Extreme Makeover

He sat in the back of the cage of the shelter, barely even willing to look up. He was matted literally from head to toe. Even the worst behaved dogs or the meanest dogs wouldn't deserve to be left in the condition this little guy was left in. He had a couple of days left of misery and he realized thankfully it would all be over with because in this state, even death is a welcome relief. As if to add insult to injury, this little guy wasn't a spring chicken. No, he wasn't old by any means but he wasn't a year or two old and for many that's all they will consider. He really didn't have much of a chance. Who's going to save a dog like that?

One of our volunteers was sheltering shopping and writing down all of the dogs whose time was near when she came across this filthy mess at the back of the cage. He looked up with rootbeer colored eyes, almost pleading for help and then he decided better and ducked his head under the blankets. No sooner had she stopped than an officer behind her said, "What a mess...there's some others on the next aisle that don't look or smell as bad..." And somehow it was in those words that she realized she wasn't leaving without him. When no one else steps up, let it be us. And so she asked for him to be taken out and she held him in her arms and fed him the little treats she had in her pocket. He clung to her for dear life and she assured him, he wasn't going back in that cage.

Fast forward several weeks and this little stuffed animal with a heartbeat is the best dog we have in the rescue...well, second to a certain blind dog...but Magoo is really a one in a million dog. He's been groomed and to the vet and his extreme makeover didn't require an entire team and a week of effort. Rather, it required someone to care. It required someone not to turn a blind eye to his plight and to say they would make a difference in the life of one dog. And in it's complete essence, that is what rescue is all about...making a difference in the life of one dog at a time.

More than meets the Eye

He's blind. And for some, that's all they will ever see. They'll never look beyond his missing eyes and see his spunky, fiery, fiesty, loving, cuddly playful personality. They'll miss out on how excited he gets when there is food around and he knows he's getting some. They'll miss out on how he dances on his hind legs begging for snacks. They'll never get to see him run and jump into any open car, van or truck door because he knows the minute a door opens and that means he is going for a ride -- even if he's not! They'll never get to see him figure out his way up on the tall bed to snuggle up in the middle of the night and never move. They'll turn away because he's "disabled" and having a disabled dog doesn't fit in their lifestyle. Well, we haven't told Winston yet that he's disabled and we're hoping no one else does either.

From the first day he fit in so well into our home. He came in, roamed around, smelled everything and everyone and found an open bed and went to sleep. He greeted my 9 year old daughter at the door when she came in. She was less than impressed. "Seriously, do we need another blind dog? And a Shih Tzu at that?" Well, let's just say she's had a little bit of a change of heart. Now, she comes running in the house yelling, "WINNNIEEEEE!" And he can't wait to jump in her arms. She loves to give him a bath and he's a willing participant. She loves to tell how even though he doesn't have eyes, he still can see. "You can tell he can see Mom. He just doesn't have eyes. He sees through other things instead." And in so many ways, she's right. She jumps him over the agility course in the yard, she pulls him in the wagon and she takes him to the dog park and dog beach just like her dogs. Rarely does anyone even realize he's blind. He runs, plays and barks like the rest of the "seeing" dogs here. He let's you know when he wants to go outside (which is more than we get sometimes from the seeing Shih Tzus!) and he best of all, he's the most incredibly loving dog. He is the best that the breed has to offer and when we say, "Stuffed animal with a heart-beat" that's Winston.

We know that at some point we'll have to say goodbye as we see him off to his new home. But for now, we're glad that Winston isn't the only "blind" one...

Wonder pup Vino (Dazzler) is a true gift to me from DPS.

Hello,
One fabulous fine sunny day last May, I was volunteering with a meet up group from the Campbell area, the non moms club. I had volunteered that day to walk dogs that were up for adoption. Jen from the meetup welcomed me that day and said, here, take this dog, he likes to be held. So I walked him and several dogs throughout the day, and well, he was just too sweet and cute. So I fostered him for a night and he was truly crate trained, potty trained, sweet and just a great dog. So I had to keep him!

What a wonderful addition he has been to me and in my life. Now I cant imagine my life without Vino Tinto (italian for red wine, I love italian, wine, and wanted a distinct name for the dog park). He loves to go shopping with me at Santana Row, sit outside in various places in Los Gatos, likes to road trip to Capitola and Santa Cruz and loves the dog park. Hes so cute that even Ikea lets him in. He now has a fan club at the macys furniture and nordstrom store at the Westfield mall. All my neighbors tell me how lucky I am as he has a big personality and just loves people and always wags his tail at them and smiles. He loved being a pirate for Halloween.

DPS was great because I didnt think I was ready yet to have a dog in a condo that I had just bought. They explained what he needed, his medical history, etc. I am very grateful to have Vino. He is doing great, he sleeps now in the bed each night, no crate for him, and I can leave him during the day in the house to himself and he is fine.

Thank you DPS! Id love another one if the condo association allowed 2 dogs, but they only allow 1, bummer! (maybe Ill move, who knows?)

Cheers,
Teresa
Campbell

Wonder pup Vino (Dazzler) is a true gift to me from DPS.

Hello,
One fabulous fine sunny day last May, I was volunteering with a meet up group from the Campbell area, the non moms club. I had volunteered that day to walk dogs that were up for adoption. Jen from the meetup welcomed me that day and said, here, take this dog, he likes to be held. So I walked him and several dogs throughout the day, and well, he was just too sweet and cute. So I fostered him for a night and he was truly crate trained, potty trained, sweet and just a great dog. So I had to keep him!

What a wonderful addition he has been to me and in my life. Now I cant imagine my life without Vino Tinto (italian for red wine, I love italian, wine, and wanted a distinct name for the dog park). He loves to go shopping with me at Santana Row, sit outside in various places in Los Gatos, likes to road trip to Capitola and Santa Cruz and loves the dog park. Hes so cute that even Ikea lets him in. He now has a fan club at the macys furniture and nordstrom store at the Westfield mall. All my neighbors tell me how lucky I am as he has a big personality and just loves people and always wags his tail at them and smiles. He loved being a pirate for Halloween.

DPS was great because I didnt think I was ready yet to have a dog in a condo that I had just bought. They explained what he needed, his medical history, etc. I am very grateful to have Vino. He is doing great, he sleeps now in the bed each night, no crate for him, and I can leave him during the day in the house to himself and he is fine.

Thank you DPS! Id love another one if the condo association allowed 2 dogs, but they only allow 1, bummer! (maybe Ill move, who knows?)