Happy New Year!!

Hi my sweet and wonderful Pals all over the world. Thank you for being such good friends this year. I love each and every one of you. 

I will be spending New Years Eve with my sweet Remington. My family is staying in and celebrating together. I hope you have plans no matter how big or small and are all safe and happy.

Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day.  ~Michael Josephson, whatwillmatter.com

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them

ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

I am so happy to say that I have made so many new pals this year. I met my sweet Remington. This has been a good year for me. Another year with a wonderful family that loves me in a nice home and neighborhood. I wish you all a very good year and to all the pals. I am keeping paws crossed for all the pals who still need to find a furever home out there. 

Will you all cross paws with me at 12:07 a.m.  for homeless pals out there to find their way. I will close my eyes and think of all of you.

God bless you all and Happy New Year!!!

Loveys Sasha

We had a visitor and a Mayoral buffet

Hi my Pals, I am still unwinding from all the Christmas excitement. I am hoping for a nice quiet New Years Eve with my Sweety.

I forgot to show you who came to my house on Christmas Eve

Santa!!! I was so freaked out and couldn't believe it. As you can see I may have gotten over excited and almost attacked him in his private...well you know what I mean. Can you see me, I was going so fast that I look like a flash. Don't worry I didn't hurt him and he did leave me lots of stuff.

I also got two new bowls and tons of toys and treats.

Here is the devil treat hider machine again...grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Mommy got a shih tzu ornament

Mommy loves her new camera and is driving me nuts, but the pictures do look better, I must admit. The last two are from the new camera.

Our new Mayor , the honarable Miss Madi,  will be sworn in on January 12. I am so honored to be chosen  to provide refreshments after the ceremony. Thank you sweet Madi @ Madi and Mom. 

I wanted to do something more elegant since it is a very impawtent occasion.

These are just a few examples, I hope Madi likes them. I will be working on this all week. I am so happy to be doing this. I hope I can count on Puddles and Ruby and Nora to start deading some squirrels for me. 

Happy New Year to all of my Pals!!!

Loveys Sasha

Christmas 2012!!!

Hi my Pals, I had such a great Christmas. I hope you all did too, full of love and happiness and cookies and of course pressies. I got a ton of stuff, I am a spoiled and very happy pup.

Can you find the Sasha?????

The only bad news is da da da Da...Mommy got a flashy beast from Santa. OMD BOL BOL, I am already tired of it. She follows me around, I can't do anything without hearing "I need a picture of that". She even took one of me going potty outside! I forbid her to show that one, I don't want my Remington to see it.

Ok here is some of my loot:

Holy dogs I got a bunch of new toys,2 squeaky penguins, a toy soldier a ball, a new "Elephantey" cause I kind of destroyed my last one and then I got a bunch of treats.

I also got this torture device. Mommy puts my treats in there and I have to figure out how to get them out. What is up with that??? Just give me my treat please. Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesh

We had a yummy Christmas dinner with coconut cake for dessert. I was full and needed a long nap after that.

Here I am collapsed among the gifts. Can you see my diamond collar from my sweet Remington?? I was showing it off to everyone.

My Pals, I hope you all had a wonderful day and now its time to plan the New Years Eve pawty. What are you doing for New Years Eve??

Loveys Sasha

Merry Christmas

Hi my Pals, I am just helping with a little last minute wrapping. The big day is almost here!!! 

 First I want to send healing vibes and POW big time to sweet Pip @Pip , he is not feeling well and needs our extra good vibes and loveys

We have a lovely selection of wrap, which one should I choose??

I am always happy to lend a paw. It also gives me a chance to do a little snooping(giggles).

Wrapping gifts is super hard work, I need a nap now. 

Thank you for coming to my "Gotcha Day" pawty. Mommy will be sending $55.00 to St. Annes pet area, thanks to all of you. We hope it will help some pals who need food or medicine on their way to a furever home like mine.

From my family to you and all of yours MERRY CHRISTMAS  full of blessings and love!!

I leave you with this video. Is this Frankie and Ernies house?????

Lovey Sasha

p.s. These are Mommies breakfast puffs, a holiday tradition. They are so good that I am drooling just thinking about them. I hope your Christmas is sweet and full of joy.

Gotcha Day 2012

Hi my Pals, today is a very special day for me. A little more than nine years ago I was a very sad and confused girl. I was born in a puppy mill(grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr for puppy mills) and then sold to a pet shop. I was there for a short time and some people took me home. I thought this is ok, I am not in a crate anymore and I have peeps to pet me and give me loveys.

That didn't last long, after a few months one day they put me on my leash and took me for a car ride. I was excited at first, I hoped we were going for ice cream. I was wrong, they took me to a place called "The Humane Society" and just handed me over to them and said, "here we don't want this puppy mill reject, she doesn't listen". Well I must tell you that they didn't try very hard to help me. Some people shouldn't ever have pets.

The Humane Society called a local rescue group and they came and got me and I got to live in a real nice ladies home. She had another pal and some little two leggers and we all got along. She got sick and couldn't keep me anymore so I went to live with another lady, who was good to me also, but by now I was afraid to trust anyone.

That lady put me on my leash one day and we went to the car. I got real scared and thought, "here we go again". When I got out of the car at a building I saw a man and lady and they looked really happy to see me. The lady was crying and smiling and she had a toy and some treats for me. The man looked happy too, we went in a room and they sat on the floor and played with me. The lady smelled so good and she kept saying how pretty I was and that we were going to be good pals. I was confused, but I also had a good feeling. After they talked to some people and gave them some green papers, they put me in their car.

We took a ride and came to a house and the lady said "Sasha, this is where you are going to live forever now, no matter what we will never give you away, you are my girl now and please call me Mommy". It took me a little while to believe her and I must admit I was kind of sassy at first. I even bit my Daddy once and barked a lot. That is all just a memory now. I am the happiest pup in the world. My family loves me so much and they never give up on me, even when I am a bit sassy. Their love is unconditional.

That is my story and I only hope that every pal finds a furever home like mine. Someplace where you can be you, no matter what. Someplace where car rides are a good thing, like a trip to Dairy Queen or the park. I still have separation issues, but I am so happy all the time.

Thank you for sharing my special day and I love all my bloggy pals. Enjoy some cookies and warm cider (Puddles is bringing the beer) and lets Paaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarty!!

In honor of my special day we are going to donate $1.00 for every comment to St. Annes Homeless Shelter for the Pet Area in honor of my sweet and giving pal Goose. I hope this will help some pals find their furever home.

 Loveys Sasha

A Beautiful Story and PAWTY!!

Hi my Pals, I have just a few things to tell you and then I found a wonderful story that I hope you will read.

First a huge package came to my house today and Mommy tried to hide but I saw "Mr. Chewy"on the label. She can't fool me, I just know it is full of pressies for me(giggles). I am so excited!!!

 Next pawty at my house on Saturday for my "Gotcha Day". We will be taking sleigh rides, provided by my sweet Remington. I will be taking the first ride,  alone with him of course. After that we will come in and watch my favorite movie "Lady and the Tramp" and eating cookies and milk or cider. Puddles is bringing the beer, but don't tell Mommy, she said no beer, but if Puddles  as a guest brings it, then she won't say no. Please come and enjoy

Remingtons sleigh ride company

I wonder if these guys will be pulling the sleigh(giggles).

I know this article is kind of long, but what a beautiful thing to do in a very sad and tragic situation. I choose to believe there is always some good in the world. Some days that isn't easy to do. I love you my pals.

Chicago “comfort dogs” sent to school shooting area

Monday December 17th, 2012

Some of the Lutheran Church Charities comfort dogs — (from left) Ruthie, Prince, Barnabas, Abbi, Luther, and Chewie — and their human handlers. (Photo credit: Facebook)

Friday morning’s mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., has left residents of the idyllic New England town heartbroken.

As the people of Newtown attend vigils and leave tokens of remembrance at makeshift memorials near the elementary school, a Chicago-area group is hoping a little time with some canine friends will offer even a little solace to the people of Newtown during this difficult time.

Lutheran Church Charities of Addison, Ill., has deployed a group of their K-9 Parish Comfort Dogs to the town where 27 people — including 20 children, 6 teachers and administrators, and the gunman’s mother — lost their lives.

Lutheran Church Charities president Tim Hetzner explains that sometimes, after tragedy strikes, people are in need of the kind of unconditional love only a dog can give.

“Dogs are nonjudgmental,” Hetzner told the Chicago Tribune. “They are loving. They are accepting of anyone. It creates the atmosphere for people to share.”

LCC first created their K-9 Parish Comfort Dog program in 2008 during the aftermath of the Northern Illinois University shooting, when a shooter opened fire in a crowded auditorium, killing five students. Since its inception, LCC dogs have provided support for people after the devastating Joplin, Missouri tornado and, most recently, Hurricane Sandy. When they aren’t responding to tragic events, the LCC Golden Retrievers often visit hospitals and nursing homes.

Seven of the organization’s Golden Retrievers and their handlers made the 800-mile trip from Chicago to Newtown in waves Saturday and Sunday, arriving just in time for the interfaith prayer service attended by President Obama. Members of the K-9 Parish Comfort Dogs group gathered in front of Christ the King Lutheran Church last night to greet mourners. This week the church will host funerals for two of the children who were killed.

Dogs currently serving in Newton include Abbi, Barnabas, Chewie, Hannah, Luther, Prince, and Ruthie. Each Golden Retriever has his or her own Facebook page, Twitter account, and email address so the people he or she meets can keep in touch long after their first meeting. LCC’s goal is to make sure that those who are grieving can continue to benefit from the comfort dogs long term.

“The dogs have become the bridge,” explains K-9 Parish Comfort Dogs handler Lynn Buhrke. She and her Golden Retriever Chewie were among the comfort dog teams who traveled to Newtown over the weekend. “People just sit down and talk to you,” Buhrke says.

Hetzner points out that even petting a dog has its health benefits for people who are grieving.

“When you pet a dog, it reduces your blood pressure,” Hetzner added in an interview with ABC 7 Chicago reporter Chuck Goudie. “And when you relax, you’re more open to share what’s going on.”

Reaction to the group’s Golden Retrievers has been very positive so far, Hetzner says. Right away he noticed the dogs’ presence had a calming effect, even for the people who are suffering the most.

“You could tell which [people]...were really struggling with their grief because they were quiet,” said Hetzner. “They would pet the dog, and they would just be quiet.”

Monday LCC plans to bring the dogs to after-school activities for Sandy Hook students.

“There are a lot of people that are hurting,” Hetzner said.

For more information on the Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Parish Comfort Dogs or for updates on their work in Newtown, visit their Facebook page. If you would like to help Lutheran Church Charities and their K-9 Parish Comfort Dogs continue to fulfill their mission and assist the people of Newtown, please consider donating to their cause.


Loveys Sasha

A Pressie from Jazzi!

Hi my Pals, I am getting so excited for Christmas that I can hardly sleep. The maillady has been bringing lots of packages, they are mostly for Mommy or Sister but yesterday I got a pressie from Jazzi. Jazzi @Jazzi's World   had my name in the gift exchange
 

I want to thank Jazzi's Mommy for organizing the gift exchange, she did such a great job. Thank you Thank you!

 I was so excited and Mommy said I could open it up right away. Look at the pretty paper, its Snoopy.

I got so many wonderful things in the package.I got a pretty new jacket to wear with a heart and you know of course that my heart belongs to Remington. I got a really pretty mat with my name on it. How cool is that??? I also got treats and a Santa hat to hang by my bed and a new squeaky toy. I love squeaky toys.

What a treasure chest. Thank you so much Jazzi, I love you.

I wanted to show how pretty my house looks all decorated up outside. On the table is a little shih tzu statue that my Sister got for me.

My Sister loves penguins, she is crazy for them so we got a new light up for outside, isn't it cute??

This is Sister's Boyfriends dog Smokey Joe that his family rescued. Smokey is a very happy boy now and loves his family. He is all ready for Christmas, except his tail keeps kind of knocking ornaments off the tree. His family doesn't even get mad, they love Smokey.  I love when pals get rescued into really good furever homes.


Saturday is a very special day, it is my "Gotcha Day". Mommy never found out my real birthday so we celebrate my birthday on the same day. I can't wait, we are having a party and watching Lady and the Tramp which is my favorite movie. 

I am counting the days now.

Loveys Sasha