Jan 10 2007.

It’s has been almost two months since I have been able to update this blog. I hope to get better in the new year with updates. Even this post was actually started on Jan 1 and never finished. It’s been a whirlwind holiday season with adoption after adoption. We’ve never done adoptions during the holidays before. I am concerned – but hopeful as these adopters all seem to be “our kind” of people and dedicated to the well being of those entrusted to our care. April will tell the tale if we start to see these adoptions fail.

I am also concerned that working during the holiday season has taken a toll on our volunteers. It certainly has on me. Whether we continue to do adoptions during the holidays is something we will have to discuss again next year.

But at any rate – on to a welcome to 2007. If the previous two years are any indication, 2007 is going to have to be something spectacular to top them but it certainly has the potential. 2005 saw the formal organization of CPR as a non profit corporation and, at the tail end, the purchase of Dreamweaver Farms. 2006 was the formation year for our farm and kennel, the year of learning and of training, of finding the right balance and the right number of dogs, of how to move from an agency focused on individual adoptions of individual animals to one where open houses were the norm, not the exception and adopters came and selected. Our adoption counselor program increased significantly and we have moved from an average of 40 volunteers on our volunteers group to well over 100. Donations kept us financially on our feet when adoptions did slow down and a strong finish in adoptions meant we have paid all of our vet bills and only have a bit of debt on a credit card at the moment. What a great position to be in.

In 2007, I’d like to see CPR implement a much stronger follow up program to adoptions. Just as essential is the hiring of our first employees. Kennel help is no longer a luxury we can afford to just think about it; it is a necessity.

I plan on spending as much of my time as possible in development and implementation of two business programs whose profits will be used to benefit CPR. The first is Covenant Pet Care, our exciting new concept in protection for the pet in the case of the death or disability of the owner . The second is an on site wellness clinic, offering services to the general public as well as to CPR dogs. A local retired vet (and poodle owner) has offered to help CPR in setting this up. We’ll start out with vaccination clinics, then work from there. Both programs have the potential to significantly increase CPR’s reach, improve our rescue efforts and improve our bottom line.

All in all, I think we’re off to a wonderful start. Thanks to each of you – CPR continues to grow and flourish. What a ride !

Okay enough boring corporate lingo. Now on to go the good stuff – talking about the dogs.

Currently making their home at Dreamweaver Farms are two of the seven brothers. These 7 month old black male standard poodles made quite a splash when they entered our world several weeks ago. Now that we’re down to 2 brothers and 1 cousin (Hunter Hudson, from a different group of dogs entirely but enough like them in temperament to be kin) it is really a lot of fun. Now boys, being boys, have insatiable appetites. Apparently for Adam, the smallest of the team, I am just not doing the right thing in the amount of food I am giving to him. I’m cleaning up outside today and hear a ruckus. In I come and what do I see but our 55 gallon food bin (a plastic trash can on wheels) tipped over on its side. No real big deal, it’s happened before so I reached down to pick it up. I knew it was down to the last bit of food so I wasn’t worried about the weight. Imagine my surprise when that thing was heavy and I couldn’t budge it. Then even more surprise, as I peered in I was greeted by the sight of a hairy butt sticking out of the in box. Ahh ha! I know those curls resemble a standard poodle! There he was - Adam was completely in the trash can and contentedly munching down on his stolen buffet. I reached in to pull him out and he planted all four feet down on the ground and proceeded to keep right on a munchin’. Finally, I ended up sitting down, bracing both feet against the fence and puuullliiinnnggg Adam out of the trash can. I felt like that trash can was giving birth. How he managed to plant himself so firmly in the can, I’ll never know but it took all my might to get that boy out of the can. He was determined that he would keep his stolen meal and by this time, Daniel and Hunter Hudson were doing their best to get in the trash can with him. I had black standards flying while I worked to remove Adam and friends from the can. It was a struggle, but I finally got the thing upright with only most of the food spilled on the floor. I told the boys to handle clean up of all that spilled food in their own way and I went back to my mopping. All in a days’ work.

I have so many stories like this to share. Every day, the dogs delight me in one way or the other. It’s such a pleasure to be able to work with them, to see them come in scared and scarred and to relax and learn to trust and to live again. I can not solve every social ill in this world, but I sure can, with your help, make sure these humble creatures are well cared for.

I am going to try to get better about writing to you every day, to share with you the joy and wonder that is my life at Dreamweaver Farms for without you, our volunteers and supporters, it would not be possible. I am truly blessed.

Goodnight

From Dreamweaver Farms

Donna

Donna’s horoscope – Jan 1 2007

Another year. Where do they all go? Why, it seems like only yesterday that we were ushering in the millennium. Is the world any different now? Well, your world is. Think back. Remember? Now, think forwards. Imagine! As different as things were then, they will be different again - but this time it won't take seven years! The pace of change is accelerating. Time is speeding up. Here comes a year you won't forget in a hurry, nor will you want to. There will be experiences soon that you will treasure forever.