aljones

Jane and I are always happy to answer questions about Tucker! We both really enjoy his enthusiasm and affection and are sure he would be an awesome dog for an active home!

P.S. Jane said she would get some new pictures of Tucker uploaded to his Facebook page soon. She lives on a lake, so he has a lot of opportunities for fun experiences there, from chasing waves to taking boat rides.

Thanks for your support of Tucker, Rebecca! He has so much potential that I know he would thrive in the right home. Unfortunately, neither Jane nor I have the right home: we ended up fostering him to keep him from returning to the shelter after he'd been in homes for a few months, but we have lazy pets, and neither of us trains seriously or competes in anything. We have been working with him consistently on manners and basic commands (sit, stay, shake, fetch, wait, and walking on leash) and on his interactions with dogs and people. He learns quickly and really seems to enjoy learning. I also ordered him some discs, which should arrive today: he is great at catching toys and is a fetching machine. He returned to Jane's house yesterday because DH and I have to be gone part of this week, but I will forward his discs to her ASAP so she can try those with him.

Thanks, setsail! Tucker is definitely a looker, and it sounds like Jackson is, too!

Thanks for the good thoughts, rlwzgd! Tucker could use them, as the potential adopter who was so gung-ho when we talked to him on Thursday and Friday suddenly cooled off over the weekend after we had completed all the reference checks and decided to approve his application. <sigh> So we are back to networking Tucker out some more. Jane started a Facebook page for him to, we hope, get him some more visibility.

After turning down one application and received a few more inquiries that were also not good fits for Tucker, we have an application that seems very promising! I really hope this works out for Tucker to, after six months of searching, find a good, permanent home of his own!

Thanks, Jan, for the good wishes! Tucker is a ton of fun to play with and also learns quickly, so I hope we can find a home that appreciates those features and helps him continue to develop into a wonderful companion.

Thanks for the compliment--Tucker is a great dog, both in looks and personality! In the right home, I think he would really thrive.

A friend and I are co-fostering handsome Tucker and are actively seeking a home for him. He was adopted from a local shelter in January 2013 and transported out of state to that adopter; however, the placement did not work out, so he found his way back to Kentucky in May 2013. He has been fostered either in Jane's home or mine since then, and I would be happy to answer questions anyone has about him. I have included a couple of photos in this post and a link to Jane's photo album for him below. Here is his bio: Video of Tucker playing tug with his foster sister, Macy: . (Several more videos available, but this is already a long post. ) Photo album Jane has compiled of Tucker at her house: http://hillspicturegallery.shutterfly.com/pictures/105 .

I have heard from West TN BCR that they have made arrangements to have him pulled by one of their nearby volunteers!

I got curious about the outcome of this situation and turned to Google, where I found this November 2012 update in the Portland Leader: "Three-peat: Swafford Pleads Guilty to Animal Cruelty." I have not yet been able to find the results of the Nov. 30 sentencing hearing, though.

I am so sorry for your loss and the shock that you are feeling at how sudden it was. Rest in peace, Buster.

I'm sorry to hear you're struggling to find something to help Tate--I know how frustrating that can be! Although not for hip dysplasia, I found acupuncture very helpful for our Ody when his arthritis was no longer manageable with other treatments. Specifically, my vet practices aqua-puncture, but I would readily try "regular" acupuncture, too, if that were what was available. With acupuncture, we were able to wean him off the pain meds, and he seemed generally healthier in addition to being more mobile. (He was already 14, I think, when we began.) My vet does not really advertise that she provides this treatment because she sees it as something she can offer to her existing clients when they need it--not a way she wants to draw new clients into the practice. So it is possible someone in your community is also trained in acupuncture but doesn't emphasize it. Best wishes finding something for Tate.

I am so sorry for your loss. Rest in peace, Falon.

I think I first heard the "tell a quality of a dog by the roof of its mouth" idea from my grandfather, a lifelong farmer in downstate Illinois. He did use a border collie to work his dairy cattle, but I think he applied the idea to all dogs. And I'll admit that I still check the roofs of my dogs' mouths when I first meet them, although I've never rejected a dog for having pink in its mouth. And it is one of the first things my father asks about each new dog in my life.

Yes, I, too, hope that ongoing attention to Swafford's history will help make sure this latest case is treated as seriously as it deserves. I was impressed with how quickly the reporter replied to my email and how helpful her response was, so I take that as a good sign. I also think Sue is right that many of the story's hits are coming from the BC community. In my past experience, folks in Portland have not been particularly informed about Swafford's shenanigans and/or don't seem to realize how horrible his operation was. But perhaps the publicity surrounding this third round of charges in three years will help them see him for what he is.

As I mentioned above, the case is going to the grand jury; therefore, the reporter does not expect anything to happen until mid-August. If anyone else is interested in following the Portland newspaper and its coverage, here's its website. ETA: I just looked at the "most popular" tab on the site and noticed this recent Swafford story is #3.

Thank you so much for organizing the sponsorships, Sue--and good luck to all dogs and handlers!

Pleased to report that Sonya Thompson replied very quickly to my email. She shared that Swafford has exercised his right for the case to go to a grand jury to determine if there is enough evidence to prosecute. She expects to know and report more in mid-August. Bookmarking the Portland Leader's website now....

Thanks for sharing that story; I try to keep tabs on what is happening with Swafford, but I totally missed this latest event. I couldn't find any follow-up information online about the results of the June hearing, so I emailed the editor who wrote the article and will share any more news I am able to gather about where things stand now.

Congratulations! I am so happy for him--and for your whole family!

In my experience, there is something especially difficult about losing a beloved companion so suddenly. I hope that, as the shock recedes, pleasant memories of Cindy fill that space in your thoughts and in your heart. I am very sorry for your loss.

I am so sorry for your loss. Whisper is fortunate to have had you to care for her and make decisions that were in her best interest. DH and I also spend a lot of time "negotiating" when we both feel ready for another dog--we always seem to be on very different schedules in that regard. But for now I hope your memories of Whisper bring you comfort.

You're quite welcome! It took me awhile to learn where to look for the adoptable/adopted distinction, and I was very confused for that period.

I'm no expert on Petfinder, so maybe someone who actually maintains a PF site can chime in, too. But it is my understanding that some organizations choose to update the animals' status on PF (from adoptable to adopted) instead of just removing their listings, as a quick and easy way to let people know what has happened (i.e., that the animal is "safe" and was not euthanized). There are two places to check to see the animal's current status. One is at the top of the listing (I added the boldface for emphasis): The other is in the page header at the to top of your browser window (my bold again):: Hope this helps.