Kiwi's Adventures

Kiwi will be leaving us soon..

2009-12-23T13:53:00.000-05:00

We are very sad for us...as we will most definately miss having her around but so very happy for her and her new forever family who I am sure are going to love her as much as we do!

The date is set..they will be picking her up Dec. 28th..the monday after Christmas. We are enjoying the days we have left with her and I know shes goign to be so happy in her new home...hopefully they will let us meet up and visit her sometime..or even dog sit if they ever need it!

We will miss you Kiwi!!!

NJ Blizzard of 09

2009-12-20T12:52:00.026-05:00

Kiwi got to enjoy the almost 2 feet of snow we got. Im assuming being from Maine she is probably somewhat used to it...but we had a good time with the dogs playing in the snow out back of my parents house. Unfortunately poor Kiwi got cold pretty quick...her saggy belly (or udders as Matt and I call them) literally drag in the snow. So after a half hour or so we did take her inside.

Pictures of course...

Grayce, Kiwi, Matt and I

Kiwi and Matt Kiwi Maddy and Grayce

Kiwi and I Grayce Kiwi watching the crazy Maddy Is Maddy gonna make it through?Maddy and Grayce Maddy and Grayce More Maddy and Grayce Kiwi and Grayce Maddy loving the snow

Grayce, Kiwi, and Maddy

Merry Christmas Kiwi!!!

2009-12-18T16:50:00.003-05:00

Well we met them and they loved her!! They were just wonderful and Kiwi seemed to think the same right from the start :) IT was so obvious that this family truly loves animals and Kiwi will be just as spoiled as she is currently. It has been so bittersweet thinking about having to let her go to another home but I am so happy to know she is going to have a really great family.

Since its going to be hectic over the holidays we decided it would be best to wait until the week after Christmas to transfer Kiwi into her new home. We will miss her but know she is going to a great place.

So as long as all goes welll....Meet Kiwi's new family (minus the husband)

Kiwi might get her Christmas Wish

2009-12-17T09:00:00.003-05:00

On Tuesday a woman called and showed interest in Kiwi. She filled out an adoption application and sounded like a great match. She is married with 3 teenage children. They have an 11 year old lab and had just recently lost their other lab to cancer. She felt her lab was lonely and they needed a second dog in the home again...however due to her labs age there was no way that she could bring a young puppy into the home. She started looking on petfinder and found Kiwi.
So we spoke on the phone and arrangements were made for her to come this evening to meet Ms. Kiwi.

She got her bath this morning and is now smelling all nice and clean to meet them.

Dino Face

2009-12-17T08:00:00.031-05:00

I think everyone has to agree that one of the best things about dogs are the greetings you get when you walk in the door. You could be gone for 5 days, 5 hours or even 5 minutes and your dog will always be just as excited to see you. I always thought Grayce gave the best greetings but I might have to admit that Kiwi's excited greetings top hers.

Kiwi does this thing that Matt and I refer to as "Dino Face". It begins with a twitch of her lips, and pulling them back up over her teeth...she looks like shes giving you a big toothy grin (all the while running at you with her entire body wagging)...once she gets in full swing her uncontrollable dino-chomp begins. She will run around just chomping her mouth open and closed, sometimes giving little nips so be careful! It is the cutest and most hilarious thing to see.

We successfully captured some of her "Dino Face" on camera after much running around like idiots ourselves trying to get Kiwi excited.

The beginning of the dino face..her uncontrollable toothy grin

Here we go!!!!

Almost there...

There it is!! DINO FACE!

Note that even Matt has some Dino face going on.

Than just because they are cute...

Begging Weimies

Sleepy Kiwi

Kiwi learns quickly

2009-12-16T16:05:00.000-05:00

Went to visit my parents briefly and Kiwi picked up real quickly that "grandmom" spoils all weims and provides treats at the slightest sad dog face.
She was immediately my mothers new shadow in the kitchen.

Cuddle time

2009-12-15T23:15:00.000-05:00

I lost my spot on the couch

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

It's puppy love

2009-12-15T17:14:00.000-05:00

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Kiwi thinks she's a cat

2009-12-14T23:47:00.000-05:00

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Kiwi LOVES ice

2009-12-12T12:15:00.017-05:00

Spent another day at the dog park. Kiwi made lots of friends and spent a lot of time trying to bite the puddles that were completely ice.

Pictures of our dog park adventures with her doggy friends Maddy and Grayce...

Kiwi scoping out the ice

Kiwi eating the ice

Grayce and Maddy checking out the ice

Grayce leaping over the ice

Super Maddy leaping over the ice w/ stick in her mouth..haha

Happy Kiwi Hanging out

Kiwi running and playing

Kiwi wondering if she should try out agility

All Kiwi wants for Christmas...

2009-12-07T18:59:00.001-05:00

is a forever family...she asked santa last night!

Feeling better at Fort Mott State Park

2009-12-06T18:40:00.028-05:00

Took the dogs to Fort Mott State Park. Kiwi was a ball of energy and obviously was feeling much better. I was also really excited because while Kiwi obviously enjoys being in the company of other dogs she has shown no interest in playing with other dogs yet. Today she initiated playing with Grayce-was running and chasing her and even wrestling/rough-houseing a bit with her.

TONS of pictures to share.

Pretty Kiwi on the trail

Goofy Kiwi running

Matt and I call this Kiwi's dinosaur face. She also makes this face when she gets really excited-even if she doesnt have something in her mouth.

Such a pretty girl

Dont you want to take me home?

Kiwi and Grayce actually playing!!!

Poor Grayce hopped in the water and was shivering cold. This is her trying to warm up.

Kiwi is all tuckered out and ready for a nap!!

Kiwi gets to come home!

2009-12-05T22:03:00.021-05:00

Kiwi is doing much better today! She was sooo excited to see me when I picked her up at 7:30am to bring her back to the Marlton Animal Hospital. She was no longer bright pink and seemed to be her happy self.
I had to bring her back to be re-evaluated by the vet there. He kept her until 1pm and hydrated her with IV fluids but let her come home with me in the afternoon. She was such a happy girl and went home and slept on the couch with Matt and Grayce while I went to my best friends baby shower. Matt made sure to send me hourly photo updates to show that Kiwi was doing just fine :)

Kiwi and Grayce relaxing after a long weekend

We were all so relieved and happy to have Kiwi back home. On top of all that went on with Kiwi this weekend it was also Matt and my brothers birthdays..and my best friends baby shower for twins! So tonight we had my dad "dogsit" to make sure Kiwi wasnt left alone while we attended my brothers 30th bday party. Kiwi did great napping the entire time.

The vet also said there should be no long term side effects or problems from her overdose. Luckily it was just something that as long as she made it through and the meds went through her system she would be ok!

A scary day...

2009-12-04T21:44:00.038-05:00

I moved several weeks ago and have been slowly in the process of transporting all of my "stuff" from old place to new place. Last night I had picked up a bunch of stuff and left one bag still in the car. It was a paper bag full of food samples and some meds and stuff of Grayces.
Well this morning driving to work I hit the breaks and heard the bag spill. Kiwi was in the back as she was coming to work with me. I heard the food sample bags crumpling a bit so I kept yelling back at Kiwi to leave it alone and watching her in my rear view mirror. She did not seem to get into anything.
I got to work and Kiwi and I went about the day. I had a meeting so Kiwi ate a marrow bone someone in the office gave her. She acted completely normal all morning. Around 11:30am I noticed Kiwi was bright red all over. Initially my thought was she was having a reaction to her new food she was jsut switched to or quite possibly even the marrow bone. I even took pictures of her skin to email to Julie our president just to get her input. This is what she looked like.

Other than the skin she was not acting abnormal at all. I took her out to the car with me as I was going to run out to grab lunch...when I went to put her in the car not only did I see the spilled dog food bags but a spilled bottle of Grayce's incontinence medicine that the lid apparently was not on properly. The medication is flavored like treats so Kiwi had eaten twenty 50mg tablets!!

At this point I was near panic..ran back in the office and called the vet who had me call animal poison control. Poison control said I needed to bring her to my vet to have her blood pressure checked. She was still acting normal at this point. Brought her to the vet where I sat in the waiting room thinking she was going to be just fine. Thinking if the meds were flavored like treats they couldnt be that horrible..plus Kiwi seemed to be acting just fine.

Well the waiting went from 10 minutes to 20..to 40 minutes in which I was really beginning to get nervous. Finally the doctor came out and apologized for taking so long that he "just wanted to get Kiwi stable before coming back out". At this point of course I lost it..I hadnt even realized she was not stable!!

Basically her heart rate was really low and blood pressure super high. They gave her meds to lower the BP and gave her charcoal to help absorb the pills and make her pass them quickly. I asked to see her before I left and she just looked horrible. I was so scared for her.

She had to be admitted and than I had to pick her up tonight and transfer her to the Mt laurel animal hospital for observation overnight.

I feel horribly guilty for being so stupid to leave those pills in the back. Kiwi doesnt get into stuff so I just didnt think twice figuring the bottles were closed properly. OBviously a dog that has "treats" spilled out in front of her is going to eat them.

Workin weim

2009-12-01T12:27:00.000-05:00

Kiwi enjoys a day at work with me.

This is what she does all day :)

Off to the vet for a check up

2009-11-30T12:09:00.001-05:00

We went to the vet today just to get Kiwi all checked out. The shelter diagnosed her with hypothyroid which is a condition easily maintained with medicine. We wanted to run a thyroid panel to see how her medicine may need to be adjusted if at all.

First big suprised as the vet was that Kiwi had gone from a whopping 91lbs when admitted to the shelter mid-October to 74lbs!!!! This is probably a combo of her exercise, change in diet and also the thyroid medication.

Vet said seh looked great otherwise and ran the full thyroid panel. We did have to increase her thyroid medication and will re-do the test in another month..but she is in great health and on her way to being a much more fit girl :)

Another day at the dog park

2009-11-29T12:00:00.000-05:00

Kiwi had another fun day at the dog park

Exploring at Freedom Park. she was interested in the water but did not venture in.

Long Day for Kiwi..shes sleepy.

Even Grayce is sleepy too on the car ride home. Grayce on left and Kiwi on right.

Happy pups on their way home for a nap.

Bones Yum!

2009-11-27T11:50:00.000-05:00

Tonight Matt and I had friends visiting the house so I decided to give Grayce and Kiwi each a small rawhide stick to eat and keep them busy while we all ate our pizza. Grayce of course finished her bone first than insisted on watching Kiwi finish hers and giving me the evil eye.

Immediately after Kiwi finished her bone and got up..Grayce walked over (right in front of me) sniffed out where the bone was, squatted down and marked the spot!!! I was stunned..Grayce has not peed indoors in over 2 years!! Although the last time she had done it was when the first time I brought her to my parents house she ran around and when she came to the spot my childhood dog used to have accidents as she got older she squatted and marked. Grayce knew she was in trouble after that and moped behind Matt for the next hour haha.

At least I got some funny pictures out of the whole thing..Grayce's expression is pretty classic right before she did the marking.

Kiwi and her Dumbo ears enjoying the bone

Nom!!!

Grayce giving me the evil eye

Grayce: "wait until you see what I plan on doing when she finishes"

Happy Thanksgiving Kiwi!

2009-11-26T11:41:00.000-05:00

For Thanksgiving Matt and I took Kiwi and Grayce to the local dog park where we met up with my brother and his puggle, Maddy. It was the first time taking Kiwi out and about and I was hesitant to let her off leash but after a bit took the risk and she was great. She obviously loves being around other dogs but she doesnt quite seem to know how to play with them. She just wags her little nub tail, walks up to them gives a sniff and hangs around. Everyone once in awhile I would do a double take and think I lost Kiwi ..give a quick look around and find that she has just wondered over to the closest person and nuzzled up against them looking for a good pat on the head. Everyone at the dog park loved her!! We are going to get her an "Adopt Me" bandana so she can wear it anytime we go..maybe her forever family will find her there since shes such a love bug.

She suprised me when my brother picked up a stick and she went crazy bouncing around barking excitedly for him to throw it. She only fetched it once because if any other dog went for it she just gave up...but it was great to see her happy and playing.

We had a blast!!!

Kiwi comes "home"

2009-11-25T11:35:00.000-05:00

Kiwi was being fostered by the local Camp Bow Wow but my boyfriend and I decided we would be able to make space for her in our home until she was adopted. Camp BowWow was a GREAT place for her but as an older girl and the fact that it may take a bit longer to find her a home we thought it would be better for her to be able to spend her time in a home environment.

I picked her up the day before thanksgiving and she immediately made herself right at home with my weim. Grayce is a 4 and a half year old female that can sometimes be a bit dominant but since Kiwi is such a mellow girl I figured it would be just fine and it was. They already cuddle and snuggle up on the couch together.

Grayce on the left and Kiwi on right

Kiwi's Arrives in Nj

2009-11-21T15:00:00.001-05:00

Kiwi foster plans changed a few times over the first few weeks she was in NJ. She spent her first week in a temporary foster while we finalized plans for her long term foster. An opportunity came up for us to partner with Camp Bow Wow and they offered to foster Kiwi for us long term. We decided to give this option a try and since the Camp Bow Wow was located near me and I would plan to pick Kiwi up some days/weekends to make sure she still got to spend time in a home environment and get a break from the daycare environment.
Kiwi was extremely nervous when she first arrived at Camp BowWow but quickly warmed up and seemed to enjoy mingling with the other dogs. All of the staff at CBW instantly fell in love with Kiwi and found that she was so mellow they were able to use her to calm down some of the craziest and most high strung dogs.
I went to visit Kiwi today to meet her and get some pictures for her petfinder. I was surprised when I met her that she did not seem nearly as large as the picture I had seen of her made her look. She was a bit nervous and skeptical of me at first but very quickly warmed up and began to nudge up against me wagging her nub looking for attention.

Here are the pictures

Kiwi's Past

2009-11-03T18:54:00.001-05:00

A wonderful woman named Marie contacted Tri-State Weim Rescue and informed us of a senior weim located in the Coastal Humane Society in Maine. They do not have a local weim rescue and she was willing to personally drive Kiwi out to us if we would take her in.
Kiwi's background is a sad story of being used as a breeding machine. We are unsure of how many litters she had but her poor belly shows it was def quite a few (shes in need of a tummy tuck!). In 2007 she apparently stopped "taking" when bred. She was spayed and than given up in 2009 because she was "getting older"..this was the actual reason written on her surrender paperwork.
Kiwi's skin and fur are a bit of a mess as she had a flea allergy and apparently had fleas...she also was diagnosed by the shelter vet with a hypothyroid condition which she is now on medication for. The first picture of Kiwi that Tri-State received make her look like one of the most overweight weims we have seen yet!

It took some work as the shelter Kiwi was at had a Distemper outbreak scare that turned out to only be Canine Flu outbreak so all dogs were quarantined and put on a hold. We thought we were going to have to wait months to bring Kiwi to us but it turned out she tested negative so the shelter allowed Marie to bring her to us. So Kiwi began the journey to her new future.