Happy 3rd Gotcha Day to me!!

It was 3 years ago today that I was adopted.

I was born in New Orleans Louisiana. My mom was a long haired Chihuahua, no one knows who my dad was. My mom was un-spayed and left to wander the streets by her so called human "parents". My siblings and I were the result. We were unwanted so we were brought to the kill shelter to be killed. Luckily a kind hearted woman happened to be there just as I was being dropped off and I was scooped up and brought to her house. I lived with her for half a year. I was a very sick little boy you see, much sicker than I am now.

Meanwhile in Owls Head Maine- My mom had just spent 7 months taking care of my uncle Gunny (a black schnauzer that actually belong to my grandparents). Gunny had cancer. When Gunny died my mom was crushed. See she loves taking care of animals even if they are sick. She loves to have a little pup following her everywhere. She had something big missing in her life. This is where I come in! After Gunny died in September she started looking on Petfinder and saw a very sad, half bald pup named Leo. She said "Oh, he's so cute and sad, he needs me". My grandma said "But this dog named Justin is so much cuter". Can you believe that?? Anyway mom said she was going to get me because I needed her and I sure did. So they called the Golden Retriever Rescue Lifeline, who were the Maine end of the rescue and got the ball rolling. It wasn't long before mom got a call from a very southern lady saying "Yes, yes, yes, you can have Leo!". See mom listed all of Gunny's doctors and after talking to them the lady said my mom was a more than suitable mother for me.

October 17th 2008- I traveled to Maine in a van. It was a long ride. We arrived at a ladies house in Biddeford Maine and there were a whole bunch of people waiting in a garage. They got their pups one by one and then I was taken out of my crate by Rocky (who has a very N'orlen accent) said "And here's ma liddle man Leo!". I was all wiggly and so excited I peed all over the front of my new mom. She was excited and she cried and hugged me so tight totally ignoring the pee on her shirt. We went to the store on the way home and my new family bought me clothes and toys. When I got to my new house I felt like I'd always lived there. It was loaded with new toys for me, clothes, blankets, yummy food. Plus kitty sisters and a kitty aunt. And of course my dad, but he was at work so I met him later.

So October 17th, 2007 may not seem like an important day, but to this pup who was thrown away it is the best day in existence.

Product Review

Ear Oil Drops made by Avena Botanicals

Photo - Avena Botanicals

I have allergies, many allergies which make my ears swell up like balloons. Then they get filled with pus and bleed. Sounds appetizing doesn't it?
Well, my left ear seems to always have a problem. Plus even though my mom has pounded it into people's heads not to feed me anything without her approval they still do. Things like dust (which I'm allergic to) when you live with a gardener, a landscaper and 4 &1/2 cats (we have a stray) are impossible to avoid. My mom thinks there may be something physically wrong with my ear also.

We bought these ear oil drops that are intended for humans to try in my ear. I can't have liquid ear drops put in my ear because it adds to the liquid already in there. These ear drops seem to be helping a lot. My ear is a lot better. My mom puts a little in every other day. Just a tiny amount and not directly into my ear canal. Because my ears are usually wet I have yeast and staph infections in there. These drops have stuff that kills that. Mom is saving up for me to go to an ear specialist. In the meantime the drops seem to have things under control.

I recommend these to animals and humans with ear problems. Here's a breakdown of the ingredients and what they do:

Calendula- Anti-inflammatory, astringent, heals wounds, detoxifying

Mullein flowers- reduce mucus, wound healer

Hypericum flowers (also known as St. John's Wort)- Astringent, relieves pain, anti-viral

Garlic Cloves (besides making the ear drops yummy. Yes I have eaten them :> )- antibiotic, expectorant, good for fighting infections

Olive Oil-


I think it would also be tasty on a good Italian bread.
-Please do not try it on bread!- Leo's Mom

Best of all this is made in Maine and not very far from me. Plus it's all organic and cruelty free.

Help Rosa and Her Puppies Escape The Kill Shelter!

UPDATE!!-

Great news! Rosa and all of her puppies are safe! Panzer is still not safe though. Please if you can, help Panzer out. Let's save 5 lives today!!


There are millions of animals put to sleep in kill shelters every year. I was almost one of them. Humans can be very irresponsible. I am one of the consequences of their irresponsibility. Thankfully a lot of people stepped up and I was saved and now have a home where I am very much loved. It takes a lot of people to rescue one animal.

I plan on telling you about some of those animals that need your help. If you can help in any way and save even one life it's a wonderful thing.

This is Rosa she is at Kaplan pound, Vermilion Parish, in South Louisiana. This shelter has an extremely high kill rate. She was brought in with her puppies. They have only 4 days and they will be placed in the gas chamber. Dying in a gas chamber is a terrible, painful death. Rosa is only about 2 years old and her puppies weren't even given a chance to have a life. Please help to give them all a chance at life and happiness.

Here's how you can help-

1. The obvious- adopt one or all of them.

2. Foster one or all of them.

3. Check Rosa out on Petfinder and click the Be My Guardian Angel and donate money. It can be as little as $1, it all counts. This money will go toward her and her puppies rescue. Please make sure to note on your donation that it goes toward Rosa and her puppies.

4. Share this on Facebook, Twitter or a blog, or wherever you can. Get the word out.


Let's save Rosa and her puppies!!!

Panzer also needs your help! His Petfinder page.

A Fear Filled Picnic

First there is something I must tell you. My name is Leo Ross, and I, am a fearful dog. Some of my triggers are- children (especially if they are screaming), alarms and shrill noises and dogs barking.

Well Sunday our Ross/Learned family had a reunion picnic at my great great aunt Kay's house. I have gone before and I'm always pretty nervous. I have quite a few dog cousins that sometimes get me scared. Now I have quite a few tiny human cousins that make me even more scared, although they weren't too bad.

I was good for a while. I talked with a few of my canine cousins and said hi to a few people. Then my mother got some food and sat down with me. One of my tiny human cousin's, Abbie, came over to see me and I got a little scared. She was very nice and even offered me some clover she had pulled out of the lawn, but I still didn't want her touching me. Luckily she couldn't really walk, but she did crawl super fast! But right after that another one of my canine cousin's, Fluff, showed up in a convertible and barked and barked. This caused all of the other dogs to bark and me to panic. So my mom while trying to eat accidentally let go of my leash and I took off. I booked it up the driveway and across the lawn. She came screaming after me as did my Grandma and my cousin-in-law Frank. I ran to my truck though and my mom scooped me up. She was all worked up and my Grandma was crying. I have learned to go somewhere safe if I am scared. I will go to my mom, my truck or my house. Believe me it's better than when I ran away from my mom, up the middle of the road and almost into traffic! A story for another time. But all is well and after that she attached my leash to her pants so I couldn't get away again.

Now on a happier note I will show photos of some of my cousins.

This is Sophie. She's a King Charles Spaniel. She's about my size and sometimes we get along, sometimes she snaps at me and once she scared me so much I peed on my mom.

Sophie

Hello there Sophie!

This is Ellie. She's a very pretty Golden Retriever. I really like her. She's gentle and has never been mean to me.

Ellie

These guys are Tuomo and Guiness. They're big Golden Retrievers. They were banished to inside because they try to eat all of the food.

Tuomo & Guiness Louis

I had a run in with Guiness when I was a pup and I'll never forget it. I had a bullystick and he tried to take it from me so I bit him on the lip (not that hard I didn't even have many teeth!). Later he snapped at me and his head was bigger than my whole body.



This is Thor, a Daschund puppy. He didn't impress me. Puppies usually beat me up. Mom carried him around for a while, much to my delight (sarcasm).

Thor a not so cute puppy :)

This is Maisie She's a Dachund too and she's going to have little Daschunds.

Maisie

Intro To My World

When my mom and I tried to explain how I got here and what I mean to her it got more than a little wordy. So we decided to try to stick to the facts. You'll get to know me better soon enough.



Name- Leonardo Miguel Ross

Nicknames- Leo, Lee Lee, Leonard, Lenny, Leona, Wee Man (because I'm small), Wee Lee
Weight- around 20lbs (I'm supposed to lose weight)
Height- 14"

Breed- Well my mom was a long haired Chihuahua and everyone thinks I'm half terrier, maybe Rat Terrier?

Age- 3

Birthday- July 3rd, 2008
Ok, now for a little history. I came from Louisiana, from a kill shelter in New Orleans to be more specific. Chi.P.P. Rescue (Chihuahua & Pound Puppy Rescue of Louisiana) scooped me up just as I was being brought into the shelter.


I was brought to Maine through the Golden Retriever Rescue Lifeline in Biddeford Maine. My foster Mom, Rocky, brought me and whole bunch of other dogs here in a van. My mom waited for me in the lady that runs the rescue here's garage. I was so happy to meet my new mom that I peed on her! She just cried and hugged me. Then I went home with her and my Grandma and Grandpa and met my new cat sisters, Emma, Brianna, Gracie and my aunt Josie. I pretty much get whatever I want now. Well, not really my mom keeps too close of an eye on me.


Well, those are the basics. Through this blog my mom and I hope that by getting to know me (and my rescued sisters) you will all see how wonderful shelter and rescue animals are. There are so many in need. There are also so many little ways you can help them.

Me :)

You can also follow my day to day life on Twitter  and Facebook.