Minnie Series Part 6 - Simba (Dexter)

By: Stephanie S.         

Simba (now Dexter) sitting pretty.

     My fiancée and I were introduced to Manitoba Mutts Dog Rescue through a friend who took us to an adoption fair last March. After coming home from the fair, we were in awe of the MMDR community – the volunteers, foster parents, and ‘furever’ families. We instantly knew this was the path for us. I wanted to adopt every dog in sight that day, but thankfully, my fiancée is much more rational than I am and reminded me that we must be patient and that “the right one will come”. A few months later, we learned of Minnie’s story and her new puppies. We immediately made arrangements to meet them.

Dexter and his furever mom.

    It only took us about 12 seconds to fall in love with Dexter (formerly Simba). Holding him for the first time is one of the greatest moments of my life to date. He was very gentle, sweet, and he melted our hearts. We were also impressed with Minnie's sweet and docile temperament; her incredible story touched our hearts. We knew that if Dexter had even half as much courage and tenacity as his mother, we would have one amazing dog. We left his foster parents’ house that day knowing we had just met our newest family member.

     After patiently waiting another 4 weeks, we were finally allowed to bring our puppy home at the age of 8 weeks. We spent the next 72 hours watching him sleep, eat, drink, sleep, eat, and sleep some more. He was so tiny that he could practically swim in his water bowl (he certainly tried it a few times). He quickly learned to love car rides, digging in the backyard, and walking in the neighborhood. He became an instant hit with our friends and family, and we received many offers for puppy-sitters! He also quickly learned how tasty socks are – especially white ones! He loves the lake and wading in the water, and is slowing catching on to the concept of retrieving sticks. He’s learned a few basic commands – ‘sit’, ‘down’, and ‘come’ – and we’re looking forward to puppy classes in the late Fall with him.

    We are very grateful to the foster parents who looked after Dexter before he came to our home. He was well socialized and almost house trained when we brought him home. We can’t believe how lucky we are to have such a great dog, and we attribute it to his foster families in his early life. We are also very thankful to the MMDR family, who find safe and loving homes for dogs in need. We love every moment we spend with our puppy. He is a blessing in our lives and we can't remember what life was like in our pre-Dexter days. He truly made our house a home.

Minnie Series Part 3 - Princess Jasmine

By Jacquline L.

In keeping up with our recent posts about Minnie and her litter, here’s the story of Jasmine, one of MMDR’s many foster fails! Jasmine was brought into care, and her foster mom just couldn’t bear to let her go after the roles were reversed and the foster dog became the care giver for the foster parent. It’s always important to remember that sometimes we might rescue the dog without realizing we’re in need of some rescue ourselves.

Jasmine was named after the princess in the Disney movie Aladdin. She came to us at six weeks old along with her two sisters Alice and Rapunzel. Jasmine was the energetic one and the instigator out of the three as she would pounce on her sisters to engage them in play. She also loved cuddling up on our lap for her naps. The longer we had Jasmine in our care, the more we fell in love with her. We tried to get friends and family to adopt her as we really wanted to see her grow up, however no one was in the market for another dog. Jasmine was brought to the Morris Stampede for the Manitoba Mutts adoption fair. We were relieved to see her still around at the end of the day!

Seeing her play with our 8 year old dog Kyzer and our 6 year old dog Dameon made us fall in love with her even more so. She had made herself at home and seemed to be part of the family by then. While fostering Jasmine, my husband and I found out we were expecting our first child. As much as we wanted to keep her, we were unsure if we wanted to take on the responsibility of raising a puppy while taking care of a baby. Five weeks later, we were devastated as our third ultrasound of the pregnancy showed that the baby's heart had stopped.

Throughout that week filled with emergency hospital visits, surgery and the beginning of a physical and emotional recovery, Jasmine was by my side. She would lie next to me all day, only leaving my side to go do her business outside. She has been a blessing and an angel in disguise. We could not imagine our lives without Jasmine in it. As far as she ever knew, we were always her parents and she was oblivious to the fact that she was up for adoption. The home she had was the only home she knew. She has filled our lives with joy and laughter since the day we brought her home. Jasmine has engraved herself in our hearts. Jasmine; our girl; our princess.

Congratulations to Jasmine on finding her forever home and for helping her adopted Mom through such a tough time. It’s always great to see the positive impact that our mutts have on the lives of their human families!

Swim Time

Helping Win at Cards! 

Minnie Series - Part 2 "Minnie Adopts her Person"

By Carolyn G.

Minnie in her mini pool! 

My entre life I have wanted a dog, so why now after all these years? Why did I give up that inexpensive, fantastic apartment for a place more expensive but dog friendly?  Possibly in some zone that only dogs are privy to; like where they hear ultra sound and are in touch with the supernatural; Minnie got fed up with waiting and adopted me. I guess my photo was posted on some dog frequency, with a little ribbon across me that read, 'Adopted!' and all dogs were just waiting, panting, for Minnie to pick me up. That would be the only way to explain it, because I filled out a MMDR application form for another dog and then without pause -- deleted it, scrolling back and looking at that dog smile of Minnie's that had amazed me from the start.  Then I fired off the form for Minnie.

When I went to meet her at her foster's home with my best friend Melanie Wight (MLA of Burrows) who had decided to buy me the dog of my choice for my birthday to stop me mooning over dogs and actually begin enjoying one, we drove around a bit, because we were early.  I swore up and down that no matter what I thought of Minnie, I would wait 24 hours. But as soon as Minnie came out of the front door, it was clear I belonged to her and she'd worked her dog mojo. She'd finally got to pick me up. 

I'd read on the MMDR site that her back had been burned, that she'd suffered abuse, but so focused on her sweet face, it hadn't really sunk in. That first meeting, the fosters Mallory and James braced me and then took off Minnie's shirt.  Minnie backed up against me pressing this most vulnerable part of her into me.  We humans sat on the grass and chatted while Minnie let me stroke her soft, warm bare back skin, and scratch around the periphery where stubble was growing.  Her fosters offered to show me photos of Minnie before her medical treatment. Unfazed by her bare back, I did not think the pictures would bother me.  I was wrong.  They are horrific.

Everywhere Minnie and I go, people ask why she's wearing a shirt, or notice the skin peeking out at the edges and ask about her.  People actually praise me or thank me for taking her on.  It's difficult to explain in these brief chats how the praise should go to the people who saved her life, who nursed her back to health, to MMDR and all their amazing fosters, and how grateful I am to have Minnie in my life.  To think she was so abused when she is the most good-natured, joyful, loving creature I could imagine.  Minnie once lived tied to a tire by a short, filthy yellow rope in a dirt pile.  She was starved, parched, and burned, and those are only the things we know for sure.  

A mini list of Minnie’s tendencies:

-Sleeps with her mom, cuddles her at night and again in the morning as soon as their eyes meet. And every chance they get in between.

- Relentlessly pursues a study of squirrels, birds, and gophers.  

- Takes her mom and many friends for walks down streets and lanes they would never have noticed before. 

- Proved she is a world-class digger.

- Deconstructs her toy lion.

- Climbs trees when given half a chance.  I told her that she couldn't, but she can.  

- Eats healthy meals and treats, does damage to bones.  Even though my apartment is rather small, I have a water dish for her in two rooms, to always remind her that she will never be thirsty again.  

- Sniffs the air and observes her city during car rides.

- Makes friends and plays at Sprockett's Doggy Day Camp when mom is busy.

- Socializes with the dogs in the suite downstairs.  Wrestles with the young one, licked the muzzle of the old one with arthritis when she couldn't get up.

- Hits the pool occasionally.

- Charms people everywhere with her sweetness.

I've often thought Minnie had the brains and agility to do a job.  When neighbourhood children inevitably run to her and wrap their arms around her neck to hug her, because it's impossible to resist loving her, and then ask about her back, Minnie and I educate them about the importance of being good to animals and never allowing them to be abused.  It's preaching to the converted with the young folk we meet. Their little bodies stiffen up with the injustice of it when I put her story - as mildly as I can to them.  They all love Minnie.  So perhaps Minnie and I have a bit of a job already.  Maybe she masterminded this whole thing so I'd speak for her; put her thoughts and feelings into English.  I'm grateful she took me on.

Who says dogs can't climb trees? 

Minnie taking her mama for a walk!

Minnie Series - Part 1 "Minnie Gets a Second Chance"

By Mallory F.

The day we met Minnie is a day that we will never forget. We watched that wagging tail walk out of the vet office with her belly hanging to the ground. Minnie approached us with all the love she had to offer. Our new foster girl came from a northern community where she had severe burns on her back.... and she was ready to give birth any given day. She settled into her room, and immediately soaked in the love and care we had for her. Five days of sitting on pins and needles we anxiously awaited the birth of the Disney litter. Early morning on April 28th, we heard the first squeak and the long day had begun. After seeing the x-ray of her belly, we knew to expect a handful of at least 7 beautiful babies - however, after a panicked trip to the vet, a box of Kleenex and 12 hours since the first squeak, we now needed to name all 11 happy, healthy puppies! Minnie proved to be more amazing then anyone had ever given her credit for, and gave her 11 puppies all she had to offer even though she was going through so many things herself. The next few weeks flew by, and before we knew it Minnie and her babies were ready to go to their forever homes. It seemed hard to believe - but as we watched those puppies leave the house one by one, we knew we would never forget Minnie. We learned a lot about love and patience from her, and she will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Disney Babies 

Minnie Looking Much Better

Minnie's Burn Marks