The Brotherhood Of Castaways. A Tribute To All Of The Dogs In Rescue

Transcription

1 1 The Brotherhood Of Castaways A Tribute To All Of The Dogs In Rescue

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3 3 The Brotherhood Of Castaways A Tribute To All Dogs In Rescue By Skippy Gouin As Told to Editors Mary Cox and Michele Gouin

4 4 Copyright 2007 Paw Print Press No parts of this book may be reproduced in any form, or by any means, without the permission of the publisher. Published by 2766 Heathfield, Bloomfield, MI / * 248/ fax International Standard Book Number: Printed in the United States First Edition. First Printing

5 5 Dedication To All the Fantastic People Who Work So Hard To Rescue Schipperkes Love, Hugs and Kisses Skippy Gouin

6 6 Contents About the Author 7 Acknowledgements 8 Foreword 9 Skippy 11 Doobie 23 Baby 30 Cindy 34 Shadow / Jake / Louie 50 Vallie 53 Wi-Chan 67 Barnacle 78 The Tedster 88 Serena s Story 98

7 7 About the Author Uncle Skippy decided to put together this book as a tribute to all of the dogs he has known or has heard of going through the Schipperke Rescue system. While it is so sad that so many dogs have ended up without a home, he is grateful that almost all of them have, through the loving care of foster volunteers, have found new and loving homes. Uncle Skippy has welcomed into his home lots of these unfortunate dogs, and has taught them the ways of a new life. He truly is a gentleman. Skippy is a featured columnist in the Schipperke Club of America Bulletin.

8 8 Acknowledgements I would like to thank the following for contributing their stories to this book. Judy Swan, Don Ferris, Joan Schuitman, Ellen Black, and Kay & Sydney Montes We would not have been able to publish their dog s wonderful stories if they had not adopted these castaway dogs and given them their hearts and souls. I would like to thank Ellen Black, Colonial Schipperke Club rescue, Michele Kasten, Schipperke Club of St. Louis rescue and Mary Cox and Michele Gouin, Midwest Schipperke rescue. Without their dedication to unwanted and cast-off Schipperkes, who knows what would have befallen these awesome second hand Schipperkes. I would also like to thank Howard Cox and Shannon Harrison for the proof reading and computer editing without which this work could not have been completed.

9 9 Foreword This book has been a labor of love. It has taken my staff and I two years to compile the stories and pictures. It is with great pride that I am able to present the following compilation of stories about my fellow castaways. I want to take this opportunity to thank each of my contributing authors. Without their submissions, this book would not be possible. I also would like to thank everyone who has every opened their hearts and homes to one of my fellow castaways. It takes a special kind of person to take a castaway in. I know, for had it not been for a special person and her family, I probably would not be here today to see the completion of my first book. I am so humbled and awed by the wonderful people who do rescue and make it possible for an unwanted castaway like myself to be given a chance to be loved and encouraged

10 10 and to reach my full potential. For that I will always be grateful. I hope the following stories of my fellow castaways will warm your heart as they have mine. The next time you encounter a rescuer, please thank them for the wonderful yet heartbreaking work they do as none of ours stories would be in this book if it wasn t for the person who rescues. Skippy Gouin

11 11 My Story Skippy Gouin My story begins when I became separated from my original family near Grayling, Michigan. I remember I had a good life with my first family I was loved and cared for. We were on a family vacation when the worst fate possible happened. While at a rest area, I was separated from my family. I found my self loose and being a young Schipperke I could not resist going for a run through the woods. So, off I went. When I finally came back to the where we were parked the car was gone and my family was nowhere to be found. I did not know what to do. People were trying to catch me and I was afraid. I thought that if I stayed close my family was sure to return. Everyday I would check around the rest area looking for them but could not find them. The days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months. I learned how to hunt for my supper and survive in all kinds of weather. At night, I would hole up under

12 12 some trees in the woods and try to keep warm. During the days, I would look for my family and try to find something to eat. There were people who would come by and try to catch me but I could not let them catch me. What if my family came back, how would they know where I was? So, I evaded them every time they came. Sometimes they would leave food behind and I was grateful and ate every morsel they let. Then after what seemed like forever they brought a pretty little girl dog out for me to meet. I was so interested in her and some companionship I followed her right into the car and those people finally caught me. I heard them talking that they were trying for 3 months to get me before they were successful. The people seemed nice enough they took me to what they called a shelter. There they feed me and gave me a nice warm place to sleep at night. There were all kinds of other dogs around there and it was very noisy. It made me kind of nervous. During the day, they would tie me outside to a doghouse and I really did not like that,

13 13 as the weather was getting colder. I just wished that my family would come back and take me home where I belonged. It was very frightening not knowing what was going to happen to me. Then on a cold snowy Christmas morning, something wonderful happened. This woman and her sister came to the shelter and picked me up. They took me home to their house where I met this other Schipperke named Cosmo. This family made me feel loved and wanted. I was not sure what my future was going to hold because I heard the woman and her father talking about dropping me off somewhere. That made me feel sad because I liked this woman and her family and I liked Cosmo, he told me he was the boss and that was okay he was cool. I knew I wanted to stay with this family and I knew I needed to let this person know. I loved the way she held me and cuddled with me it was the first time I felt love in a long time. Well sure enough after the holiday, we all headed south as the vacation was over and she lived in Ohio. Well after riding in the car for several

14 14 hours, we stopped at this dog food store and met a woman named Mary. Well that when I decided I would take a stand and see if the nice woman who brought me home would be my new people mom. She went to hand my leash to Mary and I sat down pulled back and gave a wild-eyed look that said NO please don t leave me. Well to my amazement, she understood and asked if she could take me home. Mary said yes and that is how I got my new forever home. Thing went well in my new home over the next few months I grew closer and closer to mom and my brother Cosmo. We were a happy family. Then mom met a man who kept coming around he was really pretty nice somewhat quite and did not know much about dogs so Cosmo and I really gave him a run for his money. Nevertheless, he stayed and the following year we moved back to mom s home state Michigan then Shannon moved in with us and he became our new dad. That was pretty cool because, he fed us things that mom never would. Cosmo and I really liked him.

15 15 From time to time, we would go back to Ohio and just kick around and have fun. One Sunday we went to this beautiful park in Toledo. It was a walking park with all kinds of trails and foliage to look at. There were also lots of people and dogs at the park. Mom had Cosmo and me on leashes and we were walking down the trail. All of a sudden, my leash came off and I was free. I could not resist it I took off in a flash running and feeling so free. Then it was like deja-vou the whole thing played out before my eyes. I saw myself lost again and my wonderful family leaving without me. I could not let this happen to me again, I loved my family and wanted to be with them. I stopped in my tracks, figured out where I was and headed back to the car to wait for my family. I knew my mom was upset and was looking for me but I knew if I waited at the car they would eventually find me. People were trying to catch me but each time they came near, I would run off. When they would leave, I would come back and sit by the car. Finally, after what seemed like forever, Dad came back to the

16 16 car and I ran to him. He picked me up and we waited for Mom and Cosmo to get back. When they got back to the car, Mom looked very sad then she saw me and started smiling. She picked me up and hugged me. I knew at the moment that I would never go far away from my mom again. It has been seven years since Mom has adopted me. They have been the best years of my life. We moved from the city to Northern Michigan, where we live close to my grandpa, he comes to see me every week. Our family has grown over the last seven years, as I have three sisters and a brother who go to dog shows and stuff. Mom takes Cosmo and me with them to the shows so it is a lot of fun. We also take in rescue dogs, like Cosmo and me. I like that. They need a place to stay till they get their own forever home and we all help with their adjustment to being displaced. The biggest event though is Mom and Dad got married this summer so we really are a forever family.

17 17 Doobie From Couch Potato to Athlete... How Freestyle Motivated Doobie to Get Up and Get Going by Judith Swan Yes, I have heard - just like you probably have - that Schipperkes were bred to watch TV. And don t get me wrong, Doobie watches his share. But every day he must also do something more active to earn his supper and his treats and his toys. Most often, he is asked to perform a sequence of freestyle moves where he has to jump, spin, and weave. Usually he throws in a few extra moves, just to ensure that a super treat is on its way.

18 18 Doobie joined my family when I first met him at a CSC meeting several years ago when Ellen Black was fostering him for the Lifeboat. After several previous owners, he arrived in the Lifeboat with an old eye injury that compromised his vision, a

19 19 collapsing trachea from some over zealous leash handling, and what I call a crate butt, weakened in the hind quarters from too much time spent sitting in a crate. He tended to be overweight from all that inactivity, but Ellen had started him on a diet and regular walks to begin his shape-up program, and he was looking pretty good. At the time, I was working my mature Schipperke, Baby, in freestyle and obedience, so I started taking Doobie along to watch. Everyone could see he was anxious to get out on the dance floor, sitting there with his little front feet marching in place. So out he came and thus began his ambitious exercise program. His various health deficiencies are taken into consideration in the Freestyle competition, and he competes as a handicapped dog in the Handi Dandi classes.

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