PONDER COVE DOGS CAN STAY!

OK, that is a bit of an exaggeration. Because of course they were going to stay. But Dollie Mae, Buck and Ponder were in serious need of an attitude adjustment. Well, I am happy to say help is here. We just finished our first session with Kim Brophy. Kim is a certified animal behaviorist and I can not tell you what a help she was.

Thank goodness as she explained...My dogs are doing nothing wrong (in their eyes). I just didn't have any tools to handle the situation. Between the three of them they are jockeying for the alpha position at all times. That is usually between Buck and Ponder. Then when guests' dogs show up Dollie Mae being the third man around here tries to dominate them. I was all concerned about my anxiety level but what she made me realize was Mom is not suffering half as much as my sweeties. That hit my heart and I want life to be better for them. So, with some great behavioral modifications for Gary and I and a dose of Melatonin (for them not us... but check with you vet as Kim insisted) I have a new situation on my hands.

Ponder is our aging dude and she made me realize it is our job to insure his position as alpha as he ages. It was a brilliant session and after Kim winning International APDT
2009 Outstanding Trainer of the Year we can't believe our luck that she is in Asheville.

So, come on down and stay at Ponder Cove and make your appointment with Kim. You will be glad you did.

xxoo
martha and her happy pups

DOGS ARE AMAZING

Everyone must go to this video. It is one of the most courageous acts I have ever witnessed.......DOG SAVES DOG FROM FREEWAY!

GREETINGS FROM NEW ZEALAND

I promised my buddy Sam that I would post a picture of his new best girl....MEG. Lucky for Sam...his mom and dad moved him from London to New Zealand where the first call to order was the acquiring of the promised dog. Of course Meg is a working dog. Rumor has it she is working them all with her demands for attention and walks. But what a wonderful life and family she has adopted. So, Sam here is a hello from all your buds here in North Carolina....
Martha, Gary, Ponder, Buck, Dollie Mae and Tommy Rice the cat. We hope to see you soon.

BLUE EYED BABES

Meet Alex and Maya...two local lovelies hailing from Yancey County. Their proud owners Steve and Jose can't get enough of these two and I just had to share this pic as they stare lovingly into their Pops camera.

DOGSTER.COM

Ponder Cove is featured on the main Dogster.com FOR THE LOVE OF DOGS Blog. Join today and you just might win another opportunity to scoop up a couple of free nights at the Cove. Well, your dog might win and if you behave I bet they will bring you along..."Sit owner...fetch owner....Feed me owner...take me to Ponder Cove owner". Good luck.

PONDER COVE RESCUE NEWS JUST IN

Another great rescue story from our guests Jeanie and Stan. "We are SO delighted to report that our pack has recently grown to three schnauzers. Amy and Zelda--our two seven-year-olds who came to see you twice in recent years-- have a new little brother that we literally picked up on the highway along the Florida Gulf Coast. His owner subsequently gave him to us because he was no longer able to care for him in a way that he thought the little dog deserved. He is five years old and adorable! We so love Ponder Cove and think you guys are great."

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SWEETIE
Bret Marquis, Owner

Her future is so bright she had to wear shades.

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Maizey Grace, LAB

Karen and Meredith Hall, Owners

My name is Maizey Grace and my humans caught me in the middle of one of my beauty treatments! A girl has to work hard to maintain her looks you know! A Southern lady tries not to let her secrets out but I was ambushed! I am another LFS dog. I am originally from the great state of Texas and was brought to Georgia as a Christmas gift. While my original family loved me, my parents both worked full time and crated me for 12-15 hours a day! That does not make for a happy puppy! Fortunately they found Labrador Friends of the South and asked them to find me a new forever home! My first and only adoption event was on a cold,sleety Saturday in February of 2006. I was under the table when a sweet young girl named Meredith found me. Her first Labrador Grover had passed away after ten years with her and she was looking for a new friend! We fell in love with each other immediately! Her Mom saw the love and gave in pretty easily! I joined Meredith, Divot her brother dog and her two cats Uba and Peaches! I was so happy and while I had some bad moments--what's a girl to say? I have now settled in and also have another brother Hank the Tank --another LFS friend! I am living proof that blonds really do have more fun!!!

Love, Maizey Grace and Meredith

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Hunter, Boxer
Neena Gulley, Owner

My name is Hunter but this past December, my parents decided to name me Rudolph the Big Nosed Boxer. I was very unhappy with the new moniker. You see, my parents decided to bring a screaming, ear-pulling baby into our lives this past November. Not that anybody asked me what I thought about that. We were all just humming along happily, and suddenly this horrible red screaming thing arrives and ruins everything. Except, around Christmas I decided to finally give her a chance, very reluctantly, mind you. Turns out, she's not so bad, although please don't think that I like her or anything. Because I don't. I really don't. Except for sometimes, when no one is looking, I like to sneak over to her and give her a few kisses. Definitely not because I like her or anything, but us red-nosed boxers like to stick together. Happy year, everyone! The holidays are long over, but the celebratin' is just beginning.

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Ginger, Lab/ Pit Bull Mix
Mark, Krista, Brittany and Taylor, owners

Ginger has been a wonderful addition to our family. We were so lucky to adopt Ginger
from Labrador Friends of the South on December 31,2006. It was a wonderful way
to ring in the new year. Our entire family is crazy about her. She absolutely loves to
be with her family. She has a weak spot for squeaky toys. Ginger loves to wake our
girls. Every morning she serves as the alarm clock. She loves to shower people with
kisses. I can't imagine our life without her. We feel very lucky to have her as a member
of our family!

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Belle , American English Coonhound
Neal and Joy Anderson

We searched everywhere for the dog that needed us. That's when we met Belle. When we arrived to meet her, a wiggly ball of mud burst forward into Neal's lap. Her lot was only 15 feet square and she shared it with her brother. She informed us she needed a home with places to run and fun things to do. We brought her home and after her first bath we discovered she was not red but white with red spots. The wiggly didn't wash out. As we have lived together we have found we need her much more than she needed us. She takes care of everyone around her, not just her family. Once she found a young rabbit injured in the yard. She brought him to us and we rushed him to the vet where they saved him. The vet said Belle saved him by finding him so soon after the hawk attack. We would never have seen him without her excellent nose and concern for others. She even found Ponder Cove while she was watching TV one day. So for our 6th anniversary we took our 3 year old coonhound to Ponder Cove and she wanted to stay forever. She is such a big part of our family she even visits Joy's classroom from time to time. Everyone seems to know Belle even if they don't remember our names. She was shy but has blossomed into a loving, sweet, and friendly pup. We feel blessed to have her in our lives.

Labrador Friends

This is a very successful adoption agency. All interested parties check it out....http://www.labradorfriends.com

JUDGE JUDY KNOWS ALL

I was very impressed Angela Jergler's (Reece's mom) e-mail signature. So, I decided to pass it on.

"There must be a special place in hell for people who torture animals. Until you get there, you'll deal with me."

- Judge Judy

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ATLAS and APOLLO
Jon Sinton, Laura Wilkinson, owners

Here are Atlas and Apollo on the way home from their daily three mile tranquilizer--a walk at the Chattahoochee River. The boys are pound-rescue litter-mates. Atlas, the one with the white stripe, is the brains of the operation. We were told by a breeder that Atlas "Got the good blood." Not surprising for a Border Collie mix, he is hyper-aware of his surroundings and everything that moves in his field of vision. Great with hand signals, Atlas can catch a peanut butter sammie crumb long before it hits the floor--even if he is starting from across the room. Regrettably, he has a little of Stephen King's "Cujo" in him and we have to watch him carefully around other dogs in case he decides to prove his manliness. We've both had dogs all our lives, but this one is whip smart and quite the hunter while becoming cuddly when things settle down at night. He likes to lie down with some of his weight, or just a paw, on you so he'll know if you're thinking about going anywhere. Both these dogs love to spoon, whether with us or with each other, it's rare to see them lie down alone.

Apollo (at rear in photo) is our Special Needs dog. Years ago (they're 9, BTW) he started having seizures. The vet diagnosed epilepsy and put him on phenobarbital. After a couple of years of fewer, milder seizures, we noticed Apollo was aging faster than Atlas. A lot faster. So we weened him from the doggie downers and now he is gray but pretty much seizure-free. Apollo may be the beta on land, but in the water, he's in charge. He got mostly Lab blood and is die hard swimmer and hunter. You never know when he's going to bring you a present of freshly killed rodent, or worse, not quite killed rodent. Our wooded lot is rife with all manner of rodentia, so Apollo leads the parade, running from window to window, then bolting outside as soon as the door is opened. Pity the slow chipmunk. As you can see, both love the car. Ponder Cove is their Number One Fave destination!

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LANDFILL" & "SPARKIE, RARE BREED
Evangeline and Terri La More, owners

Guess where Landfill is from and Sparkie is all the way from Philadelphia.

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ZEUS, GOLDEN RETRIEVER
MARTHA PRICE, OWNER

Zeus loves water and it is almost impossible to take him out of the pool!! Zeus knows how to smile and he loves to do so when new people come to our house. He has this weird combination between crazy and sweet at the same time…so even if he does something he does not suppose to do, you can’t get mad at him…his sweet temper makes your heart melt in minutes! HE is my treasure, my baby.

When we got Zeus, we were living in a apartment…thanks to him my husband finally took the step to invest in a house..after the manager of the apartments was knocking our door almost everyday saying we needed to get rid of the dog…I told my husband: get rid of my dog? Heck no!! we get rid of this apartment and get a house where Zeus can run and play, and that is how we got our house and Zeus has plenty of room to run and play safely!!

Zeus has definitely made our lives much better. I feel I am exited after a day at work to go home…I call my house home since we have him…he makes everything much better and enjoyable!

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Jo Jo ( Paradice's Jo Jo's China Bistro)
owner Wendy Ryan

Jo Jo is a 5 year old male Chinese Crested Powderpuff. He was given to me by a client of mine and even though I've always been an owner of large mixed breed dogs, I fell in love with his tiny self. He is so brave, friendly and outgoing. He gets along with every dog he meets and of course loves all people.

Dog Training at Ponder Cove

For those of you that know the saga of Dollie Mae you will be happy to know she has made a huge leap in training......well sorta. She has learned to sing and is destined for greatness on the stage of America's Got Talent. Dollie was one of those poor country dogs that landed on our doorstep, scared out of her mind and for a full year would not have eye contact with just about anyone. Slowly, she would look at you, then let you pet her a bit IF she came to you. Preferred women to men for 2 years and is really coming around as of late. We moved her to Gary's shop and fenced her in and it has done wonders. It seemed to take the pressure off of her as before she just assumed she had to protect all 92 acres and especially us. So, here is to everyone that takes on such a challenge. Be patient. These poor mistreated creatures are worth it in the end. We love our Dollie Mae.