Friday, September 27, 2013

Midwest Shiba Inu Rescue

  Do you live in or around the Midwest? Have you always wanted one of those adorable hard to find foxy looking doggies but didn't want to pay the high breeder fees or even know where to begin to find one. Or perhaps you already have experienced the Shiba inu and simply are seeking to add one more to the family. If this sounds anything like you, I have the answer.

  Midwest Shiba inu rescue is a non-profit group of wonderful pleasant people that genuinely loves the breed and goes far beyond the call of duty to find the best families for surrendered Shiba's. They helped me find my Asa and I bet they could help you find your fur baby too.

MSIR is based in Chicago and has foster dogs available in various states in the Midwest.
MSIR does its best to match the right dog with the right family by finding out as much as possible about the potential adoptive family before placing a dog.  Please visit our Main page to view dogs that are available for adoption in the Midwest! To see dogs available in other states, please go to http://national.shibarescue.org.
All dogs placed by MSIR are spayed or neutered, up-to-date on shots, heartworm negative and microchipped.
MSIR's adotpion fee covers the aggregate costs of caring for foster dogs. As you consider a dog, remember that the average life span of a Shiba Inu is 12-17 years.
Age RangeAdoption Fee
0 to 12 months.$350
13 months - 3 yrs.$300
4 - 5 yrs.$250
6 - 8 yrs.$200
9+ yrs.$150
Adoption fees cover a portion of medical care as well as general care for the dogs while they are being fostered. Note that total foster care costs always exceed the adoption fee.
New owners who adopt through MSIR must sign a contract. One clause in the contract guarantees an obedience refund--that's right! If you successfully complete an obedience course with your rescue Shiba, you will be refunded $25! Obedience training is important to guide your Shiba in becoming the kind of dog you will want beside you forever. Obedience training also helps a new owner bond with a new dog. We can recommend obedience facilities-- just ask us
If you would like additional information please feel free to contact them at Midwest Shiba Inu Rescue.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Lessons Learned

My husband said I could only keep one of the puppies. But he also said right afterwords "I want you to do what ever makes you the happiest." Now isn't that just the sweetest thing a man can say to a woman? Of course I knew that loosely translated into " I don't want any more dogs! But if it will make you happy, I will be okay with one more or both if you must." Yes, I love my husband dearly, more and more I start to realize he loves me too.


Once we knew Asa was pregnant I said I wanted a white or black puppy. It didn't matter which one. I never really thought she'd have one or even both. But now I was faced with having to choose between my fur-babies.


I didn't have to worry about the female. Sakura had a wonderful family I knew that in my heart. I was not concerned for her in the least bit. But the boys... I couldn't disrespect my husbands wishes willfully by keeping both. So I needed to decide which one I wanted to keep and which one I needed a family for.


There it is again. The REAL question of which one? The black one nick named Ah Choo that we almost lost. Or the adorable white one that seemed to be the alpha of the group. My husband is more likely to be more accepting of the white one. But he also said “You should take your time choosing one and give yourself a chance to get to know both of there personalities before deciding.” Great advice, but there I fell into getting attached to both puppies opposed to one. Why must I always wear my heart on my sleeve, as my mother would say?


In the process of trying to decide which pup we would keep. My husband had helped me pick more suitable names for the two males. The white one became known as “Kiba” which means White fang. The black one... well he grew out of being back and became sesame with a black tip tail.. it actually looked like he dipped his tail in black paint. I named him Koda after the baby bear in the Disney's Brother Bear. Because he looked like a bear cub.


My husband had come to accept that we were keeping both Kiba and Koda. But the thing was the more I came to expect to keep both puppies the more I understood that I couldn't keep either puppies.


All the while I was seeking new families for Kiba and Koda, Disa a German Shepard foster I had adopted out three years ago was returned to me. She was in a terrible state.. It had appeared that she was neglected and possibly used as a bait dog. Now not only did I have four shiba inu's, a Great Pyrenees, an American Bull Dog but a German Shepard as well. My husband hated Disa, he hated her from the first week she was in our house and not only nearly killed our cat but also destroyed our brand new home costing us hundreds of dollars in repairs. But now she was back and I cringed knowing of his displeasure. He had been so understanding and patient with me, this was pushing my limits too far.. But I couldn't turn her away when she needed me most. If I didn't take her in she would end up in a kill shelter and they would euthanize her with just the suspicion that she was “viscous”.


Thankfully my husband loves me and trust my judgments he accepted Disa into the family,I think he may have even warmed up to her. I was able to rehabilitate her fairly easily. I trained her in basic obedience and began service dog training when I got a surprising call from an elderly couple seeking a guard dog / companion dog for the misses. After talking with the Mr. and Misses for several days we agreed for them to come (across states) and meet with Disa. It was a perfect fit and thankfully Disa (who is now called “Visa” has a wonderful happy home.


The whole experience has made me understand that Disa or the puppies won't be the last dogs that I will come across that need my help. I have come to understand that I am not here as a keeper. I was not ever intended on raising specific breeds or having just one family dog. I have come to believe that what ever Divine power is out there, I was put here to be a helper. As far as Kiba and Koda... They too have found wonderful families.

In the beginning I struggled with knowing which puppy to keep. Knowing how my husband felt about us having too many dogs already and yet still taking on one more that he despised. I was awaken to the reality of the matter and come to understand that not only am I one lucky woman to have such a loving understand husband, but that my idea's of raising a specific breed and limiting myself to self-imposed expectations were unrealistic. I am a helper not a keeper. I will never turn away the needy and because of that I can not tax myself or my family with idealism. 








































Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Here we go again ..

After the loss of Aizen and Tousen I admit I lost interest in trying to have Shiba puppies. I guess I just felt like it wasn't ever meant to be. Asa was all set and ready to be spayed but then we had run into some financial and medical problems and were unable to get it done.
As a family we came together and decided we'd just be extra careful keeping to shiba's apart. Each dog had his or her own secure area both inside and outside. Or so I had thought, until I was out shopping when my cell phone rang and it was my husband going off about how Tien' kou infiltrated Asa's kennel.

Two months later.. We have PUPPIES !!

One red female named Sakura.
I decided to think ahead this time and started taking request for adoptions as soon as I got home. Thankfully one of my best friends had been wanting a Shiba inu for some time and had requested a red female if Asa had one. I was so happy when Sakura was born first. Tears swelled up in my eyes the moment I saw she was a female. I just knew she would have a wonderful home and family.

For awhile I thought Sakura would be the only puppy this time. A good hour had passed and no sign of any more puppies. To be honest I was a little disappointed. I had been telling Asa the whole time she was pregnant that she had better give me a black or white little boy. I didn't really care what color the pups were. It was just fun to poke fun at her from time to time. My Asa is such a preppy little girl. It's true when they say people don't have Shiba inu's. Shiba inu's have people. Caring for all of my shiba's, especially Asa, I have learned that its quite easy to fall victim to Shiba arrogance.

I never really noticed, until I adopted an American bull dog "Ember" last summer. Ember is the sweetest, my loyal, affectionate, sensitive, and most of all obedient dog I have ever met. And yet basting in all of the glory that is Ember. I came to understand my shiba's all the more! It was so simple and right in front of me the whole time and I completely missed out on the Shiba inu.

Suddenly just as I was least expecting it, came a white little boy. I was so pleased and satisfied. I got my white boy and my best friend got his red female. Asa began to return to her normal. Asa had left the whelping box to get some water and I had settled in to get ready for a good nights sleep. When I turned around and saw a black pile of what I thought was afterbirth or poo in the far side of the whelping box. Asa laid with her two pups looking at it intently. So I bent down to see what it was and realized it was a black puppy and he was not breathing or even out of the birthing sack. I scooped him up and sank my claws into the sack clearing around his head first and immediately started rubbing his chest to try and get him going. After a couple of seconds he started to breathe but it was very labored and he could not breathe from his nose. So I kept clearing out his nose the best I could all the while I kept rubbing him.
After an hour there was nothing more for me to do. The pup was on his own, it would be his will alone that would determine rather he would survive the night or not.
I lay the black pup down next to Asa and said prayer for him. Kissed Asa on the head and stepped into my bedroom. There my husband stood sniffling. At first I thought he was tearing up over the pup. But I knew better. My husband is not the sensitive type. So I asked if he was alright. To which he replied "yea I've just been stuffed up all day! Now I feel like I can't" and he sneezed real hard and finished saying " breathe..Now that's better!" Now I know this sounds odd but with that I tilted my head and looked at him. I just spent the last hour trying to clear out a puppies nose and you suddenly can't breathe.? Maybe the puppy can breathe now. So I went back out to the puppy and found him laying there firm and still no longer breathing. I stroked his tiny body as I witnessed him sigh what could have been his last breath. I scooped him up seeing he hadn't left yet and gently but firmly rubbed his chest. He sneezed and sighed once more and he has been wonderful and healthy ever since.

Of course my husband insist that we name him "ah choo". Lol





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