will let Dad tell his side of the story in an email to the Stray Rescue coordinator.

I do not believe the change in Neena after the 2 hours that the trainer spent with us yesterday. She has done a 180 degree turn from the dog who barked at everything. This morning I had to put her on two long downs on her side to let her know the behavior was not acceptable. This afternoon we were sitting in our side yard with several motorcycles, bicycles and walkers going by on the street and she did not bark or lunge at any of them. Two days ago she would have been at the end of her tether raising a total ruckus. This afternoon on our walk, we encountered one dog walking and one dog behind a fence (I had her in a sit position both times and she let out one bark each time which was easily stopped). We went to the grounds of the community college and she just watched the squirrels and birds play in the tree, no lunging, no barking. To say I am elated is an understatement.

Thank you for sending the trainer to help us. We were truly desperate yesterday and despondent in not knowing how to work with Neena. With his guidance, we will have the dog that we know Neena can be.

And, we got a nice gift from @morriscat, the beautiful collar and leash he won at pawpawty. We thank everyone for all their love and support. You guys have made all the difference. I might be able to deal with the dog after all! MOL!

Stray Rescue rocks! This is not your average shelter. Make sure you click on their name and check out their website.

Neena Bit the Orkin Guy

I have been very quiet lately while the family adjusts to Neena. She is a sweet dog, energetic, willing to please, and quick to learn. She even understands "hiss", and that makes her OK in my book.

When you get a rescue dog, you accept that there will problems, potty issues, and so on. The unexpected part of Neena was lunging and fierce barking at walkers, bicyclists, and motorcycles. Walking is very difficult since her foster parent hadn't walked her but also because the aggressive behavior starts when she would spot someone, even 2 blocks away. Mom took her to the vet, and she wouldn't stop barking, challenging all the dogs and upsetting everyone.

The rescue shelter has been great. They have sent a trainer to our house, and the foster has come by to check on Neena. We went to a HSA-MO class on how dogs learn and had signed up for classes. Mom clicker trained her in 2 - 5 minute sessions how to touch mom's hand. However, we still had no idea how to change Neena's aggressive behaviors. Tension was building between "the parents" and they were starting to fight, a rare thing. On our vet's recommendation, Dad took Neena to a professional trainer for evaluation.

I guess at 9 months old it can be hard to determine if it is teenage rebellion or aggression. The trainer felt it was aggression, and the parents had seen enough that they felt it was probably the right call. She needs to go to doggy boot camp for 7-8 weeks, but the trainer felt she should be fine at the end. Parents called the shelter, and they agreed to send their trainers over to get another opinion.

Neena took matters into her own paws yesterday. Dad was holding her, and the Orkin man was trying to make friends. The Orkin guy loves animals and all us guys love him, except he's stinky. Anyway, Nenna bit the Orkin guy. Luckily for us, he's fine (no blood), and isn't going to press charges. Dad made tearful calls to the shelter, and 2 trainers are coming today.

Whatever is going on isn't Neena fault beacuse who knows what happened in her fist 5 months of life. We don't have adequate training for problems. She loves us and has never been aggressive to any of us, hasn't even chased me! All I know is that the parents are at a crisis point, and we aren't sure what the outcome will be.

May #ReadPawty Books

The books which got the largest amount of votes, and therefore at the books for May #ReadPawty Book club are:

The Cat Who Walks Through Walls, Robert A. Heinlein. Published 1985. many used copies available or through your library.

Dickens of a Cat and Other Stories of the Cats We Love by Callie Smith Grant, Published 2007. Available new and used, and in libraries.

Enjoy your read!

May #ReadPawty

We get to discuss the books we've read this month! Can everyone think about one thing that were very important to you in your book? That should give us a bunch of stuff to talk about. I'd like to try to keep discussion to one book at a time, but that will be too hard to do with us talkative anipals!

So, our homework is: bring one thing you would like to talk about regarding your book.

See you Tues, May 4 at 7 pm EDT!

Dad Has a New Dog

Mom checked the Stray Rescue site for a while until she found a face she loved. She asked Dad if he was ready to see a dog, and he looked at the face. The face now has a name, Neena, and she is ours. She's about 9 months old and 30 pounds. Neena loves to lick faces and necks and hands and legs and... We are having a fun time trying to figure out her heritage. Best guesses are blue tick coon hound, blue heeler, and German short hair Pointer.

Dad is smiling and has a spring in his step. Thank you, Neena, for coming into our lives.