It's a Dog's Life!

A Surprise in the Mail

2010-01-15T14:45:00.002-05:00

So, last week, we (The Lucky Puppy) received an envelope in the mail. There was no return address. Enclosed was a $50. Pre-Paid VISA card and a note that said:

"Please use as needed. From Anonymous"

So-whoever sent that-I want to say "Thank You!" And I also want you to know that today your gift was used to help pay for the spay of Bonnie, the Boston Terrier Momma. If you remember, she was rescued from a puppy mill and gave a little surprise of her own when she unexpectedly delivered 3 puppies in October. (Those puppies were all placed at Christmas and their adoption fees all went to The Lucky Puppy Rescue.)

Thank you for your generous gift. It was a blessing to Bonnie as well.

Thanks Dexter!

2009-12-15T15:37:00.003-05:00

A big "THANK YOU" goes out to Dexter the Blue Heeler (a former Lucky Puppy) and his owners Paul Kreiger & Amy Shriner! Dexter came to The Soapy Puppy Doggie Spa so he would be sharp-looking and smelling good for Santa. While he was getting groomed, Paul & Amy went out and bought HEAPS of Canned Pedigree dog food and a great tire toy for The Lucky Puppy Rescue! Thank you so much! We're thrilled! And, by the way, they're doing a fantastic job with Dexter...he's a GREAT dog!

Donation

2009-12-05T13:17:00.003-05:00

Michele Steed recently made a financial gift in honor of "a most wonderful Aunt & Uncle" that she is blessed with-Frank & Betty Beadnell.

Thank you Michele!

Honoring your loved ones with a financial gift provides food and medical care for dogs in need. Checks can be sent to: The Lucky Puppy, 67740 Airport Road, St. Clairsville, OH 43950

No Room at the Inn:

2009-12-03T16:57:00.003-05:00

Well...I had to turn down someone who was needing to surrender a sweet little housedog. Why? Because there's no room at the inn. We are most comfortable at around 7-10 dogs in the rescue. Up until yesterday, there were 25. And, as much as I hate to say it, that's way too many...even for us.

I thought about not posting this, because I like our blog to be all Perky (grin) and chipper, but I also think you all deserve the truth. The truth is, we are in over our head.

Dog rescue is very fulfilling. We've changed the future for many a dog and for many a family. But honestly, it's not easy and it's not cheap. And I never really expected it to be either easy or cheap, but I personally can not afford 25 dogs OR the price of caring for them. It was all fun at first, when we just added them into what we already do at Play n Stay Pet Camp. But when there are 25, that changes the amount of staff that are needed (because we can't do it all), which changes the cost of payroll, which changes the checking account drastically. (Play N Stay Pet Camp/me and Vanessa have been covering the cost of all rescue staff...payroll is paid by US, not by your donations.) Add to that the cost of vet care and feeding, and we could probably pay for 3 meals a day for all of the population in some small foreign country.

So, we're in a stuck spot. I know we could do more fundraising, more adoption days, more advertising, but we just can't right now. It would be different if it was our only job. Adding volunteers aren't the solution, because all of our rescue happens within our other businesses and our home. Foster homes aren't a solution for us either, because we need to have the dogs available when someone is ready to see them.

For now, our priority HAS to be Play N Stay Pet Camp, grooming, and special order puppies. (It will have to stay that way until donations can cover expenses OR I am "independently wealthy", which I don't see happening anytime soon). We just can't keep up at this size right now and we don't have it within us to go bigger.

So-for now-we will downsize as we can, without compromising what we believe is in the best interest of the dogs. A rescue organization in Pittsburgh took Big Momma and her six pups yesterday. They do well with Pit mixes and have a BEAUTIFUL facility.

That freed up some space in my kitchen. (No-I'm not joking...they were in my kitchen.)

We are also changing to a less expensive diet effective immediately. (We go through about 30# of dog food every other week.)

We are also considering a forfeiture fee for dogs that are surrendered, to help pay for their dog's care while we try to find them another home.

So, here's the moral of the story: If you've been "eyeballing" a dog on our site and have been considering making a appointment, PLEASE DO! We have some wonderful dogs who deserve to be someone's dog. They are beautiful and wonderful and special. Call me 740-695-4566.

If you are a dog lover who can't add to your pack right now, please consider generously supporting the dogs at The Lucky Puppy this holiday season. 100% of your donation goes to their vet care and feeding.

I do hope the little dog that I turned down finds a nice home. It's so tempting to say, "Just one more..." That's how I got to 25.

Thanks for listening. Thanks for the support that you have given us. We have been able to accomplish what we have only because of your faithfulness!

Donors

2009-11-06T15:36:00.004-05:00

Dr. Marvin & Michele Steed recently made memorial donations to The Lucky Puppy Rescue in honor of:

"Macey" Tavoletti

"Neilly" Carson

"Katy" Heilmeier

"Oreo" Ciofani

"Tanner" Ferrell

and "JR" Dean

We are very sorry for their losses. Thank you to The Steeds.

We also received a donation from Wayne & Jean Neely, and their little dog Nikki. Thank you very much! The rescues definitely appreciate your generosity and so do we!

SURPRISE!

2009-10-31T12:17:00.002-04:00

One of our Boston Terriers from a recent puppy mill rescue had a surprise litter of 3 puppies on Thursday morning! We noticed that she was big, but never dreamed that a puppy mill would send out a pregnant female. Lucky for her, she concealed her pregnancy long enough to land in our hands. The babies were delivered szsometime during the night and were clean and happy when we arrived at work on Thursday morning.

Bonnie and the babies are doing just fine! They are now living in the office at our house. Oh well...what's 4 more, huh?

I'll post pics as soon as possible!!

Thanks for your Lucky Puppy support!

BIG RESCUE UPDATE-Now Available:

2009-10-16T12:44:00.010-04:00

The following RESCUES are available immediately and need homes. They can be seen by appointment by calling 740-695-4566:

"Teddy"
Young (approx. 9 mos. old) Male Shih Tzu Mix (probably mixed with Yorkie) RESCUE
Teddy was surrendered by his elderly owner because he had too much energy & was too much for him. He loves to play and is "all puppy". He gets along great with kids and other dogs. He is up to date on all shots, but still needs Rabies. Teddy is not yet neutered, but the cost of his neuter is included in his adoption fee. (Neuter IS required to adopt.)
90% housebroken, but progressing very well! Just needs consistent positive reinforcement to continue good habits.
Adoption Fee: $225., including neuter
Call 740-695-4566 to schedule an appointment.

"Hazel"
Hazel is a 3 year old Spayed Female Basset Hound RESCUE. She was originally a Perky Puppy that was purchased as a house pet, but ended up as a breeder in an outside run. She was recently sent to The Lucky Puppy for care and placement. We had her spayed & got her up to date on her shots. She is a great, loving, and playful dog! LOVES other dogs! She likes her crate is pretty much housebroken. However, she needs those good habits reinforced, because she will have accidents if you just let run all over the house with no restrictions.
Adoption Fee: $175., includes crate.

"Hope"
1-2 year old Spayed Female Retriever Mix RESCUE
Hope was rescued by a couple who found her to be neglected and in need of hospitalization. Although they were unable to keep her, they paid for her vet care and supplies to make her comfortable and happy. She has now been placed with The Lucky Puppy for continuing care and placement in a "forever" home.
Hope is spayed and is up to date on all shots, including Rabies. She weighs about 40 pounds.
She is very playful and loves kids and other dogs. She's 98% housebroken, but has occasional accidents if you forget to let her out. She tolerates her crate well, but can be an escape artist if it is not latched properly. She is VERY smart.
Adoption Fee: $125., including crate, collar, and leash.

"Buddy"
Male neutered Chihuahua mix RESCUE. 98% Housebroken.
Sweet, but can be nervous. Quiet home needed. Suspicious of strangers, but very, very loving to those he knows.
Loves to go for walks and LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to ride in the car!!!
Up to date on his shots and neutered.
He will be your BEST friend! Born 12/10/04
Adoption fee: $ 100., includes crate.

"Jelly Bean"
Male neutered Purebred Jack Russell Puppy RESCUE
Jelly Bean loves other dogs! He's a lot of fun and is doing VERY well on his housetraining. Up to date on his shots and neutered.
Born 06/01/09
Adoption fee: $ 175., includes crate

"Zoe Margaret"
Female Spayed Chihuahua Mix RESCUE
9 years old and hates cats. Gets along fine with other dogs, but will tell them off if they are misbehaving. (Thinks she is the dog police and can be opinionated.)
Loves to just hang out and do her own thing. Sweet temperament.
NEVER has an accident. Loves her crate. She is the PERFECT companion dog...not demanding.
Adoption Fee: $ 100., includes crate.

BIG RESCUE UPDATE-The "unadoptables"

2009-10-16T12:14:00.009-04:00

Many of you check the web site regularly to see what rescues are available for adoption. Sometimes, there are rescues that never hit the site. They are dogs that for one reason or another, unless a miracle happens, will probably be with us for a very long time. We continue to love them and provide for their care and comfort "behind the scenes".

Here's a few:

"Happy" the Papillon:

Many of you felt Happy's pain after he was featured in this post, this post and this post. Happy has come a long, long way...but he is FAR from normal. He would do well to be someone's dog who was very gentle and understanding of his foibles and quirks and who would love him, even though he's not "right". ..someone whose life is very quiet and consistent. He's ready for that, but unfortunately, those homes are practically non-existent. So he hangs with us...loving our staff...loving his spot in the living room...loving his canned food (he is getting FAT). He's our special boy. We all love Happy and we are so proud of his progress.

Your donation of $30 a month will help care for Happy. Please consider supporting him.

"Midge" the elderly Toy Fox Terrier:

Less than a week after Albert was put to sleep, we got a call about Midge. Midge is an elderly Toy Fox Terrier that was found running the streets in a local town. She weighed 2.5# on the day that we got her. She was covered with fleas, polluted with tapeworms, and was malnourished. We THOUGHT she had a neurological issue, because she staggered and would fall over and struggle to get back up. Turns out it was ALL because of the malnutrition and the parasites. We wormed her, vaccinated her and got her on the road to recovery. She's a hefty girl now, weighing in at a whopping 3.75 pounds!

Midge is old. She has snaggly teeth and cataracts. She loves to ride inside our coat on these cold days. I think Midge is likely to live out her days with us...nobody wants to adopt an elderly dog...

Would you be willing to help support Midge? $30 a month will help pay for her care and keep her happy and safe with plenty to canned food and treats!

"Momma" the Pit and her 7 Babies:
Read about them here. Your donation of $25, $50, or even more will help get this dog and her puppies the care and homes that they need.

We are also in need on bedding, crates, and High Efficiency" laundry detergent (the only kind that can be used in our new washer).

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND CONSIDERATION. Your financial and supply donations will help The Lucky Puppy reach more dogs.
You can mail a check to The Lucky Puppy Rescue, 67740 Airport Road, St. Clairsville, OH 43950
OR you can donate via PayPal.

If you think you may be the right home for one of these "unadoptables", please call Jessica at 740-695-4566.

BIG RESCUE UPDATE-Momma & Babies

2009-10-16T11:47:00.008-04:00

About a week ago, we got a call about a medium sized dog who looked as if she would "burst soon with puppies" out by Seneca Lake. There were no houses for miles, and she was clean, so she was apparently dumped by someone who didn't want to mess with her and her babies.

We took her in and less than 5 hours later, we had 7 babies. (Actually, she had 8, but the first one wasn't alive.) She's young, but she's a good mom. She's a wonderful playful dog and is very appreciative of the warm, loving home that she and her babies have with us.

She's living in my kitchen temporarily. We thought we had a connection to a rescue in northern Ohio that would take her and all the babies, then raise them up and adopt them, but unfortunately, it fell through.

The babies are now 7 days old and will start their wormings in another week. They will be wormed every 2 weeks. Momma is eating us out of house and home, but she is still very thin. Unless we find another rescue that is equipped to handle her and her pups, the babies will be with us for at least another 7 weeks before they are able to be adopted. They will need to be vaccinated prior to their adoption, as will Momma.

If you are able to help in any way with her care, either by fostering her and her pups or making a donation to The Lucky Puppy, it would be greatly appreciated. You will play a vital role & help make a difference in the life of eight very special doggies.

You can mail a check to The Lucky Puppy, 67740 Airport Road, St. Clairsville, OH 43950.

Thank you!

A Lesson from the ANIMAL KINGDOM

2009-10-02T06:21:00.007-04:00

If animals can love someone who isn't like them, we can too!

Friends forever.....The orangutan was in a rescue and not doing well. This old hound wandered in absolutely emaciated and the orangutan snapped to like his buddy had arrived. He stayed with the hound night and day until he was well and in the whole scenario, found a reason to live. They are now inseparable.

Best friends Suryia the orangutan and Roscoe the Blue Tick hound live at the Tigers sanctuary in Myrtle Beach , South Carolina . Suryia and Roscoe spend hours together every day - they're particularly keen on swimming. The three-year-old orangutan goes everywhere with Roscoe. A dog's not just a man's best friend, he's an orangutan's too!

Chihuahua Land...

2009-09-25T18:21:00.002-04:00

OK-so The Lucky Puppy Rescue looks like Chihuahua Land! We have Tony (a 1 yr. old Male Chihuahua), Zoe Margaret (a 8 yr. old Chihuahua Mix), Buddy (a 4 yr. old Chihuahua Mix), and we just added another:

Today, we got Albert-reincarnated. Seriously. OK-maybe not really-but close. Today, we got an elderly deer-legged Chihuahua (or maybe Toy Fox Terrier). She only weighs 2.5# and was FLEA-INFESTED and has tapeworms. She is pathetic and old. Poor thing couldn't even stand up in the bathtub. I'm hoping she'll get stronger, when she doesn't have all the parasites sucking the life out of her.

She's got little fragile spindly legs (like Albert)...

NO! I know you are thinking I should keep her, since I had to put Albert to sleep, but I can't. I'm still rehabilitating Happy (who is doing much better). I feel like I'm running a dog nursing home on some days. Today's addition confirmed it.

Geez....

So, we are calling her "Midge". Short for "Midget". Or maybe we should call her "Alberta". Get it?

Memorial Donation

2009-09-24T07:38:00.002-04:00

Wendy Patrone has made a Memorial Donation to The Lucky Puppy Rescue in honor of:

Cricket (6/26/94-7/13/09) and Baci (2/14/01-4/2/09) Patrone

Wendy, we are sorry for your losses.

The MOST AMAZING Video I have seen!

2009-09-24T07:25:00.000-04:00

R.I.P. Albert

2009-09-17T14:41:00.005-04:00

(Pic: Albert 12-03-08)

Albert was born on June 3, 1993. He arrived to me, 8 weeks later, as a snotty-nosed puppy that was supposed to be put up for sale. (Back then, I didn't know any better about how to buy puppies and we shipped them in from the mid-west, via truck.) (Many of you don't know that for a short period of time, back in the early 90's, I had a puppy store in Martins Ferry. Back then, it was called "Animal Attraction". What a stupid name for a business...)

Anyway-back to the puppy-He was so tiny and was the prettiest cream-colored puppy that I had ever seen. I decided not to "send him back on the truck" and that I could "fix" whatever was causing his snotty nose. I kept him in the house (away from the other puppies) and got an antibiotic for his cold. Of course, I was the one who had to play with him and love on him and keep him entertained. That was tough (did I tell you how cute he was?).

So-here we are-September 17, 2009...16 years later. I put Albert to sleep this morning.

He's seen it all. He's lived in 7 different homes with me and has seen the fiance, the marriage, the divorce, the Martins Ferry puppy store failing, my paramedic training and jobs, the launch of a church, the plans to launch another, the dream of opening another puppy shop, the success of The Perky Puppy, Play N Stay's opening and it's success.

He's seen me happy and sad, and for all intents and purposes, has watched me "grow up". He wasn't around during my childhood, but sometimes I think that growing up through our 20's and 30's is just as important.

Albert loved car rides, cats, and Pupperoni. He loved squeaker toys. And he loved to give you hell if you didn't feed him on time.

Albert's elderly years were spent as the house chihuahua at our dog hotel, Play N Stay Pet Camp. He was demanding ("I wanna go in the office, NOT the living room.") and for years, barked at all of the "intruders" (customers). Everyone loved him: staff, customers, and of course, me.

Occasionally, Albert would trip and fall down and get right back up again. It SUCKS to get old.

Albert's been getting thin and weak over the last few months. He would have good days and bad days. His appetite could often be described as inconsistent and finicky. He was incontinent. The spring in his step was gone. He stopped being himself a long time ago.

This week, Albert began falling a lot. He struggled to get back up and often couldn't. So we made the call to Dr. Steed to have Albert put to sleep.

Here's the part where I tell you that it was the most responsible and loving decision that I could make for him...where I admit that sometimes when we love something we have to set it free. Albert was a prisoner in his body, and he wasn't coming back. I had to do for him what he couldn't do for himself. I love him too much to let him keep falling.

Albert had cottage cheese and Pupperoni for dinner last night, which he gobbled enthusiastically. He got a bath this morning and went for his last car ride, all bundled up in a blue fleece blanket.

He's buried under a tree in the back yard in a nice shady spot. We will miss him.

Rest In Peace Albert. Run free. We love you.

RESCUE Update

2009-09-10T16:01:00.002-04:00

Many of you have asked about the pathetic rescue dogs we took in a few weeks ago. (You can read more about them HERE.)

Here's a little update:

Happy, the Papillon is still a poor little thing. He was neutered and got his teeth cleaned last week He has a mystery limp that can not be defined. Occasionally, he will scream out in pain and will bite us if he is picked up wrong. Believe it or not, we can find nothing wrong with him. His area of sensitivity seems to change in location and severity. Some days, he won't let us touch either paw. Most days, he holds up his right paw. Some days he snaps if you touch his sides. Dr. Steed examined him twice and gave him a steroid shot. We've tried baby aspirin. Nothing seems to fix it.

Today, I was working on his shave-down to remove the rest of the mats, and he was petrified for me to touch his front feet or legs. He bit at me, then hunkered down like I was going to beat him. Hate that...made me cry. He does like to hide under stuff, so I am wondering if he was dragged out from under things by his front legs in a previous life and is just S.C.A.R.E.D. It's all we can guess. He is a very timid fellow.

Today, I put him on a leash and he did pretty well in the grass. I've got him at my house right now, just to give a little bit of quiet time away from Play N Stay. He's getting along ok and I would say he is acting like he is 10% housepet (better than I expected). We are encouraged and look forward to rehabilitating him to at-least a somewhat-normal state. It's going to take a long time. Please pray for Happy and that he would be healed and whole.

Mickie (or Munchkin) the Pom is doing VERY well. He was neutered and got his teeth cleaned last week (testicles were in abdomen, so it was a more complicated surgery.) He also had some sebacious glands removed from his scalp, so he's all shaved on top of his head with 5 stitches...looks like Frankenstein. He LOVES his crate and is very playful and fun. He's doing pretty well on his housebreaking and will likely be adopted out very soon.

Zoe Margaret was a Chihuahua Mix that came from the same place. She is short-haired, so she wasn't an unhygenic nightmare like the other two. She is sweet and opinionated...hates cats and complains if there is too much horse-play in her doggie playgroup. She's a great girl and is up for adoption now. She would make a great companion in a quiet home. If you'd like more info, please call 740 695-4566 to schedule an appointment.

I'll post some pics soon. Thanks for your interest and for your donations.

If you would like to help with their care, we appreciate it. The rescue's vet bills were $759. (including a Basset spay) last week. Every donation goes directly to rescue dog's care.

You can send a check to:
The Lucky Puppy
67740 Airport Road
St. Clairsville, OH 43950

Or visit PayPal.

Thank you.
The Lucky Puppies

Donors

2009-09-10T16:00:00.001-04:00

The Lucky Puppy Rescue recently received donations from Elaine George and Brad & Denise Troy. Thank you so much for your support!

Rescue Update

2009-09-01T14:57:00.005-04:00

RESCUES COMING SOON:

"Hazel" Purebred Female Blue Tri-color Basset Hound, born 09/17/06. She is scheduled for spay and Rabies vaccine on Friday and will be up for adoption after that. Was housebroken, but has been an outdoor dog for awhile. Just weaned a litter of pups. We will re-acclimate her to home life.

"No Name" Purebred Male Tri-Color Basset Puppy (8 weeks old). Son of Hazel. Up to date on shots and dewormings.

UPDATE on the Papillon and Poms that were rescued last week:

Their original names were Happy (Papillon) and Mickey (Pom), but we will be renaming them, so they can have a new identity AND a new life.

They were seen by Dr. Steed yesterday and both are on antibiotics for their severely rotten teeth. They are scheduled for tooth cleaning, neuter, and the Pom will get a bump on his scalp removed. All of this happens on Friday.

Although Dr. Steed's office is very, very fair with us on price, these vet bills will break The Lucky Puppy checking account. ($89. yesterday and est. $420. on Friday.) PLEASE-consider donating to their care. They need all the help they can get.

Thank you!

Memorial Donations

2009-08-31T10:26:00.002-04:00

Dr. Marvin & Michele Steed have made memorial donations to The Lucky Puppy rescues in memory of:

"Frannie" Brensinger

"Rudy" Fasola

"Zeus" Vannest

"Buffy" Cook

We are sorry for their loss. The rescues say "Thank You" to the Steeds for their continued generosity.

First night of the rest of their lives....

2009-08-28T20:45:00.017-04:00

WARNING: This post is NOT for the faint of heart:

Tonight, we got in three rescues. 2 of them were in DEPLORABLE condition.

Penny, Vanessa, and I (Jessica) spent two hours dematting, bathing, shaving, and clipping nails. We got them well on their way to feeling better. We even had to sedate one with Benadryl, so that he would relax enough to let us cut the mats out. They were both in a lot of pain.

As we were cutting out fist-sized mats that were tangled all the way to the skin and waiting for the Benadryl to take affect, Penny began singing "You are my Sunshine" to comfort them. I joined in and the tears started. It's probably the first time that they've ever had someone sing to them. It definitely won't be the last.

Their haircuts aren't perfect, but we didn't push them any further tonight. They both enjoyed their baths and the sweet-talk and cuddling they received afterwards. Tonight is the first night of the rest of their lives.

The tan one is a Pomeranian. He was so tangled, he couldn't stand right (see photo of him hunched up). The brown and white one is a Papillon. He was so tangled, he couldn't wag his tail (had a HUGE mat hanging off the back of him).

They won't be up for adoption right away. They will be neutered and get the veterinary care they need. Once they are ready, we will place them up for adoption.

If you would like to donate to their care, please send a check to:

The Lucky Puppy

67740 Airport Road

St. Clairsville, OH 43950

or call 740-695-4566 to make other arrangements.

Here are some BEFORE pictures:

The Papillon had a bunch of hair caught in his teeth and they are now infected and green. We got as much out as we could, but his teeth are loose and his gums are RED. He'll need a lot of oral work done (cleaning, tooth pulling, etc.) when he is neutered. I am sure he will need to be on antibiotics as well.

Here are a few AFTER photos:

Your support makes this possible. THANK YOU!

A BIG Surprise!

2009-08-26T11:32:00.011-04:00

On Sunday, we got a surprise visit from a family from New York. It was the family who adopted "Happy" back in December from the Lucky Puppy Rescue. If you remember, Happy was a maltese puppy who only had 3 legs. Apparently, he either had a birth defect or his mama was overzealous when she cleaned him just after birth and accidentally chewed off his little foot.

Happy's name is now "Scooter Lee McCoy", and he is one happy little boy! Their visit was a great surprise, but what they brought with them was amazing! This generous family drove 5 hours to donate a truckload of items to The Lucky Puppy. They brought a toddler bed and mattress, dog beds, blankets, toys, bleach, paper towels, cleaning product, and lots and lots of dog stuff!

Julie DiPietro collected all the items from Scooter's new family-all dog lovers for sure-and transported them to us!

Thanks to Ray & Debbie MacIver and their dog Jasper for the big brown bed, the scarf and toy for a "lucky little girl rescue".

Thanks to Scooter's 29-year old Grandma for the doggie toys.

Thanks to Julie, Tiffany, Dave, Scooter, Peaches, and Rosco for all the other great stuff and the pictures!!

They also brought with them a check from Scooter's grandma, Carol Moore, and her dog Jack, in memory of the beloved dog Romena Lee Ford (pictured above), who belonged to Tiffany Ford, Julie's daughter.

It was great to see them and we were touched beyond belief that they made the long journey down here! They are truly friends of The Lucky Puppy!

Julie and Family-Thank you VERY, VERY much! The rescues are enjoying the beds and toys already! You're wonderful!

Scooter-We are glad you have such a great family who loves you as much as we do! You're a Lucky Puppy for sure!! XO

Update

2009-08-26T10:51:00.002-04:00

Well-I imagine you all think I dropped off the planet. Good News!!! I didn't!

We've pretty much spent the entire summer at Play N Stay. There aren't computers there and even if there were, it's too much fun to play with the doggies!

It's been a very crazy cool summer at Play N Stay. We've broken every record and had a blast doing it! Our staff are INCREDIBLE, AMAZING, FANTASTIC, STUPENDOUS!! Seriously-we have the best team anywhere-GUARANTEED! We met a lot of new dogs and had a great time with our regulars as well! Every dog had a wonderful time! It is THE place for any great dog to vacation for sure! We're very proud!

Grooming (Soapy Puppy) is going very well! We've done some major transformations and makeovers over the last several months. I'll try to share some pictures soon.

As you know The Perky Puppy has been closed for the summer, which turned out to be a good move. We couldn't have pulled off at Play N Stay what we did this summer without all hands on deck. (Did I tell you our staff is great?) We have been doing several "special order" puppies over the summer and that has been really good. I love the trust that our customers place in us when they special order a pup with a deposit. We use the same standards to choose a special order pup as we do for the store. It's great to watch the owners faces when the baby they've been waiting for finally arrives!! NEAT! Perky Puppy will reopen sometime in the fall for the winter months and then close again for the spring/summer season. It has been the right move to make it a 4-6 month operation yearly.

We have been accepting and placing Lucky Puppy rescues at a steady pace. It's all been without much fanfare because of being away from the computer. We currently have 2 rescues available, Buddy-a min pin/chuihuahua and Tiny Tot/Jelly Bean-a baby Jack Russell. (Yes, I know that Tiny Tot/Jelly Bean is a funny name. We just can't decide and so our staff call him both!) We have 3 more rescues coming in over the weekend-a Papillon, a Pom, and a Chihuahua/Pom mix. They will need to be neutered and evaluated and will be available for adoption soon after.

I think that's a good summer wrap up! We hope you've enjoyed your summer. We certainly have...This is a dog lover's paradise!
Thanks for your support!
Jessica

Memorial Donations

2009-06-02T12:37:00.003-04:00

Dr. Marvin & Michele Steed have recently made memorial donations to The Lucky Puppy in honor of:

"Emiley" Truex
"Rickey" Hill
"Snowhite" McConnaughy
"Bear" Adkins

We appreciate their support!

If you would like to make a memorial donation, please send it to:

The Lucky Puppy

67740 Airport Road

St. Clairsville, OH 43950

THANK YOU!

JET EXPRESS: New Bathing System!

2009-05-22T17:59:00.009-04:00

We've just installed a new Bathing System! We call it the JET EXPRESS Dog Bath, because it delivers the cleanest bath in town!

Now, instead of the old-fashioned bath, every dog who is bathed at Play N Stay Pet Camp (boarding) OR through the Soapy Puppy Doggie Spa (grooming) will receive our new JET EXPRESS at no additional charge!

Our new JET EXPRESS bathing system jet-sprays our specialized shampoos deep into the coat (at 20 gallons a minute), cleansing the skin (not just the hair) at the deepest level, and blowing old dirt & hair out away from the skin!

It's invigorating and most dogs absolutely LOVE it! (As a staff, we have agreed that we need to invent a people version of the same system!)

It's safe for all dogs, from short-haired to long, and from puppies to large breeds...even our 16-year old Chihuahua "Albert" loves it!

Call 740-695-4566 today to treat your dog! Ask for a JET EXPRESS Dog Bath!

Rescue Prices Lowered!

2009-05-19T10:29:00.003-04:00

All of our rescue dog's adoption fees have lowered! We are nearing our CRAZY, over-booked time at Play N Stay and we need the space! They are also ready for good homes with owners who are all theirs!

Choose from Tippy, JJ, Teddy, Buddy, and Bugsy!

See them at ThePerkyPuppy.com!

P.S. These guys need toys. Please go through your doggie toy boxes at home and consider donating those toys that are no longer used by your dogs. We will clean them and give our kids some new fun! (No rope toys or rawhide please!) Thanks! ;o)

Perky Puppy & RESCUE Update

2009-05-14T19:15:00.002-04:00

The Perky Puppy is officially out of puppies and closed for the summer. As always, special order puppies are still available (details are on our website under "see available puppies").

The Lucky Puppy has some GREAT rescues available right now that need loving homes! All are NEUTERED and up-to-date on their shots! Tell your friends! All are great, little house dogs!

Tippy is a GREAT dog! He would work well in just about any home. Here's his video:

Bugsy is also a great dog! He would be FANTASTIC with kids and doesn't mind cats at all! He LOVES to play! Here's his video:

JJ & Teddy were rescued from a Pomeranian Breeding Kennel. They are doing surprisingly well on their housebreaking! Best in a home where there aren't many kids. They can be separated if necessary. Here is their video:

For details on these dogs, please check our website or call us at 740-695-4566.

Road Trip

2009-05-08T07:38:00.003-04:00

Hey All! Lots of fun stuff happening over here at TPP/PNS!

Big news for today is that I'm heading to Pittsburgh, where I will spend the day with a Grooming Salon owner and will hopefully also take a tour of Camp Bow-Wow.

I'll keep you posted! I'm EXCITED!

Talk with ya soon!

Pomeranian Rescue

2009-04-18T15:47:00.005-04:00

We got a call this week from a Pomeranian Breeding Kennel. Due to the husband's health issues, they are needing to downsize and were inquiring about our rescue program, The Lucky Puppy. We spoke at length and have decided to accept the challenge. Here's how it will work:

Over the next few months, we will be acquiring (a few at a time) approximately 7 Pomeranians & 1 Papillon, ages 2 to 10 years of age. Most of them are not yet housebroken (we're sure hoping we can teach old dogs new tricks) and none of them are spayed or neutered. They were purchased as breeders and have lived in a kennel environment all of their lives. It is our plan to spay & neuter all adults, work on housetraining, and to find them loving, adoptive homes.

There were 2 puppies that are 1/4 Papillon and 3/4 Pom, that are 10 weeks old. (In case you are still stuck on the 1/4-3/4 thing, it's a Pom crossed with a Papillon/Pom.) They have come to us first. They will be adopted out at premium rate ($300. for brown and white, $350 for wolf sable). Their adoption fees are set high to help pay for the spays and neuters, care and housebreaking on the dogs to come next.

These puppies are BEAUTIFUL! They are up to date on vaccinations and dewormings and the adoptive family will be required to neuter them by 7 mos. Here are there pics:

If you are interested in filling out an adoption application, please call us at 740-695-4566.

Blueberries and Mud!

2009-04-04T14:16:00.006-04:00

What do BLUEBERRIES and MUD have in common? And why are they being talked about on a dog & puppy blog?

Because VERY SOON, we will be offering Blueberry Facials and Spa Mud Masques for boarding and grooming clients at Play N Stay Pet Camp and the Soapy Puppy Doggie Spa!

Now, before you check out on me (I know you are rolling your eyes), let me explain a little more.

But first, GET YOUR DOG OVER TO THE COMPUTER, so that I can talk to him or her directly.

OK, dogs, here goes:

BLUEBERRY FACIALS: Believe it or not, Blueberry Facials are pretty cool! Here's why: Dogs-let's be honest-we KNOW that you can't wash your own face. And most people who bathe you won't wash your face either (often they just kind of bathe everything else and act like you don't even have a face). And if your people DO wash your face, it's often just a little "wipe off" of the hair...not really scrubbing your face. (And, you know, all of your people scrub THEIR faces...some even do it a few times a day!)

Our special Blueberry Exfoliating Face Wash (due to arrive this week) is specially formulated for dog faces and dog whiskers. It's tearless and exfoliating, so the spa attendants can really scrub it down in...which is very, very relaxing-it feels SO good!

After a nice facial massage, it rinses away cleanly removing 85% of those ugly tear stains and breaking down all of the mouth and slobber gunk that make your whisker crunchy and sticky. (And for those of you with really wet faces, either from tears, slobber, or your water bowl, your face won't smell like old socks anymore!) You and your owners will be delighted with the smell of Fresh Blueberries that lasts and lasts! (It's great for long, dangly ears too!)

MUD MASQUES: For all of our 4-legged friends with problem skin (dry, itchy, flaky, or hot spots), this is the spa treatment for you! Specially formulated mud with Dead Sea Minerals & Eucalypus Oil is massaged into your skin (not just your hair). If it's nice day out, you can wear your mud out into the play yard, where the heat from the warm sun will feel so good on your skin. (If it's a yucky day out, our spa attendants will lay warm, damp towels on your body, so the mud can penetrate over the next 15-20 minutes.) The mud masque then "goes to work", moisturizing your skin and coat, relieving the itching and burning that makes you crazy sometimes. Once the masque is rinsed away, you will be thrilled at the results! Your old dry hair and skin will be lustrous & beautiful!

All the neighborhood dogs will be so envious when they see the whole new you!

Both products will be available as a service and available for purchase, so your owners can do-it-themselves at home!

The Big Decision

2009-04-04T13:47:00.003-04:00

OK...so if you've been following along, you know that each spring we struggle with what to do with a VERY slow puppy store (lots of lookers, very few buyers) all summer long. A few weeks back, I asked for your input. We had some good responses, the best suggestions surrounded utilizing volunteers at Play N Stay and trying to keep the store open.

After careful thought, we have decided that idea is likely to not work for us at this time. We are certain that there are available and reliable volunteers out there, but we are VERY dependent on our workers at PNS. If one or both called off or did not come in, we would have a mess on our hands. Perhaps as we grow, we will be able to have a volunteer or two be with 4 or 5 workers, but on most days at PNS, there is only 1 or 2 people on shift at a time. We need everyone to be there and to be on their A-game. And if they aren't, we need to be able to address that. We can set that bar high with our staff, but I'm not sure we have the systems in place to set it that high for volunteers, without compromising reliability. And we can't lower the bar.

But-thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. That may be an idea for 2 or 3 years from now.

So-(drum roll), here's what we are doing...(you may already know, if you've been on the Perky Puppy website)...

We're closing The Perky Puppy for the summer. We're selling out (or at least DRASTICALLY reducing) and will not be open to the public again until mid-August. We will continue to do Special Orders/Special Requests, which is a growing segment of our business. If we do "stock" any puppies, they will be listed on our site and shown BY APPOINTMENT to SERIOUS customers only. We will no longer pay staff to stand here while people just "stop in to look at the puppies". Honestly, we know that's a part of the business, but in the summer it reaches a very unhealthy level, and it doesn't pay the bills. (Of course...I could look into starting a petting zoo and charging admission. Nah! We'll save that for another time and place.)

SO-today is our last open day until fall. We are down to 5 puppies. The price on those puppies is somewhat negotiable. If they don't sell, we will move them to PNS and start housetraining them. They will sell from there for sure.

All of our staff will be working at Play N Stay for the summer. We've got some prety neat stuff happening over there. (Check back for info on Blueberry Facials and Mud Baths.) We think you'll be excited about what's in store! Keep your eyes on the website and the blog. We'll keep you posted. Again, Thank You for your input on this tough dilemma.

We appreciate your business! Have a great summer!
Jessica

Memorial Donation

2009-03-27T12:11:00.001-04:00

Thank you to Darlene Kolodziej. She recently made a memorial donation to The Lucky Puppy in honor of Maxine Greiner.

It's Been Awhile/Dilemma!

2009-03-19T21:08:00.005-04:00

Hey Everybody!

It's been awhile since we've talked. Sorry about that! I have been juggling everything to the best of my ability and just haven't gotten to blog much.

We've been analyzing and re-thinking a lot of what we do around here and why we do it...I think that's always a good thing to do...otherwise, we get into the habit of just doing things because it's what we do, not because it even makes sense anymore.

(Maybe you should consider starting a "stop-doing" list. Eh?)

Anywhoo...we are nearing the dreaded Perky Puppy Summer Slump. It's that time of year that causes us great anxiety. "Why?" you ask. Well, I'm glad you asked. I'll tell you why:

Every summer, the puppy business sinks like a rock. Just completely tanks. Apparently, most people are camping, swimming, boating, fishing, vacationing, cook out, etc. They really aren't looking at adding a new puppy to their life. So, we spend everything we made during the winter to stay open during the summer. So basically, we eat hamburgers in the winter (which we are always glad to see coming), and we eat beanee-weenees all summer. That's just no fun.

AND to top it off, it's crazy at Play N Stay, there are barely enough of us to keep it all covered without killing ourselves, and we keep trying to make it look like we still have a thriving puppy store, even when it's the bad season.

For a few years, before we had staff and Play N Stay, we just enjoyed the summer and sold puppies to the few people who called. That's been tougher in recent years, since we have staff who depend on their paychecks.

2 years ago, we tried keeping everything going without blinking. BAD IDEA.

Last year, we tried to go to "Open By Appointment Only". A better idea, but feeding, cleaning, and playing with the puppies everyday (even just 10 or 12), and keeping them all current on vaccinations was still expensive, since we were often next door at Play N Stay and had to "pay someone to be us" here with the puppies.

So...what should we do this year?

That's the dilemma.

Options:
Option #1: Close TPP for the summer, doing only special order puppies. Reopen mid-fall. Move all staff to Play N Stay for the summer, since we need extra help there. There are several successful businesses that operate this way. (Most extreme examples of seasonal businesses-Jamboree in the Hills or the Famous Houston's Chicken)
Option #2: Close TPP for the summer, carry a small number of select breeds (less than 6). Integrate them into Play N Stay's population. Hours on those puppies by appointment only. Pros: Still selling puppies...staff have to be there anyway. Cons: During the summer, it's hectic at PNS...don't need more work.

So-what do you think? What would you do if you were us? Can you think of something we haven't thought of? We want to hear from you. Email us at jessica@theperkypuppy.com

Thanks in advance. Well be making a decision soon! We'll keep you posted!

The Perky Puppy is now on Twitter!

2009-03-13T13:18:00.002-04:00

We're now on Twitter! Don't know what Twitter is? That's ok...we didn't either until recently, but it's VERY cool! Here's how it works:

1. Follow us on twitter @theperkypuppy (Just click on the link and create your account.)
2. Set your new twitter account to notify you on your email or cell phone.
3. As new puppies arrive or prices are reduced, we will update our twitter account, and you will receive an update on your cell phone and/or email immediately.

YOU WILL BE THE FIRST TO KNOW! How cool is that??

DACHSHUND Day!

2009-03-06T13:46:00.003-05:00

WOW! We're all booked up this weekend at Play N Stay, but the big play group looks funny because there are a BUNCH of Dachshunds! Today's group includes the following doxies: Louie, Oscar, Lucy, Charlie, and Josie!

GET A-LLLLOOOONNNNGGGG LITTLE DOGGIES!!!!

Donors

2009-03-03T13:17:00.002-05:00

Thank you to Dr. Marvin & Michele Steed for memorial donations in honor of "Libby" Carter and "Bronco" Toothman.

If you would like to make a memorial donation in honor of a loved one (2-legged or 4-legged), you can mail it to:
The Lucky Puppy
67740 Airport Road
St. Clairsville, OH 43950

100% of your donation will go to care for rescued dogs and puppies.

Thank you!

Rescue Update

2009-03-03T12:23:00.002-05:00

Duke went home today. He got a really good home...I think it will be a great fit.

Dexter is adopted and will go home on Sunday. He is a bit quirky, which his new owners understand. As with all of our adoptions, they will have a 7 day trial period with him. We are planning to keep in close touch with them, but think they both deserve a shot.

JOSIE is a 3 year old female, spayed black & tan smooth dachshund. She is housebroken and up to date on her shots. She loves to bully other dogs and is not patient with children, SO we want a home for her with an older person(s), with no other pets. In that environment, she will be PERFECT! She wants to sit on the couch with someone and be their best friend.

BlackJack is a small (35#) black lab mix. He is up to date on his shots and is neutered. He came from a beautiful family with young kids. They travel so much, they decided that he would do better with someone else. BlackJack is phenomenal with kids and is grieving his family. He is timid, but polite. It would be an absolute disservice to him and a family if he went to a family without children. He was housebroken for his original family, but has slid backwards for us. He needs someone to love him and to reinforce what they want from him.

We also have a Pom puppy and a Shih Tzu/Yorkie puppy available for rescue.

To see any of these guys, please give us a call at 740-695-4566.

Thanks! Please spread the word!

Update!

2009-02-27T17:52:00.003-05:00

WOW! The last several weeks have been a blur! Here's an update in 90 seconds or less:

Wheeling Home and Garden Show was a huge success! We met so many wonderful people and saw some old and new friends! Thanks again to Blue Ribbon Rentals for the sweet flat screen!
We took Nike (our Blue Heeler) to the Home Show as a commercial for the 2 Heelers that are currently in rescue (Duke & Dexter). We've bben showing them all week. Looking good so far. Hopefully we will choose homes for them this weekend.
We almost sold out of puppies at The Perky Puppy! We were down to 2! Yes-you read that right-TWO! Had to make an emergency trip out on the road, visiting breeders who weren't expecting us until next week. Thankfully, some pups were ready to go, so we are back up and running.
Play N Stay has been rocking since Valentine's weekend! CRAZY!!
Our groomer has been a grooming fool! We need her to grow two more arms, so we can double her up! That's a very good thing!
I'm still not caught up from the Home Show...I need a Personal Assistant who will work for Dog Food...he he he...
Vanessa has been sick for 2 weeks, but hasn't missed a beat. She's a champ!
Ness is filling out a survey about pet stores. We are laughing...how many days are we open? How much in annual sales? How much is the average ticket sale? HA HA HA!!! We are WEIRD...aren't we??? Good thing they don't ask how much money we really get to keep. That would be BAD! No questions about how much fun we have...Why is that?
We've taken in several rescues in the last few days. Look for updates soon. Many are special needs.
We've got a real sweetie in the rescue named "BlackJack" that needs a family with kids. He had a family that couldn't keep him. He misses them terribly. He is lonely. We're trying to keep him happy, but he is grieving. Could make me cry.
That's it. That's all I've got. More soon...

Thank you!

2009-02-27T17:47:00.003-05:00

THANK YOUs go out to:

Gracie Major (a beautiful Morkie female) and her parents, David & Diana Major of St. Clairsville, for the monetary donation and the wonderful homemade card!

Dr. Marvin & Michele Steed of St. Clair Animal Hospital have made memorial contributions in honor of:
"Kitty Girl" Clark, "Bozo" Lavorini, "Max" Morgan, "Happy" Neubauer, and "Sasha" Duncan.

THANK YOU from all of the Lucky Puppies!

THANKS Blue Ribbon Rentals

2009-02-18T13:47:00.003-05:00

Our friends over at Blue Ribbon Rentals in St. Clairsville made us a sweet deal on a flat screen TV for the Home & Garden Show!

If you need any appliance rentals, please check them out!

Their phone number is 740-695-2033.

The manager's name is Paul, and he has 2 Dachshunds from us. Tell him we sent you!

THANKS!

CLOSED SATURDAY!

2009-02-18T11:58:00.000-05:00

PLEASE NOTE:
We will be CLOSED this Saturday, Feb. 21st.
We will be at the Wheeling Home & Garden Show (Wesbanco Arena) with an assortment of puppies to view.
It's also a great opportunity to meet our groomer, Nancy!
HOME SHOW HOURS:
Friday 4-8
Saturday 11-8
Sunday 11-4
See ya there!

Donors

2009-02-11T18:14:00.002-05:00

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you to:

Dr. Marvin & Michele Steed have made memorial donations to The Lucky Puppy in honor of "Kodiak & Molson" Bean, "Chico" Olexa, "Keia" Donahue, and "Otto" Blazier.

Janet Richardson, and her dogs "Frankie" and "Freddie" also made a contribution to The Lucky Puppy after their recent stay at Play N Stay Pet Camp.

Thank you for your generosity!

THANK YOU!

2009-02-11T16:57:00.002-05:00

A big "Thank You" to Amanda Keesey (as well as her dogs, Cooper and Jake) for the bleach, laundry detergent, paper towels, and Bounce!

The rescues very much appreciate it!

We're going to court...

2009-02-11T14:58:00.006-05:00

Well...they must've thought we were kidding.

So, we have 3 different families who have adopted dogs from The Lucky Puppy who don't want to comply with their adoption contracts.

One hasn't spayed her puppy (pup was too young to spay when it went home), so she is facing a $250. fine (agreed to in her contract).

One hasn't neutered her puppy (same deal as above), and is facing a $250. fine.

And one refuses to call me back and I am unable to confirm that their new puppy has received veterinary care. According to their adoption contract, they are now required to surrender the dog to us.

Certified Letters have gone out in the mail. The spay and neuter deadlines have passed with no action on the part of the new owners. The one who is refusing to communicate has a few days left until their deadline.

Then...we're taking them to court. I expect people to keep their word when they sign an adoption contract that is detailed about these issues.

We're serious about this stuff. They apparently thought we were kidding.

I'll keep you posted.

Worth Sharing

2009-02-07T22:04:00.000-05:00

Donors

2009-01-25T19:30:00.002-05:00

Thank you to the Burka family for the donation of a kiddie pool for summertime fun for us and the dogs! (I mean, uh...for the dogs! He he!)

Thank you to Leigh Anne LaRoche and family (including "Mocha" and "Joey") for the generous donation of cleaning supplies!

You guys are great!!!!

Rescue Update

2009-01-25T19:17:00.002-05:00

Well...I've been sitting on some cool info...keeping the secret so I didn't jinx anything...

Here goes....

"BUSTER'S BEEN ADOPTED!"

Yep! You read that right. He got the perfect home. He's one of 3 kids. He now has two people siblings that are 9 mos. old and 3 years old. When his new mom made the appointment, she said, "I need a dog that's wild and crazy and can keep up with my 3 year old son. We'd like to look at Buster."

WOW!!! Now, for those of you who don't know Buster, he's got an ornery side that is a little reminiscent of Dennis the Menace. He sure can goober things up for himself. I was afraid he may end up homeless again, because he couldn't stay out of trouble.

However...reports so far indicate that it is PERFECT MATCH. Mom's working with him as diligently as she's working with her kiddos. She understands that he's had a tough road, and she is willing to be patient.

THANK YOU!!

Also...Abby the Japanese Chin/Beagle got a great home this weekend and many other rescue pups got homes too!! It was a very good weekend for them. Awesome!!!

The 2 Blue Heeler boys ("Duke" & "Dexter") are still at Play N Stay. They are doing well on their housebreaking and are working hard on manners and socialization. They are SO smart!!!

Thanks for all of your support! Your cards and emails and donations make a huge difference!! They keep us encouraged!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Hey, brother...

2009-01-23T13:05:00.003-05:00

Hey, brother, can you spare a dime?

Tis the season...we've been spending quite a bit on cleaning supplies, saving puppy mill pups, spaying and neutering, and have incurred an assortment of miscellaneous necessary veterinary bills. And even though we are offering a lovely assortment of rescue puppies, adoptions are down right now. And so is the Lucky Puppy checking account.

So...straight up and honest...without beating around the bush...can you help?

We've got a few leads on some of the rescues, but some are just sitting (especially Abby, Duke and Dexter). We're hoping something will shake loose soon. We are not in a position to lower rescue adoption fees right now, because TLP needs every dollar it can get. We are in a position where we must be very selective in the rescues we accept, because the funds are not there to sit on a dog for a long period of time. We need to accept only those pups that we feel we can place quickly. I hate that.

We also work hard to give the rescues the same standard of care that our other puppies get...only the best food, vaccinations, and dewormers, but that gets expensive too. I really don't want have to give our rescues any less than the best, but it may come to that if things don't change.

So...again, I ask, "Can you help?"

If you are able to contribute financially, that would be wonderful. You can do so at PayPal HERE. ANYTHING HELPS! You can even make a contribution on behalf of your pet and we will post it on the blog. Just include the details within the comments section on PayPal.

If you would rather purchase items that help the puppies directly, we'll take all the bleach, laundry detergent, dish soap, and paper towels you will bring. Copy paper helps too (for printing care sheets and adoption contracts).

You can also make a payment directly to our Lucky Puppy account at Dr. Steed's office in St. Clairsville. We are currently paid up there, but any credit on our account will help pay for future veterinary care on rescues. (Perky Puppies are always on a different account, so your money will benefit the rescues only.)

Please don't fret. We'll pull through this dry spell. We always have. The puppy business is very seasonal and we always make it through. We aren't going away, we aren't going out of business, and we aren't getting out of rescue. We just don't want to skimp on the babies. Thanks in advance for all your help.

Love,
Jess

I LOVE our groomer!

2009-01-18T23:50:00.004-05:00

I LOVE our groomer! We're VERY fortunate! She is the PERFECT fit for us...smart, charming, not too dingy, not too serious, and very funny! Oh...and she's nice too!

So, if you haven't met Nancy and you haven't checked out our grooming services, you need to!

She is SO good to the dogs...they absolutely adore her...and she ALWAYS brings out the best in them! Many of them fall asleep on the table, because she is loving on them and reassuring them.

And best of all, they look fantastic when she is done.

Professional grooming includes Aromatherapy Bubble Bath, Ear Cleaning (and plucking if they're hairy), Hygeine Clip, Nail Clip, and Hair Cut and Style.

Other services are available.

It's $5.00 off this month. Please spread the word!

Call 740-695-4566 to schedule an appointment. Your dog will LOVE you for it!

Heat Wave!

2009-01-18T23:46:00.002-05:00

Man! Am I glad for the recent heat wave! Trying to get 30 dogs to pee AND poop outside before the get too cold to remember why they are out there is NOTHING short of a miracle!

We cleaned up a record number of accidents at Play N Stay this week. Ugh!

But I have to say, if I was a 6 pound, 16 year old Chihuahua (like "Albert"), I'd have pooped in the office too. (wink)

I'm sure all of you dog-lovers were sharing in the suffering as well.

Glad it's over!!

"Anybody wanna go outside?"

AWESOME!

2009-01-11T00:34:00.001-05:00

Oh Buster!

2009-01-10T18:48:00.003-05:00

Oh dear.

Buster got kicked out of his foster home.

Seriously.

Well, sorta. Here's the scoop. He was doing pretty good, one-on-one...learning new tricks...going for walks...laying by his foster mom's feet chewing a bone in the evenings. Great!

BUT-He seems to kind of freak when he's left alone. Gets high anxiety when he's in his crate...barks...wants out. But he's typical puppy if he isn't in a crate when you can't watch him...ornery...like a little boy.

He needs a home where the family is home alot (OR he can go too), is very patient, AND preferably has kids or another dog that will wear him out!!

Rides great in the car! Gets along well with other dogs. Loves to have his belly rubbed and play.

I think that even though he is 1 year old, he's got the mind of a 5 month old. I think that with consistency, he will grow up to be a fine dog. He has already improved heaps, but he needs somebody steady to keep him moving in the right direction. That's tough at our place, because there's so many that need attention.

Anybody want to give the boy a try??

Email me at jessica@theperkypuppy.com

Thanks!

Killing Dogs

2009-01-09T11:36:00.003-05:00

What is WRONG with people???

Came across a very small shelter within driving distance. Online, they talked about how small & desperate their shelter is AND how sad all these overcrowded dogs and puppies are AND how they work hard to keep from euthanizing, but sometimes have no choice, due to overcrowding.

So we called them.

Intended to offer safe placement for small dogs and puppies, so they wouldn't have to be euthanized.

Couldn't even get that far in the convo.

Here's what I got:
"What KIND of puppies do you sell?"
"You actually WORK with breeders?"
"Call us when you are COMPLETELY out of the puppy business. Otherwise, our board wouldn't be interested."

ARE YOU KIDDING ME????

Less than a minute phone call.

She wasn't interested in hearing that for every dog we rescue from them, that's one less killed at their shelter (or any other shelter) and one less that we sell, that originally came from a breeder. Hello??? Isn't that your shelter's hope???

I've posted about this before (search archives for "Rescue Freaks"). I know rescue folks hate pet stores. But we MUST break this line of thinking and start to think creatively if we REALLY want to save dogs.

If this article angers you, you may be rescue freak.
Ask yourself if you REALLY want to save dogs or if you really want to just hate breeders and pet stores.

Which dogs will have to die, because this lady (and apparently her board) made this judgment?

What she doesn't know is that we had selected 8 dogs and puppies (from their website) that we would be interested in placing if they still needed homes. That's this time. We could probably do that once a month or even more.

Why are they not saying, "Let's find creative ways to keep from killing dogs, even if that means looking at things from a different perspective?"

Traditional shelters aren't working anymore people!!! We've placed 90 Lucky Puppy rescues in less than 4 months...THAT'S 90 FEWER Perky Puppies from Breeders!!!

Let's get it together for the sake of the dogs.

Thank you!

2009-01-06T01:28:00.001-05:00

A big thanks to Amanda Keesey for donating a large bag of bath towels to our rescues! You are wonderful...thank you for your support!

Buster Update!

2009-01-06T01:17:00.002-05:00

By gosh! I think the boy's got it!

Buter the Puggle turned 1 year old on January 3rd. As a birthday celebration, he stayed up late, chased his tail, and ate way too many treats! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUSTER!

So....many of you have asked how he's doing. First of all, THANK YOU for caring about him (and us). He is doing well! He has 2 tricks now: "Sit" and "Go Poop". And he does both of them on command!!! OK...he does them on command about 90% of the time. The other 10% of the time, he struggles with Attention Deficit Disorder (common in Puggles), and THEN he'll only sit for a treat.

Oh! And I forgot, he does run into his crate willingly (but only after sitting for a treat). So that's 3 tricks. PROGRESS!!!!

He really is doing very well, but as I have said before, he really could benefit from one on one attention. SO....

(Drum roll....)

Happy Birthday Buster! YOU, My Friend, are going to a foster home, so that you can continue to learn to be a gentleman (also sometimes difficult for Puggles). A very generous family has offered to provide fostercare for Buster and pour their energy into him, so he will be more "adoptable". He leaves us Tuesday morning. Denise and Family: Thank you in advance for all of your hard and unselfish work!

For the rest of the Buster fans out there...please pray for him. He's come so far, but there's still a way to go.

Good luck Buster! We love you!

New Year's Eve

2008-12-31T19:21:00.003-05:00

Well...it's 7:30 PM on December 31st.

I am almost recovered from my head cold, and that makes me very happy. I'm not too bad of a whiner, but I DO appreciate feeling like my usual sparky self. I am so thankful that I have good health.

I just got back from running groups and serving dinner at Play N Stay. It's a packed house there! Always lots of fun! We'll be back over there tonight (close to midnight) for last night run and to pass out "Happy New Year's Hugs" and play the dog-toy version of "watching the ball drop". (smile)

Just in case I haven't said so recently...I love my life. Sure, it's hectic and chaotic alot of the time. Sure, the phone rings off the hook at really weird hours. Sure, I miss having a living room (the store took it over a few years ago). Sure, I see more puppy poop in a day than most people do in a year. But...I'm living my dream...and there's NOTHING like it in this world!

Granted, the real life version of The Perky Puppy doesn't look like I thought it would. There's a WHOLE lot more bookwork & paperwork than should be allowed by law. More puppies to care for=more payroll=more advertising=more $$ spent=more paperwork=more chaos, etc. Sometimes the world spins so fast that I don't know how we keep up. In 2009, we're going to get back to our roots...keep a little less puppies in the store and not dance so fast. There will still be a great selection, we'll just be working smarter, instead of harder.

We're looking forward to 2009 at The Lucky Puppy too! It's fun to watch that part of the business grow.

Thanks for your continued support! It's great to know that you are watching us change and grow and that you're cheering us on! 2009 is going to be a WONDERFUL year! We wish that for you as well!

All the Best!

Love,
Jess

Donations

2008-12-27T17:10:00.002-05:00

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you to those who made donations over the holidays:

Thanks to Dr. Marvin & Michele Steed for their monetary donation.

Thanks to Chessie & BoBo's family for their monetary donation.

Thanks to Kilo's K-9 Kitchen for the donation of homemade dog treats.

Thanks to Diane Watt for the donation of dog treats.

Oh! And THANKS to all who donated all the yummy people food to us and our staff: Zeke Dombroski, Jean Misencik, Becky Halicky, and Penny Koshenko!

Update

2008-12-27T17:05:00.002-05:00

Well...it's been an amazing few weeks! Most of the rescues are in new homes. Albie & Abby (Japanese Chin/ Beagle crosses), Buster the Puggle, and Dexter & Duke (the 2 Blue Heelers) are still here.

You'd be so proud of Buster! He's been doing so much better! He's at least 90% housebroken and is quite mannerly on most days. I think he'll make someone a very good pet!

Dexter's pretty much housebroken. Duke is next...

The Puppy Store is almost empty. We're still dealing with some cough...'tis the season.

Play N Stay was at capacity over the holidays...what a great group!

Oh...and Vanessa and I are both sick. Not fun, but at least it didn't hit us until after the Christmas rush. Hoping to catch up on some R & R in the next few days...

We hope your holidays were wonderful! Thanks so much to those who provided for our pups over the holidays! You are wonderful!

Thanks Christa!

2008-12-22T13:54:00.003-05:00

A big thanks to Christa Piko, as well as Max and Bruzer (yes-THE Bruzer), for donating towels to the Lucky Puppies!!

Happy Adopted!

2008-12-16T16:06:00.001-05:00

Happy the 3 -legged dog is being adopted! He is going home to a great family from New York! They love him because he is special!

Congratulations Happy!

Commercials On Demand!

2008-12-12T16:41:00.002-05:00

I've just loaded the Play N Stay Pet Camp and Perky Puppy commercials on our website.

Now you can see them whenever you want! The quality is not fantastic, but they are still cute!

Enjoy!

Oh No...

2008-12-12T10:29:00.002-05:00

Donations

2008-12-11T09:42:00.002-05:00

A big THANK YOU goes out to:

Miss Gracie Major (a darling Morkie) and her parents David & Diana Major.
Megan Banker for the donation of a large dog crate and bedding.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

"Buster"

2008-12-10T15:14:00.006-05:00

Buster.

Oh Buster.

Where do I start?

OK...here's the scoop on Buster...

Back in March, an older couple and their grandson came to The Perky Puppy looking for a "little house dog" puppy. Well...it didn't matter how much we talked to them about shih-tzus, poodles, etc., they kept fixating on the puggles. "Oh, how cute! I really like these right here!" Etc., etc., etc.

We talked about an adult weight of 21-30#. We talked about puggles being high-energy and a little A.D.D., needing lots of exercise, etc. We talked and talked and talked.

They decided on the puggle anyway. And, of course, we told them if they had any questions or problems to give us a call immediately.

Fast forward 8 months.

Here comes the phone call..."He's too big. Our family has had some health problems. We can't walk him. He's too strong. HE'S BIGGER THAN WE WANTED."

Ya think?

Now, in our defense, we would have denied the sale, if we were SURE it was a bad mix. It wasn't super obvious. We talked about everything we could, but it was still a wrong fit and we learned something.

So, they made an appointment to bring Buster down, where we would place him in rescue and give the couple a discount on a smaller breed of dog.

Until we saw Buster. He was clean. BUT, he had no manners (too big for them to control), he hadn't had a vaccine since he left us in March (don't EVEN get me started), he was unneutered, and he was borderline WILD (not mean, just freaky)!

I "sternly educated" them on where they had gone wrong, all the way back to that day in March at The Perky Puppy, and up to the present day.

I quickly determined that we "did not have any breed of pup that was suited to their needs" (wink), even though we had plenty of small breed puppies. I strategically pointed out the flaws in every puppy (too big full-grown, needs professionally groomed, needs brushed daily, etc.), so we were well on our way to helping them be dog-free.

Only now, without a new puppy, they weren't interested in just giving Buster to us ("We spent a lot of money on him."). So I bought Buster, right then and there, for $ 75., just to get him out of there. (I know...I can be a real sucker.)

We immediately vaccinated and de-wormed him. Then, we realized that he wasn't really housebroken. Great...

Puggles are probably THE EASIEST dog to housebreak. They are very food-motivated as pups and will often "fake another pee" while outside, just to get an extra treat. So, it's obvious that they just didn't work with him.

So we went back to the basics...crate training...treats for "going" outside. outside just after eating, etc. We are working on basic manners (no jumping, walking on a leash like a little man) and basic obedience (look at him doing his "sit" in the picture).

We got him neutered (which has helped him not be crazy) and got him a Rabies vaccine.

He has come a very long way. He is very teachable and learns quickly. He would progress faster with one on one attention. He is finally ready to go to a home for that. Prior to now, it wouldn't have been fair to his new owner...he needed professional help.

He needs someone who will put energy into him...teaching him as quickly as he will learn...teaching him tricks, making him do those tricks...not letting him be a heathen. We're willing to equip someone to do that.

He will likely do best in a home where they are not first-time dog owners. Although he gets along great with other dogs, he will probably progress fastest where he is the only dog and all of your efforts are with him.

If you'd like to know more or have questions, please feel free to call or email. We are willing to discount him to the right home.

Thanks!
Jessica

P.S. For those of you who have been praying for our rescues, pray for Buster. He's overcoming a lot. He needs just the right family to keep that moving in the right direction. Thanks!

"Happy"

2008-12-10T14:54:00.008-05:00

"Happy" is one of our rescues.

He is a Male (Neutered) Maltese Puppy, who was born on 8/25/08.

Happy only has 3 feet.

He is missing his right rear foot.

Maltese puppies are tiny and covered with slime at birth. It's mom's job to clean them up and to chew off the umbilicus. It appears that Happy's mom was inexperienced & overzealous and got confused, chewing off his right rear foot too.

The injury is completely healed and not visible, unless we point it out to you. Actually, the rescue folks who neutered and transported him didn't notice it. We only noticed it when we were grooming him.

He plays, walks, and runs fine.

He is happy (hence, the name) and enthusiastic, and does not appear to have any idea that he is "different" than the other puppies.

Don't you just love dogs? He doesn't judge himself like people do. We're often comparing ourselves to other people, labeling ourselves as "luckier, unluckier, fatter, skinnier, richer, poorer, better off, or worse off". We get hung up on the bum deal that we got in life, determining our value based on who we're comparing ourselves to.

Let's not do that any more. It doesn't help anybody.

Let's just be like "Happy", dealing with what we are given and making the best of it every day.

Let's just be HAPPY!

GREAT QUESTION!

2008-12-10T11:16:00.006-05:00

As a comment on a recent post, "Anonymous" asked the following question:

"I'm wondering how you guys can see the justification in charging as much for the rescue dogs you are taking in as you are for perky puppies? I know the cost of shots and housing and food all needs paid for but I still can't see the justification in such a high cost for a dog that you guys are saving and trying to find a home. You've taken in dogs from places that couldn't get people to buy them for a cost that was probably much lower than your own, and now you are charging potential owners $450 dollars, where is the logic in that? I would love for you guys to provide some insight into this."

I think that's a great question, but it can be very complicated to answer.

In your example, you are comparing apples to oranges. You are comparing a $450. rescue maltese (would be $700-$850 at The Perky Puppy) with Perky Puppy shih tzus and malti-poos, which would be at least $100. less if they were rescues).

Let me try to shed some more light on adoption fees...

But, first, let me remind you that we are a NEW rescue. We do not have the funding that many other rescues have. We also don't yet have a volunteer base (so our cost is higher, because of mostly paid staff) or a large donor base, so, our adoption fees must cover almost all of our operating expenses.

Also, we are not new to the puppy business. We are very knowledgeable on the current "market value" on many breeds. We utilize our experience in that area to help structure pricing in a way that benefits the rescue operation best.

Adoption fees vary based on multiple other factors. We consider the following:

How much did it cost to acquire the puppy or dog?
Did we have to quarantine it? (14 days in my kitchen before the public can view him, cared for by my staff, adds up quick!)
What efforts do we have to put into rehab/training? (Does he need to work on housebreaking? Is it a little or a lot? Does he need manners work before anyone will consider him for adoption?)
How long will the puppy or dog have to stay before it is ready for adoption? (Does he need to "level out" a bit or recover from something, before he is offered for adoption?)
How old is the dog? (Often, young puppies have more "market value" than older dogs.)
Is the dog purebred? (Often, you can expect to pay more for a Maltese than a Maltese mix.)
How big is the dog? (A 2 pound Maltese is often more "valuable" than an 14 pound maltese.)
Did we pay to have it transported?
What is the cost or expected cost of veterinary or medical care? (Is it up to date on vaccinations and dewormings? Does it need spayed or neutered? How about a rabies vaccine?)
How urgent is the placement of this dog? (A 2# puppy is not as urgent as a 40# puppy. This may not be popular, but cleaning and care is very expensive. In addition, large breed puppies need more interaction at an earlier age.)
What does the dog's competition look like? (If we're trying to place a 4-month old large mixed hound and an 8-week old purebred boxer puppy, we will price the boxers higher and the hound lower, in an attempt to give the hound an advantage.)
How long has the dog been here? (We do adjust pricing regularly on dogs that haven't been placed.)

We take all that information into consideration when pricing an adoptive dog. Obviously, we lose money on many dogs. So we have to make up for it on others. Anything that we recover in adoption fees, above and beyond their cost & care, helps to care for other rescues (food, spay, vaccinations, etc.)

Let's get more specific:
We recently bumped into an adult male puggle, who was not completely housebroken, had zero manners, and was pretty much wild. The owners didn't want to give hime to us, but we were able to buy him for $ 75. We vaccinated and de-wormed him on intake, and paid $105 for neuter and rabies vaccine. We're working hard on housebreaking and manners. We'll be lucky to successfully place him at $ 75., even with a gift certificate for free boarding at Play N Stay.

Compare him to the 2# Maltese puppy, who was neutered and up-todate on his shots when we got him. We paid much more for him, his transport, and his neuter. He has been through his intake process (about $30) and has now been groomed ($30). The points listed above and his actual expense are why his adoption fee is $ 450.

We've had approximately a dozen calls on the maltese in the few days we've had him and none on the adult puggle that we have had longer.

Now, this might sound crazy, but I think the maltese would be glad to help pay for the puggle underdog's care and placement. Dogs are just like that. They look out for each other. They help each other along. It's the power of the pack...one for all & all for one!

Here's something else to think about: ALL of our puppies and dogs are housed indoors. Our areas are clean & climate-controlled. Everyone has freshly laundered bedding, Nutro Ultra Puppy food, toys, and treats all day, every day. They are comfortable here while they await their new home. We'd love to see these guys successfully-placed, but until that day comes, they are happy & safe here.

Hope that clears things up a bit! If you have any other questions, feel free to ask!

Toddler Beds & Dog Crates!

2008-12-07T14:06:00.003-05:00

Do you have an old toddler bed and/or crib mattress that you no longer need? How about Fido's old dog cage? If you have these items, please consider donating them to us!

If we get enough, we will gladly share them with other shelters!

Thanks in Advance!
Jessica and The Lucky Puppies

Puppies Everywhere!

2008-12-06T11:57:00.002-05:00

There are puppies everywhere! In the last 2-3 days, 23 puppies have arrived (rescue and Perky Puppies). We've been busy clipping, and bathing, and cuddling, and loving, and cleaning, etc., etc., etc.

You Can Help!

2008-12-04T15:22:00.003-05:00

OK...many of you have asked how you can help The Lucky Puppy! Here's a few ideas:

1. Print off a current rescue poster! This is something new for us and we need you to try it out for us! I'm really not a web genius at all...self-taught, so this may not work. Please try printing out the rescue poster on your home printer and displaying it WHEREVER you think somebody might see it! Please let me know if it works, if you like it, if you'll do it regularly...if it's successful, we'll keep doing it. If it's not working, I'll work to fix it (tested ok here). Just please let me know at jessica@theperkypuppy.com !

2. We need your old bath towels. We bathe a LOT of puppies! We could use several bath towels to help with the drying process!

3. You can donate through PayPal. Your donations are always appreciated!

Thanks for your support! We just finished November's final tally:

NOVEMBER 2008
Sold 13 Perky Puppies
Adopted 32 Lucky Puppies!

You guys rock!
Jess

Something's Coming...

2008-12-03T18:41:00.003-05:00

It's 7 PM on Wednesday....Rescues are on their way to us...not sure who, what, or when exactly...keep your eyes fixed on the website for more details...

Professional GROOMING!

2008-12-02T23:57:00.006-05:00

Meet NANCY ELLISON, Certified Professional Groomer at The Soapy Puppy Doggie Spa,
located at The Perky Puppy and Play N Stay Pet Camp!

Nancy lives in St. Clairsville, with her husband and their 4 children.

She has always loved animals and owns 3 dogs: "Rufus" (Pug), "Bella" (Brussels Griffon), and "Daisy" (Boxer Mix).

Nancy is a Certified Professional Groomer through the Diamond Cut Grooming School in Medina, OH.

As the groomer at The Soapy Puppy, she really cares for your dog, giving them the one-on-one attention that they deserve!

Your dog will be groomed with confidence & love at The Soapy Puppy!

Appointments available on Wednesdays, Fridays, & Saturdays!

Call 740-695-4566 (The Perky Puppy) to schedule an appointment now!

(Daycare also available on those days through Play N Stay Pet Camp...just ask for it when you schedule your grooming appointment!)

DECEMBER SPECIAL-
All new grooming clients SAVE $ 5.00 & receive a free toy!

Rescue Update

2008-11-28T14:33:00.002-05:00

Good news! Hank got a great home! He'll have 2 little boys to play with and a very responsible mother. They got him microchipped and got all of the supplies he'll need to be a well-rounded puppy!

We got another puggle in today for rescue. His name is "Buster". He was born on January 3rd. He's a little freaked out today, because his parents couldn't keep him, so they brought him here today. He just got too big and strong for them. So he's in my kitchen right now...just hanging out. We gave him a vaccine and some dewormer and will get him all situated and settled in tonight.

Other than that, it's a quiet day here...BLACK FRIDAY is always slower for us...everyone's at the malls in the early AM, then sleeping in the afternoon. Is that how you spent your day???

BIG NEWS Revealed!

2008-11-26T17:12:00.002-05:00

OK...so here's the secret we've been keeping...

Are you ready????

(Drum Roll)

We have a...

(Drum Roll)

GROOMER!!!!!!!!

YAY!!!!!!! (Jumping, Leaping, Skipping for joy!)

Yep! That's right! We've got a groomer! All professional and all! It's been a long time dream that we would have a groomer on staff...now it's happening!

Here's the scoop though...

We are starting kind of slow...just a few days a week...so our staff can adjust to the changes and the traffic patterns of MORE CUSTOMERS!

If you would like to schedule a grooming appointment, give us a call at 740-695-4566.

Did I say "YAY!!!"????? LOVE IT!!!!

THANKSGIVING Update!

2008-11-26T16:58:00.003-05:00

GOLDIE GOT A HOME!! That's right! Today at 5 PM, a couple from Weirton got her! She will have a Happy Thanksgiving FOR SURE!! YAY!!!!!!

There are 10 rescues, 19 Perky Puppies, and 17 Play N Stay Pet Campers spending Thanksgiving with us! Add in our 4 dogs and that brings us to 50 dogs to be with on Thanksgiving! How much do you wish you were me??!!?? I'll have more hugs and kisses tomorrow than most people get in a year!!! (Of course, I will smell like a dog, but fortunately, they don't mind!)

Oh...and while you're thinking about all of that...chew on this:

There are 92 rescue puppies available to us next week. Yes...I said, "92".

How many will we take? Not sure yet. Depends on what sells on Friday and Saturday and how much cage space is available. I've lowered the price on all existing rescues to increase the likliehood of their successful adoption. If there's one you've been watching, you better check out the website and plan to be HERE on Black Friday!

I'll have to decide on the rescues on Sunday. PLEASE do not let that keep you from adopting. We don't want you to hold out, waiting to see if there is something "better", because there will be less rescues available if nobody adopts these guys.

Thank you everyone for your support! Can't wait to see what next Thanksgiving looks like!!

XO
Jess

ADOPTED!

2008-11-25T13:43:00.003-05:00

Well...we have had some busy days lately! Here's the scoop:

Peanut, Lucy, Jack, Ozzy, and Matilda have been adopted!! AWESOME!!

LOVE IT!!!!

Thank you! You guys are WONDERFUL!!

DONATIONS

2008-11-25T12:15:00.003-05:00

Thank you to Wendy Schmitt for her contribution to The Lucky Puppy "Tributes" program.

Thank you to Nick & William for your donation.

Thank you to St. Clair Animal Hospital for the memorial donations, in honor of "Brie" Frame and "Calico" Ambrose.

Thank you to the customers and supporters who have stopped in to donate!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU on behalf of the Lucky Puppies!

What do you want to know??

2008-11-22T08:01:00.000-05:00

OK...it's your turn...what do you want to know? Ask us your questions and we'll do our best to answer them right here on this blog. They can be anything from a dog question (yours or ours) to an advice question to career questions to "How do I follow my dream?" questions.

Simply hit The "comments" link at the end of this post and send them over! OR you can email me at jessica@theperkypuppy.com with "BLOG QUESTION" in the subject line (otherwise, we'll just think you have an email question and it won't get posted here).

We look forward to hearing from you.

WOW! SEE YOUR PET ONLINE!

2008-11-19T14:29:00.000-05:00

You can see YOUR DOG or CAT online at The Perky Puppy website!

We just launched TRIBUTES!

Lucky Puppy "TRIBUTES" offers a unique way to Honor you favorite pet AND care for RESCUE Dogs & Puppies this Holiday Season!

TRIBUTES is a seasonal web program where you can honor and memorialize your favorite pets, both past and present!

Here's how it works:

1. Click the "BUY NOW" button on the TRIBUTES web page.

2. Send your donation(s) of $ 35.00 through fast, secure, and easy PayPal.

3. After your PayPal checkout, you will be asked to submit the pet photo of your choice, as well as up to 5 lines of text (up to 25 characters per line) via email.

It's that easy! We'll take care of the rest! On Novemeber 25th, the "TRIBUTES" link will change to a "TRIBUTES Winter Holiday 2008-2009" link. For two whole months (until January 24th, 2009), your pet's photo will be posted online for all of the world to see!

You can even send all of your friends and family to the website to view their pic!

AND...last, but not least...it's all for a good cause! ALL proceeds...100% of your donation...goes to The Lucky Puppy to pay for the care rescue dogs and puppies! LOVE IT!!!

We can't wait to see your pets!!!! Thanks in advance!

Go to the TRIBUTES page NOW!!

BIG Stuff Happening!!!

2008-11-19T10:14:00.000-05:00

Oh Boy!!!

There's some really big stuff going on the scenes at The Perky Puppy/Lucky Puppy/Soapy Puppy/Play N Stay Pet Camp!!!!

I'm not at liberty to discuss what's up yet, but I can tell you that if it all works out, it will be HUGE!!!!! (However, if you'd like to leave a comment below, I will entertain some guesses.)

HOWEVER, I can tell you a little bit about something smaller that I'm working on (which is still a pretty neat thing):

Soon...you will be able to pay tribute to your favorite pets, both past and present, on our website. (Up until now, we've only featured testimonials from Perky Puppy customers on our Puppy Tales section of our site.) The new "Tributes" section will feature all of your beloved pets, no matter their origin!

The "Tributes" page will be available this week and will be structured as a fundraiser for The Lucky Puppy.

I'll keep you posted!!
Jessica

Donation

2008-11-19T10:08:00.000-05:00

Thank you to Amanda Keesey and her dog, Cooper, for their recent donation. She used PayPal to donate and sent this quote:

"My Boston-- Jake, and I donated last month. However, my black Lab, Cooper, wanted to be in on the helping, so this month's donation is from him!!"

That's great! Thanks guys!

If you would like to support The Lucky Puppy through PayPal, you can always click the "DONATE" link at the top of our web site or to go directly to PayPal, click HERE.

Cross your fingers...

2008-11-18T23:00:00.000-05:00

There are two appts. scheduled for Wednesday for Hank and Jack. I'd love to see both of them get homes!!

I got to see Poppy today! He was an early rescue for us. I cried like a FOOL the day he went home!! He is wonderful! His new life really agrees with him! He looked all dapper in his OSU collar and handsome grey sweater! He is spoiled, but not in a bad way...in a really GREAT way...

Poppy may be getting a new little brother (Male Brussels/Bichon)...he's the subject of some family talk tonight...

Great Puppies

2008-11-18T12:22:00.000-05:00

Have you met Goldie? She is a VERY, VERY sweet young lady...very polite...very patient. She was rescued as a puppy from a local shelter, was quarantined, and was put through our intake process (shots, dewormings, etc.). That was a month ago. She's still here. Beautiful as ever...Lots of lookers...still hasn't found the perfect home. Pray that she gets one soon. She deserves it. She's the most love you can buy for $75.

How about Peanut? Have you seen him? He's the littlest, cutest Beagle mix that I've seen in forever. Housebroken. Loves his crate. Happy boy. Love him!

Hank and Jack are still lurking around here too...they are doing good on their housebreaking, but really need that one on one attention to get it perfected. They are both happy puggles! Their price just went way down. Jack is $100 (unneutered). Hank is $125. (neutered). Both are great pups!

I know there's somebody out there who has been watching these guys and you just need an extra nudge to make the call. YOU JUST GOT THE NUDGE. Call us for an appointment. 740-695-4566.

To see all available puppies, visit us on the web at www.ThePerkyPuppy.com

Sleeping Beauty

2008-11-14T22:21:00.000-05:00

Wanna see the 4-legged love of my life? She's my tired little baby, a Chinese Crested Hairless, named "Calliope". (OK...so she isn't a baby. She's going on 5 years old.) She was so tired tonight from her big week at Play N Stay. Once the day settled down, she just wanted to sleep. Poor girl couldn't get much rest for all the picture-takin'! I LOVE HER!!!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the breed, she was born hairless (except for her head, tail, and feet). It's a double-recessive gene that causes the hairlessness, so she had littermates that were fully furry (called "powder puff"). The hairless gene also causes her to not have a full set of teeth, so her tongue falls out of her mouth on a regular basis. Poor thing. She feels like soft leather and gets sunburned in the summer and cold in the winter if not protected.

She has the SWEETEST temperament of any dog I've ever owned, and I must confess that I would make a complete fool out of myself and would clone her IN A HEARTBEAT if I could afford it!!

Out my window...

2008-11-14T16:25:00.001-05:00

Looking out my window at the play group of doggie guests at Play N Stay Pet Camp.

Today's guests include: Lola, Peanut, Hank, Jack, Shyla, Tanner, Tucker, Macy, Barney, Reese, Bosley, and Albert...all in one big group! Everything from a 16 year old chihuahua to a 3 year old Boxer! (All carefully managed of course.) They are having such a good time! This is so good for dogs!

My 4 (Calliope, Nike, AxelRod, and RockStar) just got back from staying for 4 days at PNS. They come home happy and better behaved than when they went! I love it!!

This has turned out better than I'd ever imagined!

I just have to say...I'm really brilliant some times, but I underestimated just how brilliant I really am...which, of course, means that I'm not really all that brilliant after all. (wink)

I'm so proud of the crew at Play N Stay! They rock!

Rescue Update

2008-11-14T13:01:00.000-05:00

Well...today, we have 21 rescues available.

The ones who most need to make a move are Jack the Puggle, Goldie the Lab Mix, and Hank the Puggle.

I've lowered pricing on many of the rescues. If there's someone you've been watching, it's time to give us a call!! 740-695-4566

Unfortunately, we have been dealing with a pretty bad cough going around in the puppy room. Just about everyone has had it or has it currently. Just like people, some barely blink, just cough a little, and keep on playing. Others get down and need to rest for several days. We've been running through a host of products and medications ($$$$$$$$$) trying to keep things moving in the right direction.

We'll get through it. We always do. We deal with cough about 5 times a year. It's like a day care center with colds and snotty noses. When one gets it, they all do. We just have to wait it out.

I've scheduled some boys for neuter and Rabies vaccine next week. That's always a large chunk of change too.

Any donations would be appreciated. You can donate through PayPal here. Your gift of $30 will care for a dog for a month. $100. will pay for neuter and rabies vaccine on one male dog. Thank you in advance!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
WEEKLY BATHER: We are looking for a reliable volunteer to help with "kennel day" on Wednesday afternoons each week (from about 12 noon til 3 or 4 PM). This is a fun, but wet job...basically involves helping to bathe and dry all of our rescue puppies (most are under 10 pounds) in our sink. You will always have help and will never be asked to do something we wouldn't do. You will be assisting Becky, who will be clipping nails and cleaning ears at the same time, keeping these babies healthy, happy, and smelling good. You'll go home smelling like a dog, but smiling from ear to ear!

RESCUE VET TRANSPORT: We are also in need of a volunteer to occassionally (probably one or two times a month) help transport one or two puppies to & from the vet for spay/neuter. This would require reliable transportation, picking up at The Lucky Puppy (just prior to 8 AM) and dropping off at Dr. Steed's office (also in St. Clairsville). Then, that afternoon, you would pick them up after surgery and return them to The Lucky Puppy, to sleep off the anesthesia from that oh-so-important surgery! The scheduled days are somewhat flexible (must be a Mon., Tue., Thur., or Fri.) and can be scheduled at your convenience. If you want to play a big part in stopping unwanted litters of puppies, this is the volunteer job for you!

If you think that either of these would be a suitable volunteer job for you, please email me at jessica@theperkypuppy.com We'd love to have you join the team!

Church

2008-11-14T12:48:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone!

I'm back! It's been a busy season of globe-trotting on behalf of our church, Real Life. In May, we were at a conference in Atlanta (called "Drive 08"). In October, we were back in Atlanta ("Catalyst"). And just this week, I was in Loudonville, Ohio, at a conference called "the sticks".
(Which, by the way, is in "the sticks". This conference was all about churches making a big imact in small towns.)

For those of you who are unaware, Vanessa and I are fun-loving folks who have a blast "doing church" in a whole new way!

Now, most of you know that church is great for folks that like church, or at least like THEIR church. It can be tougher for people who don't understand or don't desire a lot of pomp and circumstance, church lingo, or aren't even sure about this Jesus-guy. These are the folks that Ness and I worry will fall through the cracks...the people who don't like church. So we are always studying and reading and talking with people who specialize in making church "cool".

We currently serve at Real Life UMC in Morristown. We serve coffee in church and play cool, contemporary music from a band that ROCKS!!! We're on the leadership team there and took 13 people with us to "the sticks". We had a lot of fun-being Real People living Real Lives!

Anyway...just wanted to let you know why I was AWOL. We're back now. All of the dogs and puppies were happy to see us.

And just so you know, if you have questions about God, Jesus, church, forgiveness, or need prayer, you can always email us at jessica@theperkypuppy.com

Thanks for letting me share!
Jess

Banks Needed!

2008-11-08T17:28:00.001-05:00

Do you have a dog piggy/coin bank that you no longer use???

We need it for The Lucky Puppy!

We need to create donation banks for placement on the counter at vet's offices and convenience stores. Unfortunately, we aren't able to find any for under $10.00 that are cute.

SO...if you'd like to donate a bank, please email us at jessica@theperkypuppy.com with the words "bank donation" in the subject line.

Thanks!!

Oodles adopted!!

2008-11-08T14:21:00.000-05:00

Great weekend here! Do not yet have the full count on the puppies that were adopted this weekend, besides we are still open for another few hours!!

The big news is that Bugsy and Vinny have homes!!!!! YAY!!

Also, one of the older puggles got a great home thanks to a referral from Dr. Steed! Their wonderful dog was put to sleep 2 years ago and the family has been grieving ever since. You know...we hear that a lot..."I'm not gonna get another dog. Nobody was as wonderful as _____. It hurts too much when you lose them..."

Those statements are all very true. BUT here's some other stuff to think about:

If you are a dog lover, there's nothing fun about coming home to an empty house.

There is NOTHING IN THIS WORLD that compares to coming home to a dog that is happy to see you! All those love and kisses makes any hurt in the long run worth the while.

And here's something else, that I credit to Michele Steed for sharing with me (she says it better than I do): If you love dogs, and there are dogs who are homeless and need the love of a family, then it is selfish to not open your heart and your home to a dog in need, just because you're afraid you'll miss it when it's gone. After all, anything worth having, is worth crying over.

I've also heard that some people are afraid to get another dog, because they are afraid that loving another dog would be like cheating on the previous dog. Listen...your dog loved you so much and your dog loved how much you loved him or her. Dogs have big enough hearts that they would never want to deny another dog that kind of love. They think to highly of you for that.

And one last one: I don't want to get another dog, because we want to be able to travel. Well...we've got the solution for you! Your dog can go on vacation to Play N Stay Pet Camp and have a GREAT time!! No guilt traveling for you and your dog! Your dog will LOVE you for it!!

So, now what's your reason????

Can You Do This?

2008-11-04T10:44:00.000-05:00

BIG DAY!

2008-11-01T18:32:00.000-04:00

8 Lucky Puppy Rescues were adopted today! 2 Perky Puppies were purchased today! We sold a BUNCH of starter kits and supplies! It was INSANE!!! There were people EVERYWHERE!!!

I talked so much that I felt like my tongue was three feet thick, but it was worth it.

Unfortunately, it was so goofy here that the 5 rescues at Play N Stay (Bugsy, Vinny, and the 3 puggles) never got looked at by anyone. Bummer.

In other news, the Lucky Puppy's Credit Card machine has arrived. We'll call our buddy, Ben Marks to do the download this week, so that the paperwork isn't so complicated (keeping Perky Puppy money and Lucky Puppy money sorted properly).

Life is Good and we are happy!

Love you all!!

ADOPTED!

2008-10-29T18:05:00.000-04:00

4 more puppies were adopted today!!! YAY!!!

Still hanging around with Bugsy and Vinny. They are such nice puppies...very smart and even-tempered! Are you sure nobody's looking for a larger breed short-coated dog?? I'd be willing to give a Play N Stay Gift Certificate equal to their adoption fee of $50. for someone to adopt.

They're starting to get the house-breaking thing. I think they'd do a lot better with some one on one attention!

Call me if you'd like to meet them!!

Jessica
740-695-4566

Alf, Ginger, and Snickerdoodle

2008-10-28T18:55:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to let you guys know that things here are great. All of the puppies are settled in. Some have started to go home. We have more appointments scheduled for tomorrow. If there is somebody you have your eye on, you'd better throw your hat into the ring...we've got some Pittsburgh ads starting soon, which always drums up some excitment!

Life Is Good!

Just got word that the Golden female is getting adopted by a long-time customer of mine!

21 years ago, their family bought a Yellow-Naped Amazon Parrot from me, back in the Barclay's Birds days. Yes...that was the bird store I owned with my mom in Bridgeport. It was technically the beginning of The Perky Puppy, since we sold some puppies there. (I'll do a blog post soon about all of that. Too much for tonight.)

Anyway, "Alf" the Yellow-Nape is still going strong (which isn't a shocker...they can live to be 85 years old or more). They adopted another Golden Mix from us 3 years ago (left on the side of a road in a box), "Ginger". They're gonna name this little girl "Snickerdoodle". Good for her!! Good for them!! I'm so happy!! Thanks Marilyn!

FIXED!

2008-10-28T18:51:00.000-04:00

The "Donate" button is now fixed on the website, so thank you for bringing that to my attention! Please let me know if you experience any further problems.
Jess

Donations

2008-10-28T13:53:00.000-04:00

Memorial donations were made in memory of "Molly" Graham, "Larry" Danehart, and "Brandy" Kaluger from Dr. Marvin & Michele Steed.

A donation was made in honor of the family who adopted "Momma" from Wendy Schmitt.

Thank you so much for your generosity!!!

Great Day!

2008-10-25T21:53:00.000-04:00

Got a great report on Momma. She went to her new home yesterday. She's following her new mom around everywhere and is taking treats from her new dad. She's gonna be just fine.

(By the way, there was no shortage of tears here yesterday as we all said our "GoodByes". We were happy for Momma, but we're gonna miss her full-body hugs around here. Some of these dogs have come so far that we just can't imagine not watching them continually improve from day-to-day.)

The rescue pups are coming out of their shells. They aren't allowed to go home yet, but lots of people stopped in to look.

Getting ready to go to Play N Stay for last night run. It's been a long day. I'm ready for bed soon. Going to bed with a smile on my face!!

34 Bouncing Baby Bundles of Joy!

2008-10-23T21:57:00.000-04:00

I just couldn't say "NO".

We got 34 rescues tonight. All puppies. All up-to-date on shots. Many neutered.

They are beautiful.

Ness clipped all their nails tonight. And we did all of their paperwork and updated the website.

Tomorrow, Becky and I will start clipping, bathing, grooming, weighing, worming, giving holistic antibiotic, etc. Ness and Kasey will be working at Play N Stay (which is booked).

THEN, we will clean the puppy room to prep for open.

We should all be dead by noon. Just in time to open.

Bring us some Starbucks Salted Caramel Hot Chocolates when you get here at noon. We're gonna need the caffeine and the sugar to get through the day.

Treat yourself to one too! You'll be glad you did! Tell them The Perky Puppy sent you.

See ya!

Uh-oh & Yay!!!

2008-10-23T07:08:00.001-04:00

Well...we got the call last night! There are another 48 puppies that were pulled out of that puppy mill in Indiana (same place where 19 of our rescue puppies came from last month).

We can't do all 48, but we committed to 26. (Where am I going to put them all?) Not sure when they will arrive, because they will pass through multiple hands of the transport chain before they get to us. All will be puppies. All will be up to date on shots. Most will be spayed or neutered already. From the sounds of things, we will likely be getting:

MaltiPoos
Poodles
Yorkie Poos
Boxers
Golden Retrievers
Brussel/Bichons
a Chihuahua mix
a Yorkie
Boston/Beagles
a Bichon
a Min Pin
a Shih Tzu
Silky Terriers
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree. (just kidding about that one)

My guess is that thay will get here late tonight (Thursday) and that we will open Friday with very weary puppies and very weary staff. The intake on 26 puppies will be an ENORMOUS task, not to mention trying to get the store open by noon!

Please do not call or email us on these babies yet! We'll be too busy to answer the phone or email. We are gonna be buried in puppies and puppy poop! It's gonna take a little bit to figure out what we've got once they get here. If everything works like last time, I should have an update ON THE WEBSITE by LATE Thursday night (probably just before midnight). We open Friday at 12 noon. Please don't come early. There will be plenty of puppies to go around, and they aren't allowed to leave until next week (after their intake process is finished). Depending on their stress levels, we may not even allow people to handle them on Friday. They will be tired and scared, and we probably will be too, especially if you all MOB us after these babies!! (wink, wink)

Whew!! The Bible says that "To whom much is given, much is expected. To whom much is entrusted, even more will be required."

I can't think of a better way to put this all into perspective.

We'll get it all figured out. We always do. And at the end of it all, we'll have 26 happy families who adopted 26 rescued puppies. Doesn't get much better than that!

Thanks in advance for your support and enthusiasm! We love you guys!

ADOPTED!!

2008-10-23T07:01:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was big for The Lucky Puppy! We adopted out 4 puppies and dogs! Not bad for a baby rescue business!

Those who were adopted yesterday are:

Momma!
Bosley!
Maya, the puggle, and
the tiny Yorkie!

All look to be great homes!! We'll keep you posted!

One Step Closer

2008-10-22T16:33:00.000-04:00

The Lucky Puppy got it's own checking account today. We had been keeping it separate other ways, which was an accounting NIGHTMARE!!

We have our EIN # and the checking account. We are finalizing our Articles of Incorporation and will submit them to the state soon. THEN, we can file for our non-profit.

It's coming.

Lots of steps, but the dream is coming true.

Thanks for your support and encouragement!!

Prayers Answered...

2008-10-22T16:23:00.001-04:00

In this blog entry, we talked about ways you can get involved with our rescue and how you help the puppies and dogs that are being cared for by The Lucky Puppy.

In the last paragraph of that blog entry, I asked everyone to pray that Momma and Bosley would find good homes. They have been difficult to place (due to some personality foibles), and we were really wanting them to find the perfect homes.

Well...it's happening!

Bosley is officially adopted. He is going to be the companion and friend to an older couple. The husband has limited mobility and has lost his sense of purpose and drive and has been depressed. Bosley will be his anti-depressant. I'm sure he's gonna do a great job. I am SO happy for him!! (And for the couple, of course!)

And Momma...well...don't tell anyone, because we haven't gotten to call the new family to let them know that they are approved (phone tag)...but Momma's getting a great home!! They know she's a chicken and they are ok with it...they understand that she has had multiple traumas and they want to provide a safe, loving home. We think they will be PERFECT for her!!!

Thank you for your prayers!! Keep 'em coming for Bugsy and Vinny...they need it too!

Thank You!

2008-10-21T10:34:00.000-04:00

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you to:

Amanda Keesey, and her dog Jake, for their generous donation to the dogs and puppies at The Lucky Puppy!

Puggle, Puggles Everywhere!

2008-10-18T15:37:00.000-04:00

If you want a puggle, we currently have 3 available through rescue, and we may have another on the way. Give us a call at 740-695-4566 to schedule an appointment!