Meditation Garden (Memorial)

I drove to Brampton Animal Services on August 10, 2015, to pick up Gloria. Gloria, a Chihuahua mix came in as a stray and is approximately 10 years old. Their vet had suggested a cardiac ultrasound as they had heard a loud heart murmur. I took her directly to the Veterinary Emergency Clinic (VEC) in Toronto before returning home to Kingston. We also needed to know the condition of her heart, as Gloria needed to have dental work and to see if she could handle anesthesia. It turned out she had Moderate Mitral Valve Disease, which did not need medication at this time. She could have dental as long as it was performed at the earliest before the disease worsened with some anesthetic recommendations. Another issue for concern was when the shelter took blood; her blood took a long time to clot. We did a clot test on Gloria and her blood coagulation was fine. We went ahead and booked her dental. The first attempt for her dental was aborted due to her heart but she made is thru with flying colors the next week, 10 teeth less. She already had 18 teeth missing before her dental. Gloria is very timid and she takes time warming up to strangers. She resides permanently with her Foster Mom, Faye and the 3 musketeer’s, Pepe, Tiki and Sweetie.

Darla was found wandering the streets of Toronto and a Good Samaritan brought her to Toronto Animal Services. The Good Samaritan was worried that if no-one claimed her, she would be put down given her age, 12+, but BOB came to the rescue and Darla came into the Haven June 6, 2015. She came into the shelter with both eyes but the pressure in one was very high. The pain the little darling must have been in. It was removed.
Darla was named after the feisty little character from Little Rascals, and feisty she is! She is managing with her one eye. She is very slow walking having a bad hip on one side and a bad knee on the other, but it does not stop her from going on a little walk around the back yard.

Mickey came into the Haven on 10 May 2015. He was rescued by BOB who was contacted by Oakville Humane Society after they removed him and others from a nearby property in February. Mickey is estimated to be about 6-8 years old and has a heart condition called Pulmonic stenosis that sadly, will shorten his lifespan. Mickey is a character. He loves to play. He will get a burst of energy and grab something as he speeds by you. Hopefully it is not something you really need. He will also play with a ball, throwing it up in the air and running around catching it. He is still shy and needs to get to know strangers.

Bear is a long-haired, handsome boy who is extremely sweet, lovable, and easy going. He came from the Kingston Humane Society into the Haven on October 7, 2014 at the age of 12. He has an eye condition called Pannus which has given him limited sight. He loves to play with a ball that flashes so he can find it. He also suffers from old age arthritis. Bear is a very sociable dog who loves to play with other dogs and who will lay quietly at your feet.

Baby was surrendered by her owner from the Toronto area because of the care he now requires. Despite his age of 19 years and his bowed legs, he can still move quickly for short periods. Very intelligent for his age, he will let his foster parents know he’s hungry – which is all the time – by looking at the counter, then down at his bowl. Although Baby is very tiny, he moves his big fleecy blanket to wherever he wants to sleep. His foster parents call him their Diva Dog because he plays the sympathy note by whining and lifting his front paw when he wants something. Of course, he always gets what he wants.

Taz came to Sheba’s Haven as a stray from north of Toronto. He has Cushing’s, an adrenal gland disease which causes bald spots on his coat and which always leads to other medical problems. His medication protocol seems to be improving his loss of hair. One look in Taz’s eyes and you will know that he is a gentle old soul. Taz loves attention but tends to watch from a distance instead of following you around.

Sweetie is from the Toronto area, surrendered by her owner because she requires so much attention. Once a timid, withdrawn dog, her personality completely changed after a stone was removed from her bladder. She now acts like a puppy, racing around the house carrying her toy. Still very insecure, submissive and very needy, she is always looking for reassurance. Sweetie is extremely obedient, listens well, and is a quick learner, seeming to understand what her foster parent is saying. She wants to be touched constantly, loves belly rubs, and spends long periods of time in the back yard in summer, probably because she was confined to a kennel for so many years in her past.

Baxter is a sweet Puggle, which is a Pug/Beagle cross, who has pelvic limb paralysis from an unknown cause (perhaps from jumping off a couch). His owners found it necessary to surrender him because they could not manage him anymore. Luckily, he gets around great with or without his wheelchair and has developed front legs that rival Arnold Schwarzenegger’s. Baxter loves to play and run after a ball. He is also another enthusiastic greeter with visitors.

Grandpa Louis came to us as a foster from Big on Beagles. He was named after Country Music Hall of Famer “Grandpa Louis Marshall Jones,” born exactly 100 years ago, who was a banjo player from Niagara, Kentucky, and a cast member on Hee Haw! Louis is strong willed and a loner, who will howl if another dog tries to lay on his bed with him. He needs his space and if anyone stands too close to him, he will also howl. On the flip side, he will plop himself down on any bed he chooses, no matter who has already claimed it. From years of living in a kennel, he walks with small, quick steps, which looks as though he’s walking on his tippy-toes.