The Best of KB-L

April 2008

Context:

Just rereading the posts for April, and have to vote for Agatha's post "Early Morning with 2 Kerries and a foster puppy". Having been owned by 2 Kerries on numerous occasions, I can really relate to this. In 1973, shortly after losing our first Kerry, my Dad and I brought home two Kerry litter sisters. My mother's reaction was "What have you done!", but they soon won her over! What a ball we had that summer with the girls! At the first hint of daylight (about 4:30 in the morning), they would start rocking the big cardboard box where they slept until they tipped it over. Of course, one wouldn't dare leave two little, well-rested puppies to their own devices, so you would find me, only semi-conscious, out on the patio, with a big mug of tea, watching the sun rise on my little hellions! What a wonderful way to greet the day!

Anne Corke
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

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Subject: Early Morning with 2 Kerries and a foster puppy
From: Agatha Hughes

Let's see now.... Five yr-old Lily has just treed a squirrel in the big pine tree out back, and I keep going out to remind her not to bark incessantly in her high pitch squeal as she runs in circles.

Nine yr-old Ricky thinks there may the first groundhog of the season under the shed. So, of course, being freshly groomed and bathed, he has crawled on his side in the lovely dirt, vanishing under the shed. At least the shed muffles his barking.

Six mos-old foster puppy Skippy, recently sprung from a mill in Montana by the KBTF, is so excited by all this that he has grabbed a magazine out of the recycling bin to ferociously rip it apart and strew it through 2 rooms before running outside to scoot around the yard at high speed. He makes at least one lap through the poop that I haven't picked up this morning. Wait, maybe it's too exciting, because he just gagged up water on Ricky's head as Rick emerged from the shed depths.

Three Kerry spirits in the house in the springtime! Time for treats. For the Mom, puleeze!

Agatha Hughes, in Philadelphia

March 2008

Context:

Sharon Arkoff's update on Duffy reminds us once more that, like our indomitable Kerries, we should live in the moment. Even though he is suffering from a terminal illness, Duffy insists on enjoying life and all it has to offer. Atta boy, Duffy!

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Just thought I'd send out an update on Duffy, who was rescued by the KBT Foundation last October. Duffy had been turned in to a shelter by an elderly owner whose own illness prevented him for continuing to care for his companion. Duffy is a love bug and boasts an adorable teddy-bear face - so surely some nice family would adopt this guy? Well, probably not, because Duffy himself is coming up on 13 years old, and had tentatively been diagnosed with terminal cancer. As always, a million billion thanks to the Foundation for not closing the door on this guy. Through the miraculous-as-usual chain of Kerry angels in the Northeast, Duffy was pulled from the NJ shelter by Agatha Hughes, who gave him his first insights into a world of walks and yummy food. Victoria Kneiring got him up to Mimi Wight, and we were finally able to collect him and bring him to our chaotic house, full of young kids, guinea pigs, the stray cat, etc. From the moment we met him (and he was faced with two shrieking preschoolers), Duffy was only too happy to try to please. He was a bit foggy and stiff-jointed and didn't have alot of muscle, but for an elderly dog with cancer, what would you expect. Mimi wants me to add that it was a fabulous moment in her kitchen when this frail and apparently spirit-less "Steiff bear" heard the kids laughter [they were shrieking, really] and rose from the dead and bounced across the room to play with the kids. I remember this moment as more of Duffy thinking, "Good lord; something is so loud that even I can hear it. I guess I will check it out from my sheer disbelief that anything could be that loud and hyper," but that's just me.

Duffy, shortly after his rescue from a NJ shelter.

He was a perfect gentleman on the ride home, settled into our house and was accepted (grudgingly) by Bits, our 14-year-old kerry, and was plugged into the oncology program at a major veterinary teaching hospital. The prognosis, as feared, was that the cancer had entirely filled his sinus cavity and was on the verge of bursting into his brain or crossing his septum and making it impossible for him to breathe through his nose. We flat-out refused chemotherapy (it was unlikely to do anything other than kill him faster), and considered but rejected radiation.. Duffy was game but frail, and why put him through something that could blind him, interfere with his ability to eat, and cost a huge amount of money when it was unlikely to prolong his life. He was given 2-4 months to live, and we took him home to "be comfortable."

Okay. That was six months ago. Duffy is still very much alive. Very, very, very, very, very much alive. The cancer is still growing but the symptoms are 95% controlled with one small anti-inflammatory drug a day - though we might need to switch to something more powerful soon. Duffy refuses to eat dog food - we tried everything, from ambrosia hand-crafted by spiritually pure Tibetan monks all the way down to supermarket crap -- to the point where he will get literally weak with hunger, so we gave up. His diet yesterday was a whole pack of beef hot dogs, several pieces of cheese, half a pint of cottage cheese, a piece of meatloaf, a few Triscuits, several carrots, and whatever else he might have found for himself on the floor of the minivan. His only sign of age is that he is world's deepest sleeper. He will fall down on the floor between the sections of the couch without waking up, the idiot. He can barely hear, he can barely see, but he now gallops along with laugh-out-loud gusto on walks - taking his cues from whistles, clapping, and Bits' straining herself to be nice enough to bark at him when he goes off-course. He is a barrel of fun and a true pain in the bum in the kitchen (he bounces around on his hind legs trying to see what you're cooking), he play-bows, he incites Her Majesty to gallop around the back yard (this is unheard of.

Madame has NEVER galloped around the back yard before), and the other day he chased a cat. Though the cancer has broken through the roof of his mouth and the side of his face, I question now whether cancer will be the death of him, so to speak. There wasn't anything particularly wrong with the rest of him, and he's doing so well and having such a ball. He adores children, and will happily submit to being draped in dress-up clothes and being enlisted into tea parties, games of "bear in the den," etc. I used to rescue him from this stuff, but he just goes right back to hang out with the kids, so fine. He grows three inches with pride and anticipation when he realizes that the family is walking over to the playground, where he wags, curls, and beams at all the little kids who descend on him (this has been very hard on Bits, who does not particularly care for children. She would rather be left in her ivory tower, but if she holds back from the kids, Duffy gets all the attention and she gets ignored. Hmmm. Dilemma. :-) ) . Duff is hugely curious, hugely affectionate, is just plain thrilled with life and every possible ramification thereof, is gracious and appropriate with all the dogs and people we meet on our off-leash walks, and just generally is a big love. He almost never barks, but when he does - well, you've all probably heard it, no matter where in the universe you live. Yeah, that noise was Duffy. Thanks to the Foundation for its commitment to the old ones - they have the souls of puppies but much more dignity (in Duffy's case, it's a sort of dorky idiot dignity, but he has it) than their human caretakers.

Sharon Arkoff
Sudbury, MA

February 2008

Context:

Our best of KB-L for February 2008 is Linda Lee's wonderful story of Andy and
Emma, two senior Kerries looking for new homes in their twilight years:
Heart Warming and Heart Wrenching Senior Rescue

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The Story of Andy and Emma

If you have a few minutes, I have a story to tell you about rescuing a couple of our Kerry seniors - Andy and Emma. It's a story about the value of networking, the power of caring people, and that indomitable Kerry spirit! In mid-December, we found out about two 10 year old Kerries who had been taken to a shelter. The shelter called and asked for our help, otherwise both would be euthanized. The shelter was beyond capacity. Andy and Emma were considered old and would be among the first to go.

Andy and Emma had been together all their lives. They were surrendered because they kept bursting through an electric fence and biting other dogs (or so we were told!). The shelter had not noticed any dog aggression and both were fine with people. No pedigrees, health records, or any papers were provided. The owner wasn't even willing to complete an animal profile on them and only gave the shelter this sketchy information.

Fortunately, Karen, our volunteer in this Michigan community, volunteers at this shelter and stepped in to help. Karen got both of the dogs out of the shelter and into a local kennel. Of course, this meant kennel fees, but at least they were safe 'til we could find homes for them. Then Andy got sick - very sick. Karen took in Emma as a foster, but Andy was at the Vet clinic. It was Christmas time. On December 21, after talking to the Vet, Jan Joers and Tracey Fulmer conferred about Andy's situation. Andy was non-responsive. They decided the only humane course of action was to put Andy to sleep. I got their message and cried.

But Jan called the Vet again the next day to ensure there was no absolutely hope. This time she talked to the first Vet who had seen Andy. Vet #1 said Andy was given a sedative the night before and that was why he was totally non-responsive. Apparently, Vet #2 wasn't aware of that for some reason, probably because of holiday season craziness. But thank goodness Jan called Vet #1 before giving the okay to have Andy PTS!

Meanwhile, we found a home for Emma with an experienced Kerry owner. Karen and Emma's new family drove for hours to an agreed upon meeting place in Michigan City. Apparently Emma didn't stay in the crate too long. She was more comfortable sleeping on the hand-made afghan. Last report, she was settling in very well: "She is an absolute gem and we are so thrilled for a perfect transition to our home!" Oh, by the way, Karen told us: "Emma was by far the easiest and most loveable foster that we have ever had."

Meanwhile, Andy was not out of the woods, but his temperature had stopped spiking and he was responding to the high doses of antibiotics. It was touch and go. Fortunately, Vet #1 was incredible and drove for hours over the holiday period to check in on Andy.

Andy did pull through, but he couldn't stay at the Vet clinic indefinitely. We had no foster home for him. So Andy went back to the kennel. While the people at the kennel were doing their best, Andy was deteriorating. He had been at death's door, pulled through, but now he was back in a kennel and his life long buddy was gone. Karen was checking in and things didn't look good.

We doubled our efforts to find a foster situation. We got the word out and John cross-posted Andy's plight to other rescue groups. We had a lead through Airedale and Wire Fox Terrier rescue. Maybe we could get Andy out of
the kennel . . .?

Meanwhile, January 5th, we got an email from Karen:

Andy has absolutely no energy.
He eats very slowly.
He does not seem sick but just acts like he is 100 yrs old, where as before
he acted more like two years old.
He goes to the bathroom in his kennel and on his blanket - before he did not
at all - he will just stand up and go right where he is standing and lie
back down.
He does not like to go outside anymore.
He does not respond to other dogs.
When Mark goes in to vacuum and clean, Andy will sleep through it all.
Andy does not respond to being petted. He stands there like a rock.

Wow - we HAD to get Andy out ASAP! I was talking to Linda G., Jan and Tracey. What could we do? Jan was convinced Andy was depressed and that if we could get him into a positive place, he would respond. I was in tears (again) - we couldn't lose him now!

Lots of phoning . . . and sure enough, Fred, an Airedale/Wire Fox Terrier foster home was willing to take Andy, despite his condition. I explained the situation, but this experienced foster home was up for the challenge, if we could help with the extra expenses that Andy would bring. But, of course, they were a few hours away. Fortunately - once again! - Karen came through. Despite a family celebration, she drove half way to meet Fred and transfer Andy to his care.

Andy was a mess. But Jan was optimistic. As she wrote to Fred: "Kerries are the most people-oriented breed I know. While some dogs live to herd, or run, or track, Kerries live to love their people. Love him oodles, and I > think we will see a remarkable change in him over time."

Well, Jan was right and Andy has improved! Fred's had blood work done and Andy's toileting issues do not seem to be physical. He is much better on that front, but he is still re-learning. Fred's groomed him - "got all the crud out of him" - and has bought him a snazzy red winter coat. It's been pretty cold lately in Michigan.

But here's the REALLY good news. Fred told me this week: "Andy's awfully friendly and as gentle as can be. He loves to be patted. He never tries to pick a fight with the other dogs. He's a lot more bouncy. Then he does this thing when he's excited and knows it's dinner time . . . [I laughed because I knew what he was going to say - can you guess?] . . . he spins!" A spinning Kerry sounds like a happy Kerry to me!

So, we still need to find Andy his forever home. It needs to be a special place where he'll get the love, caring and attention he ought to have. He's a very special guy! And many people have worked hard to give him another chance.

Andy's story not only points to the power of the terrier network and the warm hearts of many people, but also to why donations are SO important. Despite the time and expense the volunteers in this story have contributed, Andy's story comes with a significant financial cost. Think about the days of kennel fees and vet bills, including the professional fees, drug costs, and boarding!

We believe every Kerry's life is valuable, regardless of his or her age. (My 12 year old Kerry girl would certainly agree!) So if we want to support Andy, and more seniors like him, we need to continue our financial donations of the Foundation. Please support our deserving seniors! Watch for Andy on the web-site and become one of his Kerry angels!

Submitted by:
Linda E. Lee, Rescue Coordinator
US Mid-West and Central Canada,
Manitoba, Canada

January 2008

Context:

Some KB-L subscribers described their bad experience with professional handlers in the conformation show ring. In this post, Paul Gygi, one of the Kerry world's "old timers", gives advice on dealing with handlers and behavior in the show ring.

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Listers:

There is an alternative... Assuming you can groom -- TRULY groom a Kerry to BIS ring standards -- then choose wisely, make prior arrangements, have your dog in perfect condition & meet your handler at a prearranged time wherever well before ring time. Give him or her the dog, get out of the way & let your handler do the rest.

If you can't groom to perfection then LEARN! It ain't easy! But... the skill is attainable by almost everyone who is willing to find an expert mentor, have the patience & willingness to devote the required time. The sessions/lessons may or may not be free. Great expensive is not a criteria for better lessons.

This advice is based on the assumption that you are interested in the group & BIS rings. If you are only trying to finish your Kerry's championship, DO IT YOURSELF! If you fail a few times, consider it a learning experience. If you win for the wrong reasons, consider yourself lucky & be extremely self-critical. You learn much from your losses & little from your wins. When you win BE HUMBLE! When you lose BE GRACIOUS!

The other people in the Kerry ring are your fellow "club" members & your friends. You do & will need them! DO NOT make enemies!!! If you cannot distinguish the difference between friends & enemies, are vindictive or choose to make disparaging remarks instead of being constantly gracious - do something non-competitive & stay far away from conformation dog show ring.

There is an old adage: Love me; love my dogs - or vice versa. This is NOT true. The dogs & the people are separate entities. People who you may not personally like will have great dogs. Wonderful people may have mediocre dogs. Be professional -- considerate, courteous & kind - ALWAYS!

Paul Gygi

Best of KB-L 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007