December 21, 2012 - Update 9 on Mabel, the Rescued Cocker

Mabel loves her fans!

Mabel was delighted to wake up today and see that we are still here and the world hasn’t ended with the Mayan calendar. Her tail is swishing to and fro as she communicates her gratefulness across the globe.  She is wishing her fans a special holiday season sending lots of hugs and licks in thanks for all you have done for her this year. Mabel is stronger and feistier than ever and is enjoying life so much after getting healthy. The teeth that were rotten and the heart that was irregularly beating have been fixed, thanks to all of you.

Cindy called me a couple weeks back and said that she had started giving Mabel Rimydle at night because she just couldn’t get comfortable on either side. We talked about taking her back to the vet to see if her arthritis was acting up, or if this was something new. As I slept on it that night the light bulb went off in my head. I remember when we first got her she had a similar problem and it was her anal glands that were impacted causing her so much discomfort. I called Cindy right away to have that checked, a simple ailment to fix. Sure enough, that was the problem and she is once again sleeping well at night with the help of her tincture – no more Rimydle, Yippee!

Speaking of meds? Well it is still a challenge and usually takes at least ten minutes, definitely quicker than it used to be. The crushed pills are dissolved in chicken or beef broth and added to a spoonful of baby food. Mabel is happy to slurp it up in the evening, but in the morning she has to be coaxed because well, she’s just not a morning girl. She much prefers sleeping in to taking medicine. By bumping the spoon to her mouth she slowly licks it and then realizes that it is pretty good. The tongue comes out to lick it all up and then straight back to sleep for a few more hours!

Winter Doo with Hollyberry Scarf

She has a new winter haircut leaving her core hair long to keep her warm, but trimming up her face, ears, feet and her lovely tail that looks like a giant plume. Needless to say she looks absolutely adorable. She always has a sweater on and sometimes when it’s really cold, she wears a SnugRug around her shoulders like a shawl. She likes it and of course looks extremely cute walking around with a shawl dangling off her back. If anyone has extra sweaters/coats that your pets have outgrown, please send them to Mabel. She is a Small/Medium size and we are working on getting more warm clothes in her wardrobe. In fact Santa is bringing her a couple things, but that’s still a surprise.

Suzi Makes a Great Pillow!

As you can see the three girls are getting really close to each other, snuggling and enjoying the warmth. Mabel loves to use Suzi as a pillow and Suzi of course doesn’t seem to mind. Cindy reports Mabel to be extremely cuddly, sharing lots of kisses and wagging her tail even when she’s going outside in the sub-zero cold. She still manages to get herself stuck in very tight places like under a table or between a wall and a table. She then whines to let you know she needs help!

Me & My Special Sisters

I’m still missing the little black girl bunches, but know that she is happy at Cindy’s with her two sisters. It has been unusually chilly in Alaska this season so Mabel enjoys lying in front of the heater rather than meandering around the yard. Her outdoors visits are brief and to the point as she scurries back in to cuddle up on her comfy spot near the heat, nuzzling up to Suzi and Bette to create a large, warm mass of black fur. It’s hard to tell where one doggie stops and another one begins.

And the last email I got from Cindy said: “Mabel is on my lap now helping me type to you. She sends her love, but now she needs to go outside and pee. All her love to you, ooops, she wants to go noooooowwwwwwwwwww!” Bless her sweet little spirit. Mabel, we love you!

We are still accepting donations to help with Mabel’s monthly medicine, tinctures and vitamins. So if you have anything extra lying around, please consider donating to this special girl. No amount is too small and we greatly appreciate it.  Merry Christmas to all of you that chipped in and made this rescue effort possible in 2012. Mabel is thriving because of your help. It warms my heart to see how well and happy she is doing.

Namasté & Woof! Woof!
http://mabel.chipin.com/meds-for-mabel-the-rescued-cocker

November 21, 2012 Update 8 on Mabel, the Rescued Cocker

Mabel & Suzi in front of the heater

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Mabel is enjoying life with Cindy, Suzi and Bette for the winter. I think of her often and get updates on her progress that I want to share with you. I frequent a pet shop called Wags here in Hendersonville and have found the perfect gift for my fospices girl in Alaska. It’s a surprise but I’m sure you will see pictures of her wearing it soon!

Sharing the bed with Bette & Suzi

Mabel continues her daily meandering and enjoys the company of the other girls in the house. In fact, she has decided she prefers the girls to the butt-sniffing males that she tolerates at TBTB Dog Camp. All it takes is a little snarl and they tuck their tails and leave her alone, but there is none of this at her winter home.

Mabel is a tough broad that knows exactly what she wants and doesn’t want, and is doing better than we could have ever imagined. All she needed was some love and patience, a few canines to make her feel at home and a vet to diagnose and treat her health issues. Having all of this has resulted in an amazing recovery of the little black cocker pulled out of a ravine near death just five short months ago. She’s like the little train that could. . . 

Before I left Alaska I was picking Mabel up in my arms, giving her hugs and gently lying her down on her pillow where she would fall fast asleep. Cindy discovered Mabel only likes to lie on her left side. When she told me this I realized it was indeed the side I put her on. She’s probably arthritic on her right and it hurts, but on her left side she sleeps for hours. It’s the little things we figure out that matter.

Rolling. . .

Mabel takes short naps, lying beside Suzi on the throw pillow in an arrangement of

dogs around the house that is hilarious. Lots of comfy beds adorn the place. Everyone has a spot and Mabel has her heart-shaped pillow that is coveted by Bette. Bette sometimes gets to rest on it until bedtime and then she is kicked out so that Mabel has her designated sleeping spot for the night.

Rolling. . .

Rolling. . . paws in the air!

She continues to be a finicky eater. Why, you wonder? Well, probably because she can be now that most of her meals are cooked for her. She gets bored easy, so food has to be varied to keep her interested. She loved halibut for two days and then turned her nose up at it, the same is true of salmon and hamburger but she always seems to go for the chicken. Cindy found that by grinding up all the food she had previously turned down, gave her a new attitude. She gobbled up the entire meal. LOL. 

Eating is Tiring. . .

Occasionally Mabel goes on strike refusing to take her morning meds served in the baby food she normally loves. So, out comes the liver pate! That’s right, Cindy is preparing a liver pate that she freezes, to make medicine time a little easier. When Mabel becomes bored with the pate dollops, then it will be back to the baby food. Of course any form of medicine takes a bit of coaxing before she actually agrees to take it – especially if it’s in the morning. Mabel is definitely not a morning girl, preferring instead to start her day around 2. So, Cindy is on her hands and knees spoon-feeding Mabel her meds all the while hoping she won’t spit it back out at her – this usually takes about 30 minutes. This can be extremely frustrating or laugh-out-loud funny, depending on whether you are trying to get to work on time or have the extra time needed to pamper her. 

Mabel is always so happy to go outside. Sometimes it takes a while for her to get her walk on, but one thing that never changes is the wagging tail. It’s almost like the tail winds her up and then she takes off walking. It is very funny and she’s always excited to go out for a pee in the snow. She loves meandering on the deck but when it’s cold? Well, she doesn’t stay out long – who can blame her? She prefers her bed in front of the heater when the temperature drops below her comfort zone. And, she sleeps much better at night after a few drops of the Passiflora/Valerian Root tincture that we order for her.

Woof-Woof! Mabel wanted me to say to all her fans, and tell them that she is doing fine at Cindy's. “I get tons of bedding to help me keep the memories of my doggie friends at Tails-By-The-Bay Dog Camp. I also have a deck to meander around on, and a warm heater to snuggle with my sisters Bette & Suzi. Sometimes I fall off my pillow couch and end up sleeping with my paws straight up in the air!”

Thanks to all of you who continue to support this little girl. No donation is too small so please consider giving to the Mabel fund at http://mabel.chipin.com/meds-for-mabel-the-rescued-cocker. All monies help Cindy and I with meds, specialty foods and wee-wee pads – did I mention how much Mabel likes to pee on these? They remind her of squatting in a meadow.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Woof! Woof!

October 15, 2012 Update 7 on Mabel, the Rescued Cocker

Mabel left Tails-By-The-Bay Dog Camp this morning to stay with her other foster mom for the long Alaskan winter. Cindy and sisters Bette & Suzi picked her up this morning at 11 AM and had to wake her up because Mabel decided to sleep in today.  It was bittersweet for me and if I could take her with me on our road trip to North Carolina I would do so. But, I think it would be very hard on her traveling across country in Dora with the other six dogs in tow. We will miss her sweet little face and disposition but will see her again in April at Dog Camp for the summer.

Ms. Mabel continues to do well. She loves to eat, sleep and meander around the deck. She also likes to lie on her bed and watch the activities around her. Often other TBTB resident dogs get on her bed to snuggle next to her. 

Mabel with Anne, Snugglin'

Thanks to all of you for your generosity in helping us care for her. We will continue to fundraise to help cover her heart medicine. No donation is too small and we greatly appreciate it. http://mabel.chipin.com/meds-for-mabel-the-rescued-cocker

I will be in contact with Cindy over the winter and will be able to give updates on Mabel’s progress. So that’s the news on Ms. Mabel for now. She’s sending hugs and licks to all her fans.

Woof! Woof!

September 19, 2012 - Mabel, the Rescued Cocker Update

Mabel is doing great, eating like a little piggy, sleeping well with the help of valerian because of back discomfort, and making it through most nights without a pee break. She is still meandering around the deck and house, and sitting on her pillow to observe all the activities around her at TBTB Dog Camp. She is a feisty girl, if a dog gets in her face to try and play around she quickly tells him to piss-off in doglish, baring her teeth and barking loudly. This only happens with the rambunctious ones.

Sweet Mabel

We had a visit with the vet yesterday for acupuncture and it was determined that Mabel does not have enough ‘meat’ on her spine to allow the needles to penetrate without hurting her. The vet recommended acupressure as an alternative. We are ordering a how-to book so we will be able to do the acupressure in the correct spots to help with her back pain. She has a crooked spine in her lumbar region, and probably arthritis – something that comes with age and a lifestyle that was probably less than desirable. She also has a fatty tumor in her right armpit that seems to be growing. If it continues to get bigger we will need to have it removed because of the possible walking hindrance it could cause her.

She is still on her heart meds that cost approximately $75 dollars month. They are new to the market and a generic brand won’t be available for a couple years. Mabel was coughing and wheezing every night before we started her on them, and that has totally gone away and her lungs are clear. They are definitely working. She is also on incontinence pills and glucosamine. Donations are greatly appreciated to help defray the costs of her meds for Cindy and I.

She visited Lisa Ann’s Grooming last week for a “Brazilian.” When she peed some of it was getting on her fur and making an every day bath necessary to eliminate the bad odor. She’s a beautiful little lady and smelling bad is just not part of the equation. With her new bikini clip the problem has been solved. The rest of her coat is growing out nicely to keep her warm this winter. The vet was impressed with how beautiful, thick and lush her fur coat looks.

As far as an adoption goes, I really haven’t tried much to find her a home. She is a special needs girl and Cindy and I both are aware that finding her a place to live out her life other than with us, is unlikely. And we are okay with that. I will be gone for six months this winter and Mabel will live exclusively with Betty Boo, Suzi Q, and foster mom Cindy, unless of course the perfect human falls out of the sky. She’s doing really well and seems happy and content. Upsetting her routine at this age is not a good thing either. She is a dear; a quiet little spirit unless a rowdy dog gets in her face and then look out.

So that’s the news on Ms. Mabel for now. She’s sending hugs and licks to all her fans.

Woof! Woof!

August 25, 2012 - Mabel, the Rescued Cocker Update

Mabel has spent the last three weeks with her other foster parent, Cindy and is now back at TBTB Dog Camp. She is doing so well, amazing really. Our goal was to help get her healthy and strong, and she is there! She no longer has to take pain meds and is happy to just hang out and be cuddled. She loves the other dogs, eats well and is now ready to find her forever home.

Mabel is a Sweetheart

She will do well in a home where someone is with her most of the day. Mabel is content to meander around – she does laps around the house and deck, and then falls asleep in the sun. She eats often and is only taking one heart pill a day, and another pill once a week for incontinence. Her pills are crushed up and placed in a spoonful of baby food that she easily laps up – she loves butternut squash with corn, or chicken with rice. She enjoys walking in the grass at a slow pace as she prefers to smell the roses along the way!

She wears a blanket around her shoulders on cool days, and we think in truth she is a mystic, a spiritual little creature. A worker at Cindy’s house was quite taken by Mabel – he was installing new flooring, down at her level and she insisted on being near him while he worked. With her shawl draped over her shoulders he was convinced she was one of the mystic characters from Dark Crystals. Yes, Mabel is indeed a little Muppet! A thinker and a plodder, with determination and perseverance – in other words, a tough little broad that doesn’t give up! She needs someone that enjoys her pace and is content to spend time with her.

If you are interested, or know of anyone that is looking for a beautiful companion with a huge heart, please let me know. Mabel has been through a lot but has bounced back way more than we ever expected. Come visit her, she would love to see you. If I didn’t already have six dogs, she would definitely spend her senior years at TBTB Dog Camp. She is welcome to come visit TBTB anytime, and Cindy’s house too, as we love her and will remain her forever Godmommies.

Thanks to all of you that helped with her amazing journey back to wellness. She’s sending hugs and licks to all her fans.

Woof! Woof!

July 13, 2012 - Mabel, the Rescued Cocker Update

Yesterday Mabel wasn't eating or drinking much. I fixed her a beef roast (loves prime rib), hamburger, canned dog food, eggs, chicken - you name it, and we tried it. She was just not interested. I ended up having to force-feed her the antibiotics because she wouldn't take food. I was worried so called and upped her recheck appointment to today instead of Monday.

Later in the afternoon she had a massive poop, and when I got home from the theatre last night I offered her a bowl of beef and she chowed it down, is drinking normally and taking liver bite treats again. Yippppeeee!

Yesterday I was worried she had an infection in her mouth, but now think she has been eating so much that it finally came out and she now has room for more. I just changed her recheck appointment back to Monday.

Mabel sends hugs and licks to her fans!

July 3, 2012 - Mabel, the Rescued Cocker Update

Pre-Dental Meal

Mabel’s dental work was performed this morning and she is resting at home now. Below is the report from the vet.

She did much better than was expected, her lungs are clear and she handled the anesthesia with no problem. The teeth that were taken out were the smaller ones, meaning that her large chewing teeth are okay and clean now. She will be on antibiotics for another ten days to clear up the infection. We expect to see a marked improvement in her health over the next few weeks. Fingers crossed that improvements will be seen in the heart area. After being on heart meds for only ten days now she is no longer coughing or gagging – a good sign. Her special heart kibble arrived today and we will continue to supplement her diet with home-cooked foods such as baked chicken with brown rice and peas.

Mabel had seven very rotten teeth that were extracted. One canine in particular was abscessed all the way to the sinuses and when it was pulled a large amount of pus oozed out and her nose bled. The nostril had been blocked from the infection. This poor girl has suffered greatly with her teeth for who knows how long? Thank goodness the problem ones have been removed.

I brought her home to a nice warm bed in the pup tent where she has privacy from the other dogs. Cindy will likely take her this weekend for more quiet time. She is totally out of it right now, still does not want to stand but managed to take a few steps before insisting on sleeping some more. Her mouth will be very sore for a few days so getting her to eat and take her meds will be a challenge. She was injected with a narcotic for pain that will wear off in a few hours and we have additional pain pills to get her through the next couple of days. This was a huge day for little Mabel but in the long run she will be so much healthier. She has dissolvable stitches and will be rechecked again on July 16^th. 

This girl has come a long way from being stuck in a ravine near death. She’s strong and has a will to keep on truckin’. We admire her tenacity and spunk, and know she is now on the mend. Thanks to all of you that helped with her medical expenses. Interesting enough the Universe does line things up as they are supposed to be. We raised exactly the amount of money we needed to cover her medical costs, give or take a few dollars. That is amazing and we can’t thank you enough for your support. We will keep you informed as her journey continues and will get you a picture when she starts feeling better.

Sweet Face

Sending hugs and licks to all of you,

Karen, Cindy and Mabel

Helping one dog at a time. 

Woof! Woof!

June 26, 2012, Mabel, the Rescued Cocker Update

Thanks to all of you that have already donated to the Mabel Fund. We really appreciate your help with her medical costs. Here’s an update of what happened at the Vet Clinic today.

We dropped Mabel off for an EKG and blood work with the intention of having her decayed teeth cleaned and/or removed. A few hours later I received a call that Mabel was not a candidate for going under anesthesia because of her heart condition at the moment. After taking her EKG it was sent to a cardiologist in Anchorage to read and he said she was currently more than high risk. Apparently it’s an electrode problem where the bottom of the heart is not communicating with the top causing her to have irregular heartbeats. He recommended giving her an injection used to regulate the heartbeat and then taking another EKG to see if that would help. I gave the okay to continue with the procedure recommended by the cardiologist. The Homer Vet also wanted to X-Ray her chest

At 3:30 this afternoon I was able to pick her up. The injection worked as it was supposed to - they can regulate her heartbeat which is really good news. An X-Ray showed that Mabel has an extremely large heart – the Vet commented that we already knew that because of course she is so very sweet. Since the injection will last up to six hours, Mabel will now be able to have her teeth worked on without being at high risk. Some of her heart issues might be directly related to the poison in her mouth.

Mabel was sent home with multiple medications: antibiotics to help with the infection in her gums, heart meds, pain meds and also something to clear up a small amount of mucus in her esophagus that might be caused from lying in the ravine water for who knows how long. All in all, her lungs are clear but small because her heart takes up so much room. The heart meds will hopefully help reduce the size and give her more space to breathe.

She arrived home famished and full of energy – she actually jumped out of the car before I could even get out, to do her business. We are cooking her chicken breasts with rice and a few peas mixed in. She gets yogurt, oatmeal and an egg at breakfast for protein. We are closely monitoring her sodium intake. Tonight she finished off her food  (nothing wrong with the appetite!) and then proceeded to make laps around the house. Must have felt the need for exercise since she was in a kennel much of today. As you can see in the photo she is now crashed on her bed snuggled under her very own SnugRug. She seems happy to be back with all the doggies at TBTB Dog Camp.

Mabel’s appointment for her teeth is now scheduled for Friday, July 6^th. All this medical work would not be possible without your help. Thanks again to those that have donated for this lovely little lady. And for you that haven’t done so yet, please consider it.  No donation is too small. I will continue to keep everyone updated on her progress. We are hopeful she will be much healthier and happy once everything is complete. She will then be looking for her forever home.

We Woof You!!  Mabel sends hugs and licks. Her kisses will be much sweeter once her teeth are clean and her breath is fresh!

Woof! Woof! 

Chip 'N to Help Mabel, the Rescued Cocker Spaniel

Mabel was found stuck in a ravine. No one knows how long she laid in the water crying out for help. Finally a lady walking her dog heard what she thought was a baby crying and hiked down into the ravine through thick alders to find Mabel, close to death. She was taken to the Homer Animal Shelter and because of her condition was going to be euthanized if she was not claimed in 3 days. Being Cocker Spaniel lovers, Cindy Nelson and I heard about her and went on a campaign to save her. After waiting more than 5 days, we were finally able to convince the powers that be that we wanted to get her some much needed medical attention, and were finally able to check her out of death row.



She has come such a long way in just two short weeks, and now they think she may only be 8-9 but will know more once they see the actual teeth. Sweet little Mabel will have her much-needed teeth cleaned on Monday morning. The vet thinks her arthritis may be related to her decayed teeth.




Cindy and I are fostering her until she gets healthy enough for adoption. The procedure is going to be pretty expensive, as an EKG is needed because of a prominent heart murmur, plus blood work. We have started a "Mabel Fund" and are asking for donations to help with the cost.

If you can help us please call Homer Vet Clinic at 907-235-8960, me at 235-4819 or Cindy at 235-0556, and donate to sweet Mabel. No donation is too small and will be greatly appreciated. Woof! Woof!