Northwest Samoyed Rescue Blog

Rescue Report May 2024

Maureen Farrar on May 11, 2024

Fortunately, it’s been a “quieter” month with more dogs going out than coming in to rescue.

Mochi, the owner-surrendered puppy who was too much dog for her previous owner’s home, was adopted a month ago. She has a new BFF sister to run around with, which is great for her energy levels (but maybe not so great on the amount of grooming her owners now have to do!).

Moko, our 12-year-old senior girl, found her new home, too! She joined a family with another Samoyed and a Husky, and she gets lots of love from all.

Moko leaving her foster family to go to her permanent home.

It’s a great month for our senior dogs because Kaya, our sweet 13-year-old, who came in to rescue last month with two other Samoyeds was adopted today. Her new owner grew up with a Samoyed, and she’s excited to have one back in her home. Kaya and her new terrier sibling got along well, so we’re excited for her new life.

Kaya heading to her new home in North Idaho with her new terrier sibling

After trying everything over the last year, Chalky’s itching (and scratching and cone) has finally ended. The only thing that has worked is Prednisone, so we called the vet and asked if we could put him on it for the rest of his life. After all, he is probably 13 years old. The vet agreed, and the combination of the Prednisone and another flea treatment completely stopped his itching. We have been able to remove his cone for the first time since he arrived nearly a year ago. It’s hard to describe what a difference this has made. His rear legs are beginning to give out, so there is no telling how much more time he has. We will enjoy him as long as he is here.

Since Sophie died, Tessa has been without her partner in fear. She is coming into the house without as much hesitation, and we are forcing ourselves on her a little more. Son Jeff picked her up, and we removed a number of mats near the base of her tail. Recently, his wife took Tessa to their home to give her a different place to explore. We’re also giving her a treat when she comes in, which probably helps her come inside. If we could find a home with only women, ideally an older woman, we think it would be a successful adoption.

We have also found an amazing home for an owner-surrender male Samoyed. We are waiting to finalize all of the details and then we’ll post more about that next month.

If you see a dog on our site that you are interested in fostering or adopting, please fill out an application. You can also drop us a note at rescue@nwsams.org if you have questions.

Recently, we’ve had a lot of expenses for fostering and transporting dogs, so if you would like to donate, you can do so here.

April 2024 Rescue Report

Maureen Farrar on April 10, 2024

This has been a busy month with many dogs coming into our care. In February, we were alerted to three dogs that needed to be rehomed. One of their previous owners had passed away, and the other needed to move into assisted living. After some back and forth with the owner’s son, it was determined that we would wait to take them until he sorted everything out with his mom. During that time, the dogs were moved into a boarding facility, where the change in food and location stressed them.

We were finally able to take the dogs in mid-March. Kaya, 12, Nika, 9, and Karma, 6, were all taken to Melissa’s house, where they could decompress and relax for a few days. It was not ideal, though, because, in addition to her own dogs, Melissa was also fostering 12-year-old Moko, whose owners surrendered her due to a move out of the country.

Fortunately, Karma met with a fantastic family who quickly fell in love and adopted her. Nika is currently being fostered in the Seattle area, and Kaya is now being fostered in North Idaho. All three dogs are getting health checks and grooming and are settling in.

Meanwhile, Moko is still with Melissa, and we are looking for a home for her. She is a sweet dog in excellent health with the energy levels of a dog half her age. Initially, we thought she would need to be the only dog in the home, but as she’s adjusted to her new environment, it turns out she’s opening up and engaging with other dogs. We have a couple of people interested in Moko, so we’re crossing our fingers.

Six-month-old Mochi, who was surrendered because she was too much puppy for her previous owner and her toddler, is still being fostered and is looking for her new home. She is getting comfortable with crate training and has a ton of young dog energy. She needs to be physically and mentally engaged, so she will do best in a home with another dog, particularly one who can show her the ropes and keep up with her energy. Her foster said she shows all the markers of being a good agility dog, so she’ll be a great match for someone interested in participating in dog sports.

We’re so excited that Judi has been adopted! This blue-eyed girl came a long way from being the dirty, flea-infested dog with seizures. Now her seizures are under control, and she is a happy girl.

There’s good news about Anna, the Seattle dog, who lived with an older woman with dementia. After she was seized by Animal Control and taken to the shelter, she landed in a foster home and was eventually adopted.

We took Sophie, Fena, and Tessa into rescue in February 2018. They were nearly feral and spent much of the first year hiding in the garage, eventually coming in the house. We found Fena a good home, but Sophie and Tessa were still so fearful that they were unadoptable. They became part of our pack, but only Kathy could get close to them.

Last year, Sophie developed a perianal fistula that made it hard for her to poop. We treated her with Cyclosporin and antibiotics and then a laxative. A couple of days ago, she became lethargic and quit eating. A trip to the ER vet showed her colon was remarkably full, and they said it was like a firehose trying to empty through a tiny hole. A stricture made it even worse. They tried enemas, which didn’t work, then gave her the liquid humans get before a colonoscopy. Surgery would have been impractical. Our only option to avoid a life of pain was to help her cross the bridge, so we went to be with her as she left us.

We are working with Tessa now, hoping she will improve now that she won’t feed off Sophie’s fear. She really is a nice dog who deserves a home with a woman since she is afraid of men.

Chalky has been in the rescue since August of last year. He has a skin problem we haven’t diagnosed yet; we requested at a veterinary dermatology clinic several months ago and were told to wait until they have a slot open. We’re still waiting. Meanwhile, a mobile vet visited and put him on Apoquel, which has been marginally effective. Steroids work well, but he can’t be on them for at least a month before he sees the dermatologist. In the past month, his rear legs have weakened, and he has trouble standing. He is at least 12 years old, possibly 13, and we took him as a hospice foster. Chalky is the kind of dog you wish you had his whole life. He is a truly special, friendly, loving dog.

If you see a dog you are interested in fostering or adopting, please fill out an application. You can also drop us a note at rescue@nwsams.org if you have questions.
And if you would like to donate, you can do so here.

March 2024 Rescue Report

Ron Manor on March 11, 2024

Judi is a challenging girl. She has made great strides since she first came into rescue back in November. She had been bounced between owners, was overweight, and was having seizures. The last owner didn’t give her the meds she needed, but now she is stable as long as she gets her twice-daily pills. She is a gorgeous dog, with beautiful blue eyes; only the second blue-eyed Samoyed we have seen in over 20 years. As she learned she was safe in her foster home, Judi’s personality emerged. She is friendly, gets along with other dogs, and enjoys walks. She loves toys and treats and being close to her people. She is losing weight and gaining strength with exercise. It probably goes without saying that Judi needs the right kind of home, because she absolutely has to adhere to a twice-daily medication schedule. And lots of walks. There is someone interested in meeting Judi later this month, so cross your fingers.

Mochi is a 5 month old typical Samoyed puppy; spunky, sassy, energetic and super sweet and cuddly. She was surrendered to rescue because the previous owner had a toddler at home, and Mochi was too much puppy for them to handle. What we can tell you since she’s been with us is that she is very smart, picks up tricks very easily (good and bad tricks), and does all of the normal puppy stuff — barking, playing, running like a crazy dog, and being super affectionate when she stops to think about it. She is still working on potty training. She mostly is successful but occasionally has indoor accidents. She also has made a good start with crate training while she’s been with us. She will sleep through the night in her crate but doesn’t love it during the day. Mochi loves other dogs and has oodles of energy, so she would do best in a home with other young-ish dogs to play with and a yard to run around in. We think we found someone who will meet all her needs, and they get together soon.

We heard of a dog in the Seattle area living with an older woman who has dementia. The dog has been kept in a crate and not given exercise, and is generally in terrible condition. As we followed the story, Animal Control was convinced to visit, and the dog was seized and taken to a shelter. We are following closely and have been in contact, but we can’t give more information than that. If we get this dog, we will foster for a while and make sure she is rehabilitated for adoption.

Sophie and Tessa are former puppy mill dogs who have been with us for a little over six years, and are still fearful. If we can split them up, we believe either would be a good candidate for a home with only women (they are scared of men), with a yard that is super-secure.

If you see a dog you are interested in meeting or adopting, please go to our website at www.nwsams.org and fill out an application to adopt. You can also drop us a note at rescue@nwsams.org if you have questions.

February 2024 Rescue Report

Ron Manor on February 10, 2024

Judi had been through a lot when she arrived in our care in November. A previous owner had considered surrendering her to Northwest Samoyed Rescue in July, but ended up sending her to a new home that turned out to be with an animal hoarder. The animals were seized, and by the time Judi made it to the shelter, she was severely overweight, manifesting seizures and had growled at the vet. It wasn’t clear that she could be saved. We decided to take a chance.

She got cleaned up, brushed, and treated for fleas. The vet and her foster family worked together to treat her infections and got her seizures under control. The mental shock of her ordeal started to abate, and her personality started to emerge. The “real Judi,” it turns out, loves walks, and hikes and toys and treats and comfy beds and being near her people. She gets along well with her two Samoyed roomates. Her body is starting to catch up with her spirit as she loses weight and gains strength. Judi is just 7 years old and has a lot of life ahead with the right forever home.

Not just any forever home will work. While her seizures are controlled, they are a lifelong condition and require a strict medication regimen to keep under control. She likes dogs and people, but they have to be careful not to surprise her from behind or try to take a treat from her. Her new home will require structure, patience and presence. We think the ideal would be a two (or more) person household, a retirement or work-from-home situation, and a rock-solid option for Judi’s care during trips away. And of course, walks. Lots and lots of walks.

Maeve is a sweet dog who came to us from an apartment environment, where city living wasn’t really her cup of tea. She delights in the great outdoors, and loved running around the large yard at her foster home dashing after birds, squirrels, rabbits – anything that provides a good chase. If she’s already chased everything out of the yard, she’ll start nosing the bushes in the hopes of flushing something out for another round. Fortunately, her chase instinct doesn’t extend to cats, and she gets along well with other dogs as well. She’s particularly loving and affectionate with her humans, and loves to be petted, brushed and fussed over. She is quick to obey basic commands.

The noises of her previous urban environment set off rounds of barking, which could sometimes escalate Even small things could get her wound up, so Maeve is on anti-anxiety medication. When her new family came to meet her, she ran around excitedly and barked a lot, but they understood. It was obvious Maeve liked them and they liked her, and when they left she jumped in the car and wanted to go home.

Koda is a very vocal dog and eager to tell you that he wants to be a part of the family. He loves to sing along with car alarms, guitars, and likes to have conversations about treats, car rides and stuffies, which he knows by name. He loves blueberries, bananas, and treats and takes them with a very soft bite. He’s also a big snuggler and loves to curl up on the couch with his people. He was much loved, but he couldn’t go with his family on a move. We decided Koda would be a good candidate for a direct adoption.

Koda is all about his humans, but not so much about sharing his household with other dogs. He’s not neutered, so once he’s neutered (which was a condition of adoption), his reliability with other dogs will likely improve. He has some separation anxiety, so we looked for a family who was home most of the time. While we were waiting, Koda moved to a great new foster home for a couple weeks. He was adopted on February 3, after 15 days in foster care. Shortly thereafter he had a trip to the ER vet, where he was diagnosed with gastroenteritis. Rescue reimbursed the adopter for costs.

Chalky continues to have severe skin problems. If his cone is off he immediately begins chewing on himself. We are on the waiting list to see a dermatologist, with no real idea how long it will be. We expect another month. We found a vet who does house calls, who came to visit Chalky, Sophie, and our dogs Rowdy and Lily. We can’t have Chalky on Prednisone (the only drug that helps him) for a month before his dermatology visit so we are going to try Apoquel for a while. We already tried Cytopoint, which didn’t work, so we can only hope the Apoquel has some effect on the problems. He already set a record for the longest any foster dog has worn a cone. Chalky is such a great old boy, and so sweet, we want to help him.

We asked the vet to check out Sophie because she was diagnosed with a perianal fistula last year and it never healed properly. The mobile vet’s advice was to get him to a specialist surgeon as soon as we can; it’s another vet we know in Olympia, and we’re waiting for an appointment. Meanwhile we are giving her a laxative to make her life easier. Her cousin, Tessa, is physically healthy but mentally she is so fearful of everyone we haven’t had any luck trying to place her. This month marks six years since Sophie and Tessa arrived. Tessa turned 8 last October, and Sophie will be 8 next month.

Tessa and Sophie in their “safe spot” in the shower.

December 2023 Rescue Report

Ron Manor on December 10, 2023

In July, Kathleen answered email about a dog named Snow. It came from a man who had her only six months and wanted to let her go to another home. Shortly after that he wrote that she found a new home. On November 9, Jackson County, Oregon, animal services asked us to help with a female Samoyed named Snow. A year ago they seized 34 animals from a property and the owner was prohibited from having any animals in the future. They went back and found nine cats and one dog, and that was Snow. The man we heard from in July had given Snow to them.

Snow is seven years old. The new development is that she was said to have seizures during the previous year. She also growled at a vet in the shelter, and that put her on a euth list. Our board spent several days debating whether we could take her, but ultimately, we decided to take a chance and we said yes. They took Snow to Salem, where she was met by Melissa, who took her home for the night. Kathleen drove to Melissa’s house and took Snow back home with her to foster. Considering the risks of the new dog virus, she is staying in a separate area.

Snow had a seizure, so she went to the ER vet, where she had more. She is on anti-seizure meds, which we understand she didn’t get when needed. An x-ray also showed she had pneumonia. They wanted to have her go to a different emergency vet, but Kathleen elected to take her home and see what happened. That was a good choice. The seizure meds seem to be working, and the vet said her lungs are sounding good. From this point on, we will cross our fingers and hope she gets better. So far, vet bills have exceeded $3,000.

(Because of an error, I missed a dog in last month’s report.) Quinn came into rescue as an outdoor dog, and after a six-hour grooming session he quickly decided he would rather live inside. Quinn is a handsome guy. He got along well with the resident girl dogs, but we found he didn’t like other boys. Fortunately, we found a perfect home for him where there were two females, and he has a long, happy life ahead of him.

Just after last month’s report was written, Boi was adopted to applicants from Eugene. For the first time, we did a virtual home visit, and it went very well. They spent some time with him on a Sunday, then came back Monday to take him home. He really liked them, and we’re confident this is a good placement.

Lorek is a dog we agreed to list on our website so he could stay with his current owner until adopted. About a week ago we heard that he found his forever home.

Nearly six years ago, we got three Sammy girls from a backyard breeder just east of Vancouver. They came originally from a notorious puppy mill, and were incredibly fearful of everything. We worked hard to socialize them, mostly just by sitting with them, and eventually one found a home with a wonderful woman who was willing to invest her time. That was Fena, and she is doing very well now. Sophie and Tessa, the other two, have remained here because we have been strict about the requirements a new home must have. Both are sweet girls who would do well in a home with no men, which seems to be the source of their fear. They also feed on each other’s fear, so we would like to separate them. Please, if you know anyone who might be interested in either, they each need a home of their own.

Chalky is still having serious problems with his skin. The vet put him on Prednisone once again, and he is doing well right now, but he needs routine medicated baths to get better. That’s something Kathy and I just can’t do anymore, so we have been searching for a mobile groomer. A few days ago we touched base with one who said he can help us, so please join us in hoping it happens. Chalky is one of the nicest old guys we have fostered, and he deserves to have an itch-free life.

November 2023 Rescue Report

Ron Manor on November 21, 2023

Boi is a neutered male, about 4 years old, and incredibly sweet. He loves people, other dogs (large and small), and even cats. He’s house trained, crate trained, and knows quite few tricks. Boi seems particularly quick to win the hearts of those who spend time with him (that includes dogs and people). On his path to rescue, everyone was quite concerned that we be sure to not forget his favorite stuffie.

Boi has had almost no training and it shows. He’s pushy, impatient, and demand barks a lot. He’ll jump up on people to ensure his demands aren’t missed. He has some clear separation anxiety, but we’ve seen it lessen within just a couple weeks within a foster environment. The best fit for Boi would likely be an adopter that works from home or is retired so that they can help him work through the separation anxiety. Experience with Samoyeds is also a plus, as Boi will need someone who can handle his barky/stubborn Samoyed personality and give him the guidance he’ll need to truly thrive.

We had an app from Eugene that looked excellent, and we tried for over a week to find someone in the area to do a home visit for us, without success. Finally we decided to ask for a virtual visit with Zoom, and Kathleen handled that, since she is fostering Boi. A meeting is planned soon.

Every so often, someone who wants to surrender a dog also insists on making the decision who gets it. That’s the case now with a dog named Lorek. We agreed to publish him on our website and send interested people directly to the woman who still has him. She can meet the people and make her own decision, and Lorek will get a home with someone going through the rescue process. He looks like a very nice dog, and we hope for the best.

Chalky is a wonderful dog who appears to have some sort of skin infection. Or perhaps it’s an allergy, Or it might be something serious. At this point, we just don’t know. A week ago he had oil rubbed into the bad spots (mostly his belly), followed up with a medicated shampoo bath. Afterward he looked remarkably better, and his skin was actually soft instead of rough and scabby. We are going to work on getting a referral to a veterinary dermatologist. Fortunately there is one fairly close.

We have been asked to help with a Samoyed at the Jackson County shelter in Phoenix, Oregon. That’s a very long way from any of us, and we had to ask if they can help with transportation. If there is anyone driving north from that area, we would very much like to hear from you.

There is a “Husky/Samoyed” in the Portland area, still with his owner. It’s difficult to tell if this is a Samoyed whose owner doesn’t know the difference, or indeed a mix. At the time of this writing we haven’t made contact yet.

October 2023 Rescue Report

Ron Manor on October 21, 2023

Chalky was found as a stray in the Sultan area in early July, and was taken in by a woman in the area. She took him to her vet, where they found a microchip, but the vet reported not being able to connect with the owner of the chip, either by phone or email. He was in bad shape, with hair loss all over his body and a belly that was licked to the point the skin had turned almost black. Her vet ran a lot of tests, and determined the urgent problem was a staph infection. He went on an antibiotic, plus a thyroid supplement, but he was slow to respond. We contacted her then, but she wasn’t ready to surrender him. She wrote to us again at the end of August, asking about sending him here, and we started looking for a possible foster home. We knew it would be a hospice-type foster and he likely wouldn’t move again. Although we told our team we probably wouldn’t be able to take more dogs, Chalky ended up coming here. We have, unfortunately, a lot of experience with senior and hospice dogs in rescue.

On September 17, Tom and Erin transported Chalky south to us. He is a sweet old man who didn’t deserve being abandoned by his owner. The woman who found him tried very hard, but without Samoyed experience she didn’t know what to expect. Since coming here he has been able to live inside, and spends most of his time snoozing close to one of us. By luck, we had a vet appointment scheduled for the day after he got here, originally for Balto, who had been adopted. They ran more tests, without many new results, and we scheduled a follow-up two weeks later. His antibiotic was changed, and they cultured his skin to determine the best antibiotic. In the meantime, we put a cone on him so he couldn’t lick, and his skin began getting better. The culture came back showing Doxycycline would work best, so we switched to it, along with a Gentamycin spray to work on the fungal problem. Chalky is improving but probably has a way to go before his skin is better and his poor tail has hair. He has a lot of life left in him. When he comes out in the morning, he is literally prancing. The day of this writing, we added Prednisone to his meds and we’ll see how much it helps.

Quinn is still with Melissa and Terry. He is such a delightful dog that she says she would keep him there except for one problem. He just hates other males. Quinn and their boy Boomer have been in at least five fights, with each prompting new measures to keep them apart. Quinn is spending more time in a crate than anyone likes, and there is a door between them most of the time. It’s not easy to live that way. We have been trying to schedule home visits for applicants who don’t have other male dogs, but it’s slow going. Quinn would fit in wonderfully as an only dog or if there is only a female already there.

Tessa and Sophie have been here more than five and a half years. Kathy is able to approach them, and they seem to enjoy being petted by her, but only by her. In all this time, the only way I can get close is when they are confined. Their “safe place” is a shower in our bathroom. When they need sometime and I need to be close, we wait until they are there and close the door. Sophie accepts it, but Tessa shakes when I am too close. Kathy and I will have to downsize in the coming years, and we don’t have an option for the two girls. They need a home with no men, plus a super-secure yard. After they got here, we poured a concrete curb under our fence in the vulnerable spots, and we have an electric fence we can turn on if they begin testing things. If anyone knows a home that meets the necessities, we would sure love to hear from them.

September 2023 Rescue Report

NW Sams on September 11, 2023

It’s been another busy month, beginning with Mia’s adoption August 19. She came from the Humane Society of Skagit County, where she was living with four puppies about six months old. The people who found her tried calling the owner, but with no response, so they went to the shelter. The shelter tried again, and the owner came and reclaimed the two male pups, leaving Mia and two female pups there. The puppies were adopted quickly, leaving only Mia, and they transferred her to us. They thought she was about two years old, but beyond that we know almost nothing. She preferred to be with people, but got along with dogs and cats, and loved to go on walks. We found the right home, and Mia lives now with Angela and Nathaniel in Hillsboro, where she is the center of attention and happy as can be.

Balto has been waiting for a home with people who are prepared to have a jumper. We were told he could jump a six foot fence, but during the time since he came, he didn’t tried to jump over a fence once, and never even tested a baby gate in the house. We have to assume he needed more attention, and he is definitely a people oriented dog. Even when there wasn’t food involved, he stayed at the feet of one or the other of us, wanting attention. He loves to be scratched, and he even enjoys grooming. We contacted his breeder, but did not get an answer.

We said many times that if Balto was our last foster we’d be going out on top. We had a call a week and a half ago from Jen and Rick, past adopters who have come to us for Sammies in the past. It’s been a year since they lost Jinju, and they wanted to talk about dogs. We told them about his history of jumping, and they weren’t concerned. On September 10 they came to meet him, bringing along their dog Logan. Balto immediately went to them, and that’s what we always look for. He thought they were great people, and after a couple hours with him, Balto hopped in their car to begin his new life in Troutdale.

Quinn came from Bonner’s Ferry, Idaho, one of two Samoyeds who needed new homes. The female was placed by the owner. Darlene picked up Quinn and met Melissa in Hermiston, and she drove him home to foster with her. He is an exceptionally nice boy with one problem. He absolutely doesn’t like other boy dogs, and Melissa has to keep him separate from her male, Boomer. He is great with females, but he wants to be alpha male. In a home with no other dogs, or with just a female, he would be a perfect addition to a family. He came to Melissa looking like a dog who liked to roll in dirt, so Quinn went to a groomer and is clean and handsome again. He will soon be neutered and then he can move to his forever home.

In July we heard of a “young Samoyed” in the Index area. Kathleen corresponded with Jessie, the woman who found him, and was told he had a chip. The owner was contacted but didn’t answer after multiple attempts, so Jessie took care of him. His name is Chalkie. At the end of August, she wrote that she isn’t able to keep him because her landlord said no, and he is actually 12 years old. She sent photos that show a senior dog with serious skin problems. We haven’t taken him into rescue yet; for now we’re talking about where he would go.

For a while, at the beginning of the pandemic, we heard from a lot of people trying to find a Samoyed. Things have changed. We have lots of people who want us to help, and apps aren’t arriving as fast. I heard elsewhere that groups aren’t getting applications as fast as before, so apparently rescue work has shifted again. As long as we can find homes, we will be okay, but it points out our need for good foster homes. If you have room for an extra dog for a few weeks at a time, we would love to hear from you. It’s one of the most rewarding things you can ever do.

August 2023 Rescue Report

NW Sams on August 11, 2023

When we tell people we almost never have puppies, that’s true. But every once in a while, out of the blue, we get one dropped in our lap. That happened at the end of July when we were contacted about an 8-week old puppy who was advertised as a giveaway. The woman who told us went immediately to pick him up, not knowing what to expect, and found a family that got him from a friend and simply didn’t want a puppy. When she got home she contacted us again to let us know she was turning him over to rescue. We have been posting recently that we needed more applications, and one of those we received was a great match. Only three days later, Yeti went to his fur-ever home. We are grateful to Alysha, the friend of rescue who jumped in to get him for us.

Balto has been on our radar for four or five months. His family told us he can jump a six foot fence, so they had to keep him on a long rope all the time. They have a toddler and a baby on the way in the next couple weeks, and they were worried the rope would eventually snag and injure a child. Balto visited us a month ago so we could meet him, and early this month he came to be fostered. We spent some time refreshing the electric fence line around the top of our dog yard, so if he jumps up he will be discouraged from doing it again. What we found was that Balto isn’t all that interested in jumping when he has people who want him indoors. We have been either walking him on a leash or monitoring him closely when out in the yard. The day of this report, he went through a gate that wasn’t chained tightly, and ran for our chickens. Fortunately for them, we have enough experience with Samoyeds that the chicken yard has three fences. They kept him busy while Kathy got a leash. I followed with another, and the two of us got him into the house again. He is a very strong boy with no training. We will be looking for a home that has a VERY strong fence. Balto is mellow with people and other dogs, and as loving as can be. We are trying to get time to bathe him because he is still brown with dirt. Someone is going to be lucky to get him.

Polar was with Melissa until two weeks ago. He has a back story you can read about in last month’s report. Melissa visited a family in Clatskanie, Oregon, and they came to meet Polar. They decided on the spot they didn’t need to visit any other dogs, and after Polar healed from his neuter surgery he went to his new home. He now has his own family and even his own human boy to play with.

Mia came from the Skagit Humane Society. She was there with puppies, who were adopted out by the shelter. She didn’t have a name, and Kathleen decided Mia sounded right for her. She is still at Kathleen’s home being fostered, with a potential home on the horizon. She is a timid girl, but really sweet. Someone is going to get a wonderful dog.

A month ago we heard of a dog in the Index area. This month there are two dogs in Snohomish, and one looks the same. We think they are repeat escapees whose owner isn’t able to contain them. We’ll keep on top of the reports and may eventually need to take them into rescue.

This month Cheri is handling rescue inquiries and dogs who need help. She is being helped by Darlene, who recently visited a pair of Sammies in Bonner’s Ferry, Idaho. It looks at this writing like they have made arrangements for the female, but we will probably get the male. Time will tell. If we get him, he will be sent to Melissa to be fostered. Her husband recently said he misses having seven dogs. We think he had his tongue planted in his cheek when he said that.

More than a year ago the Secretary of State made a mistake and our rescue was officially dissolved. We have been fighting for reinstatement since then, and both Erin and I did battle with them unsuccessfully. Recently Hans took the baton in hand and we are now reinstated. Our team is growing and we are heading in the right direction to help as many Samoyeds as we can find. Last month, new board member Kathleen successfully handled the single busiest month we had in the last 23 years. In addition to our board members, our volunteer community is also robust and helps us find dogs who need us. Most shelters around the northwest know who we are, and that makes it easier to do our job. These are not the parts of rescue we usually write about, but they are real tasks that keep things going. Thanks to everyone!

Balto, after his first session with the blower.

July 2023 Rescue Report

NW Sams on July 11, 2023

Polar was on Craigslist early in June. The owner said he got him from a friend, and was rehoming him because he had too many dogs. Melissa called and wrote, and after a few emails back and forth, he brought Polar to Melissa’s home, where he has been fostered since. Polar was still intact, and will be neutered soon. He was born in 2019, so he is a wonderful age. We had a good app from someone in Clatskanie, Oregon, so Melissa took care of the home visit and reported they were a good home. After meeting him they decided not to visit Balto, the other dog we are trying to place, and as soon as Polar is neutered he will move in with them. He is a very mellow boy who loves people, and this looks like an excellent match.

We have been working with Balto off and on since January. His family seems to want him, but Balto is a jumper who can get over their five and a half foot fence. Because of that they have to keep him on a long line, and they recognize he needs a place to run. They recently brough him to us to meet, and he did well with our whole pack, as well as our fairly low fence. We believe a little judicious use of electric fencing would keep him contained, but so far we haven’t found anyone with an adequate fence. Fortunately, the owners are patient. Balto is a big guy whose ears didn’t come all the way up. He walked in the door and immediately joined our pack without problem, so we know he will make a great addition to the right home. Balto will be three years old in October.

In the past few days we heard of a Samoyed with four pups in Burlington. This month, Kathleen is on call so she is handling the contacts with the shelter. It’s her first month as “first responder,” and there is nothing like learning while under fire. When she reached the shelter, they indicated they would work with us. Melissa offered to foster them, which would be a heroic feat. We will see what happens. There was also a young Samoyed (we think) found in the Index area. We don’t know what his status is yet.

Dogs we heard about or saw online this month.

Sophie and Tessa go through spells where they won’t come inside, and when that happens we limit them to a small cross-fenced area of the back yard, where we can herd them toward the door. After many months of that, they seem to be coming in reliably now, and recently we gave them the whole yard. It helps that we are giving them high-value treats after they are in and the door is shut.