Blackberry Canyon Animal Society

She will be missed...

2011-11-30T01:16:00.000-08:00

I'm sad to report that Starr passed away last week. She was an old girl, who was spoiled in the final years of her life. We can only hope that the warm bed, endless treats and lots of love, made up for the horrific life she had before coming to us.

They find us...

2011-11-30T01:11:00.000-08:00

Daisy is a lovely little girl that ran out into the middle of a country road in Southwest Washington. She was terribly skinny but in good spirits. After searching high and low for her people, we concluded that she was likely dumped. She took a trip to the vet where she was spayed and received her rabies vaccination. And with the help of the wonderful people at Must Love Dogs NW, Daisy found her way into a perfect home with two little girls and great dog daddy to love her.

Let me show you how it's done!

2010-12-22T10:57:00.000-08:00

Onyx took advantage of the last snowfall to show everyone how a snowball is made.

You will be missed...

2010-07-07T15:59:00.001-07:00

We lost Guinie yesterday. He passed peacefully while lounging in the morning sun. His journey to Blackberry Canyon started when his original people decided that ten years was long enough to have a dog. They were moving and decided to have him euthanized. The vet refused to end his life and instead put him out for breed rescue. Guinie made his way down to the Vancouver area only to land with a rescuer who decided that she couldn't place him because he wasn't "handsome" enough and no shelter would take him because of his age. Enter Blackberry Canyon.

Guinie was loved by all - especially Peanut and we thought he was super handsome and loved him to the end.

Help find Paco! He's lost in Mexico City!

2010-05-21T02:01:00.000-07:00

A beautiful little dog was lost by Delta Airlines in Mexico City during his trip to a new life in Ontario with a loving couple. This is a heartbreaking story but there is still hope. I have connected with an animal lover in Mexico City who is going to work to find him. She is going to hang posters as well as place an ad in the paper and advertise a reward. She is also going to talk to people at the airport.

I am taking pledges to raise a cash reward that will be offered for Paco's safe return.

If you are willing to contribute to this reward - follow the steps below. If you pledge a minimum of $10 - you will receive a free Good Dog Block from a fun dog site.

Email to blackberrycanyon@gmail.com. Include your name, email address and the amount you are willing to pledge. Once Paco is found - I will get back in touch with you to forward the funds to an organization that will handle delivering the reward.

Paco's Plight

PetRelocation has offered to deliver Paco from Mexico to his home in Ontario at no charge!

Life on a chain - just changed!!!

2010-05-10T00:10:00.000-07:00

I had driven by these pitiful dogs countless times. Animal control offered no help and every time it would rain or snow, my heart would ache. Two dogs, chained to trees, with no shelter except for what the trees provide. Today, with the help of Fences For Fido, all that changed. We (Rebecca, Allen and David) delivered two beautiful dog houses and managed to open dialogue regarding spay / neuter, replacing the chains that are padlocked around their necks and getting them off of chains all together. I plan to stay engaged as long as it takes to help improve things for these lovely creatures.

To be continued...

Check out the photos on Flickr.

Guinie and Peter help build a wall!

2010-04-18T18:20:00.000-07:00

The weather has been beautiful and I finally had a bit of time to put in one of the retaining walls. It wasn't easy with Peter and Guinie laying in the only spot to stand. These two old fellas can't manage stairs but can squeeze into a little space with no room to turn around.

2010-03-07T00:22:00.000-08:00

Every spring and through the summer, chipmunks visit the bird feeders for a snack. They also love the strawberry patch and nibbling on mulberries from our huge ever-bearing mulberry tree. This one has full cheeks...:-).

The Boonie Tunes

2010-03-04T23:31:00.000-08:00

This is a little video of May, June and Doc in the snow. They are from Guam and this was the first time they saw snow. It wasn't much of a storm but it gave everyone something new to go crazy over. You can see that June (formerly Mallory) wasn't very happy. I ended up carrying her inside as she didn't want to walk in it. LOL.

In memory of a beautiful golden dog...

2010-03-04T23:15:00.000-08:00

DON’T
by R. Rodriguez

Don’t let this day be real -
Don’t let me look at his spot on the couch and find it empty.

Don’t let this ache be real –
Don’t let me find his bear on the floor – abandoned and heartbroken too.

Don’t let this heartbreak be real –
Don’t let me wake to find him still gone – like he was this awful day.

Don’t let these tears be real –
Don’t let me find that the rain has not fallen and soaked my face and his fur.

Don’t let this pain be real –
Don’t let me find the anguish of a lost friend living in each breath I take.

Don’t let these thoughts be real –
Don’t let it be that he didn’t understand. That he was scared and felt alone. That he didn’t know that I loved him with every ounce of me.

Don’t let this day be real –
Let me find it has been a sad dream and I am blessed with him for one more day.

A Horse is a Horse Of Course Of Couse

2010-03-04T22:54:00.000-08:00

MR. ED started his life in a trailer with several other Chows. It was said that the humans in charge of these dogs one day shut the door and never came back. When the dogs were discovered many of them had died and the living ones had survived by eating the ones who had past. Mr. Ed was barely six months old when they were rescued and he had had very little in the way of human contact. He was listed as “the shyest” of the group and placed with a no-kill shelter where he was offered for adoption. Mr. Ed sat in a kennel for two years waiting for someone to take him home. He was adopted out to a girl who had never had a dog before and she was completely unprepared to help this broken, frightened creature. A BCAS volunteer discovered Mr. Ed living on an apartment patio where the girl had kept him for six months. She didn’t allow him inside as she was “afraid” of him. The girl wanted to find Mr. Ed another home but didn’t think that anyone would want such a dog.

When he arrived to Blackberry Canyon he was catatonic and completely unresponsive. Through his bath and haircut he barely moved. It was as though he was someplace else entirely. He was given the name Mr. Ed after the horse who had nothing to say. We had no idea how long it would take to break through his barriers and gain his trust, but we were willing to spend the time. He was housebroken with almost no effort and made friends with the other dogs very quickly—but when it came to people he was lost.

Four weeks into his stay he had claimed a spot on the bed. One day he was in a dead sleep when someone came through the basement door. He lifted up his head, looked at the door and barked. It was the first time he spoke and since then he has not stopped. Mr. Ed is now responsive and loving with an assortment of facial expressions, friends and games he likes to play with the other dogs as well as the humans. He hasn't quite realized that there is enough food for everyone—but he’s making progress. Mr. Ed holds the most improved award at Blackberry Canyon Animal Society.

Ed (left) is pictured here with Molly who has her own story to tell.

Our Forever Home

2010-03-04T22:46:00.001-08:00

Blackberry Canyon is situated on five acres in the Pacific Northwest. There are douglas fir, cedar, walnut, apple and plum trees. We have a beautiful creek that runs year round, three springs and birds of all kinds. We even get a daily visit from the deer and coyotes that sing their wild song every night.