Keeping up with Caesar

Here I am again.  I am not nearly as interesting as Stevie is, nevertheless, I do have my story too.  I really like it in this house.  Phyllis is nice to all of us and I like her even though she makes me wear a band around my belly because I have not stopped lifting my leg in the house.  I love to go for walks and my best thing to do is ask Phyllis to pick me up on the couch.  Then I walk behind her, lay on my back and rub myself all over her.  Then I come around and put my head under her arm so she will scratch me.  I have lots of energy so I go outside to walk a lot.  Nobody would ever guess I may be eight years old or even a year or two older!  I try to get Phyllis to do what I want by barking at her but it doesn't work.  I just get a spray of water in my face and nothing happens to her.  Don't like the water bottle.  I am starting to understand why she uses it.

Today Phyllis tried to play with a squeaky toy with me but I got really scared.  Why does she think it's okay to throw toys at me.  Okay, they are soft and she doesn't really hit me with them but they land very close to me.  How many times do I have to run away before she decides it's enough alread!  I don'tt remember how I grew up but it wasn't with anything that squeaks.  I do like to chew a bully stick and eat dry food when I feel like it.  Phyllis isn't sure if I will be able to eat dry food after the rest of my rotten teeth are taken out on January 3rd.  I am going to ask nicely if Phyllis will let me have a turn on her lap now.  Elvis is there, before that Stevie was there.  She is very multi talented.  She can hold one dog, pat one with the elbow on that arm and knit a row of whatever in between.  And sometimes she stops knitting and reads and pats.  That's easier than knitting and patting because she has a machine that turns the pages with just one finger. She told us it was her Kindle.  Like, "okay guys, take a nap, I am going to read my Kindle."  Like that.  Sometimes I want to eat and she is playing games on her phone and I need to bark a little to get her attention if it's after 5.  But she's okay in my Kindle!  See ya later

Whenever Phyllis goes out I bark and bark.  I get away with it beecause she won't open the door and spray me..........I sleep right next to her every night and don't wake up until she does in the morning. All in all this is a nice enough place to live but I would rather have my own person that I don't have to share.  I am keeping my paws crossed that someone will want to adopt me before too long.  Until then I will give you updates if anything int4resting happens

Another update from Stevie

Hi all!  I have so much to tell.  First of all, I am in love!  Yup it's true.  It took awhile but now I know that I love........Phyllis.  It feels so good when she pats me now that I let her.  She loves to put my face between her hands and rub my face. I love that too.  Every day I get closer and closer to her.  I jumped up on her bed two mornings ago.  She was very surprised to see me there.  I am also walking more and more every day.  Still keeping the grass and sidewalks clean!  I take a long walk, come in the house and just want to take a little nap, so I just relieve myself wherever I am and find a bed to lay on or walk to Phyllis and let her pick me up.  She took a picture of me just laying on her lap so nice and peaceful.
We got a report from the eye doctor and this is what they say about me.  The possible causes fo my blindness include central nervous system issues such as genetic defect, infection early in my life like distemper, or trauma or maybe even SARD's which means .Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration which happens to about 4000 dogs a year.  We just all of a sudden go blind.  So no matter what tests I take I will never see again.  The good side is I am not in a war torn country with a lot of bombing going on!  At least I am safe and fed and like Phyllis.  I can also tell you that I have no idea what those squeaky things I hear right before one of the dogs run to it.  Phyllis keeps saying toy but I don't think I have ever had one of those and sometimes she tries to give me bones to chew but I have no idea what to do with them.  Today I went on the grass by myself for the first time and smelled a tree.  I heard Phyllis tell me to go ahead and smell the roses and while I was at it I could squat if I wanted to. Don't get your hopes up.  I just walked on the grass and smelled a tree....that's it! And that's the next good thing about being a blind boy.  We learn from watching and since I can't see I never learned to lift my leg, whatever that means.  I just heard Phyllis talking about it.  And she was probably talking to herself!

Caesar's Story

My name is Caesar, I am about 8 years old and weigh a little over 5 pounds.  I am very skinny and hardly have teeth and this is what I remember:  I was lost in someone's backyard in the upper part of the State of Florida.  Someone found me there in the yard and brought me to animal control.  I was going to be PTS (put to sleep).  Phyllis got an alert that went to all United Yorkie Rescue Members with my picture.  The caption said pretty much that if nobody took me they would eutnaize me the following Tuesday.  When Phyllis saw the picture she wrote back and said if nobody had room for me she would take me if I could get to her.  Next thing I knew I was transported to another shelter where I was picked up by a person who would be fostering me for a day or two until I could get here.  Now it was Thursday and I was safe.  On Saturday, December 17th a man with a plane picked me up somewhere near Gainsville or The Villages and flew me to Lantana Airport in Florida where I was picked up by a very nice lady and taken to her house to wait for Phyllis to finish work and pick me up.  So I had a very busy few days but thanks to Phyllis and the pilot and all my friends at United Yorkie Rescue I was saved.  Then I slept.  Now I have been with Phyllis for one week and I like it here.  I am not neutered and love to lift my leg and mark my territory.  Sooooooooo, now I wear a band around my belly that covers my private parts and when I lift my leg, if I miss the wee wee pad, I only wet myself and not the chairs, tables, walls, and anything else I want to make mine.  I scared Stevie when I got here because he didn't know me.  Boy did he scream when he walked into me!  Now we all tolerate each other.  I love Phyllis.  I want her to hold me, hug me, tickle me and love me every minute of the day.  Pretty soon  I will have an operation on my private parts and then I may not mark so much.  Did I tell you how cute I am?  I am very cute with a little face.  I itch a lot and think so many fleas bit me that it gave me a rash all over.  Phyllis bathes me in special stuff and I stand like a soldier.  I love to walk on my leash and eat my food and do my business outside. 
Today, after one week, Elvis and I played together.  That is a big thing if you ask Phyllis.  No big deal to me.  I don't like to be left alone and she does that.  I cry for at least 4 minutes.  I need to go now so I can wait for Santa.  Merry Christmas for those of you who are celebrating that holiday tomorrow.  I got my Christmas present a week ago when I got to come here. 

An Update from Stevie

 Iwant to wish all of you that read this blog a Very Happy and Healthy Holiday and a Very Healthy and Happy New Year.  I have good news, more good news and some bad news.  Let's just get the bad news out of the way because it is much shorter than the good news for a change!  The bad news is that the eye doctor says I am 99% blind and more tests may tell why, but not cure.  Phyllis warned them I would need a muzzle and she was right.  If you can't see, most things are pretty scary.  For me at least. 
Now, on to the good news:  The most important good news makes Phyllis very very happy even though it may not happen again for a long time, but tonight at 7:45 I went for a walk with Elvis and our new fur foster Caesar.  On the way home, I stopped, squatted, and peed right on the sidewalk.  You should have heard Phyllis.  I was almost embarassed.  She got so excited you would have thought she was going to get a treat.  I get excited after I eat and jump up on her for a treat.  That makes her happy too, but nothing like a little pee on the sidewalk.  The other good news is that I let her pick me up a lot, lay on my back to get my belly rubbed and when she wakes up from sleeping or comes into the house from being away, I actually get excited.  I try to wag my tail but it is stiff from non-use.  Maybe soon.  (I hope Phyllis is not too excited over what I did outside because it could be a long time before I do it again and she is sometimes too much of an optimist).  I like her though because she pats me and gives me good food and doesn't yell at me when I go in the house.
p.s.  I wonder if I will ever get adopted by anyone now that we know I will never see!  I wonder if there is anyone in this world that wants to take care of a blind dog for maybe another 10 years!  I wonder what will become of me!   Actually, I am a dog, and don't wonder at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stevie after 2 weeks with my foster mom

Just a short note about how I am here after two weeks.  Phyllis thinks that I have done well but have advanced about as much as a seeing dog would if he had been here 3 days.  I am still very frightened if touched the wrong way but I don't fear bite.  I can screach in fear if one of he dogs runs by too close while chasing a toy.  I go out every day at least 5 to 9 times.  Sometimes I go with the other two (soon to be 4) dogs in the house and sometimes Phyllis takes me by myself   If just the two of us go out I use her as my seeing eye person and just stay right by her legs and walk as far as she wants us to.  If he other dogs are with us I am a little more hesitant as they cross in front of me or pull Phyllis in another direction (or try to) and that scares me a little.  But I can only hope that slowly I will be less afraid and learn how to do my business out there.  I am only at the smelling the grass stage and will probably milk that as long as I can!

Stevie is getting braver

I had a haircut on Tuesday. The groomer put a harnesss on me and now I don't scream when a leash goes on. I would never think to get the outside dirty so I always wait until I come back in to pee or poop.  On Wednesday a lady came to clean Phyllis's apartment.  As soon as the floor in the kitchen was sparkling clean, I walked into it and pood right in the middle of the floor.  Phyllis just laughed and said that everyone, even dogs, like a nice clean toilet to use!  On Thursday Phyllis got a package in the mail.  She came home very happy and told me that someone from UYR sent her some Belly Bands for me.  I had no idea what a belly band was onntil she picked me up and put me on the table and wrapped this thing around my lower belly covering me all around so if I pee it will go in that thing instead of on the floor.  Then Phyllis went out.  I didn't have the belly band on when she came home.  I don't like it and so I wriggled out of it.  Not good enough for Phyllis.  She  put another one on me today and when she came home she noticed right away that I had found a way out of it.  Best part of this story for me is that I hid it and she kept walking around the apartment saying things like we only live in 900 square feet so how could she not find my belly band.  Finally she looked under the bed and found it but it took over an hour of mumbling to herself and looking everywhere, I hid it under the bed!

Stevie got a haircut

Today started off very scary for me.  After breakfast Phyllis picked me up and put me in the car with her.  I just lay there like a statue hoping this wasn't really happening to me.  She was very happy telling me I was going to be a handsome boy and getting a haircut.  I never got one of those before and didn't know what she was talking about.  The car stopped.....She picked me up.....Carried me into the groomer.... Put me on the floor where I froze as I could feel the leash.  The groomer, Brett, who is a very nice guy sat on the floor with me so I would get used to him.  He picked me up and when he went to take my leash and collar off I tried to bite him.  I know it's wrong  but how else am I supposed to tell people who do not understand dogspeak what is happening with me.  Phyllis left me there at 9:30 and when she picked me up at 12:30 I was just as handsome as she said I would be.  The best part of the whole thing was that I got a harness even though it took two people to put it on me, but I never tried to bite.  I don't mind walking on my leash with the harness and Phyllis has taken me out 3 times since we hgot home.  The first time I pretty much didn't want to move, but I did because it was different than the mean old collar.  The second time I went a little longer.  I walk slowly because I am so scared my tail wraps around one of my back legs and keeps me from walking too fast.  The third time it was dark out, Phyllis told me because I can't see anything.  I only tripped on the curb once and walked for a whole half of a block.  Slowly with Phyllis patting me every step.  Life today is good!

Catching up with Steven days 7 to 11 continued

Here I am.  So everything is going smoothly all in all except for one thing, or maybe two.  First of all, for some reasons I cannot speak to her about (she doesn't understand when I scream and have a tantrum) is when she wants me to walk on a leash.  As soon as I feel her hands going towards my collar after she picks me up I freak out to the extreme!!!  I scream, I roll over, I try to jump out of her arms.  But she doesn't let up.  So since day 7, every day we wrestle over putting the leash on.  I bit her once lightly, but she didn't like it and all of a sudden I felt her two fingers in my neck telling me to cut it out (body language remember) and got the leash on my collar once more.  Then she opens the door and if I have not already jumped out of her arms, she puts me down.  I try to tell her by freezing and refusing to move, that I don't want to do this.  She doesn't understand, or she doesn't care.  Today, the day after I bit her she used a different kind of leash.  This one was like a lasso and as she tried to slip it on over my head .  I fought as hard as I could but she did it and I screamed and squirmed and rolled over and over.  Its only for five minutes, but it seems like forever for me.  She is taking me for a bath and haircut and odds are she will take me home the way she brings me there if I have anything to say about it.  I am a nice dog and we like each other very much.  She is a good human, but I just don't understand why she keeps trying to have me do what I don't want to do.  She says she is trying to make me a happy, healthy, and housebroken dog so I can find a forever family and she can foster another thrown away dog.  I know I can do my part but not yet.  I am still very scared of all these changes in my life.  She said she is getting belly bands to put on me so I won't wet the floor!  I'm not sure she can get them on me.  Whatever belly bands are they might scare me too.  Keep your fingers crossed for Phyllis and me.  We have very big challenges every day and need all the luck we can get.  Thank you and I'll be back soon.

A shout out to Phyllis's old friend Natalie -  If you are reading this Happy Birthday a couple of days early. 

Catching up with Stevie = Days 7, to Today, Day 11

Its hard to describe what my days and nights have been like since I came to Phyllis to be fostered until someone wants to adopt me, which could be a long time! 

First the good things, which are, in no particular order:  I have come to like Phyllis most of the time.  I am well fed here and have lots of freedom to roam around the house even though I am not housebroken.  I know this sounds strange coming from a dog, but humans must understand that even though we can't speak your language, we pretty much know what you are saying all the time.  We pick up language from humans very easily whether its verbal language, or body language.  Unfortunately, people are not qjuite as up to snuff in that department and onlly know certain commands, or requests from us.  So when I talk kabout housebroken, leashes, food, it's because I understand English although I can't speak  it.

So, to continue.  I am well fed, have nice places to sleep, like Phyllis,  love to get affection from her if something else doesn't scare me and if I jump up on the couch, which I started two days ago, Phyllis gets so excited  it sometimes scares me.  I have had several run ins with Elvis and Cookie, Phyllis's own dogs.  It's because I can't see them and sometimes wake them up by walking into their beds.  When that happens I just run and hide under the bed for an hour or so and then I come out and try again.  I have to go because I am running out of room on this page.  .................Be right back

Stevie Day 6

Stevie here, back to tell you how the last week has gone.  Not too much has changed, but some.  I have finally found out that my foster mom Phyllis is ok.  She is very patient with me and is still on her hands and knees but sometimes it is to try to get me to come to her.  I am actually starting to like her because she doesn't try to make me do anything that scares me.  On days 3, 4, 5 and today my big lessons are to let Phyllis pick me up without screaming.  She thought I was growling at her but now she knows I am shrieking with fear.  I do like her to pick me and this morning when we woke up I jumped up and asked her to.  This afternoon I  sat on the couch next to her for a few minutes. This seemed to make her happy so I rolled over and let her scratch my belly!  She loved it probably more than I did but I try to do my part too.  Every time I think, ok she isn't going to ask me to do anything else, something new comes along.   While I was on my back letting her scratch me she took a scissors to try to take some of the mats off of me.  Wrong move.  I shrieked and ran away.  I will forgive her and go back to her soon but I didn't like it at all.

And another thing.  This morning while we were on the patio she put something on my collar that she said was a leash.  I froze.  At least I didn't throw myself around like a bucking bronco but for the ten minutes she left that thing on my collar I stayed as still as a statue.  I suppose she will do it again tomorrow.  It's not easy being me!!!  More of my story another time.  I need a nap now.  thanks for reading and you can see me at Unitedyorkierescue.org if you want to take a look.

Stevie Day 2

Friday night Phyllis slept in the Den on a futon so she would be low enough to pat me if I tried to find her.  It was nice to know she was close and I fell asleep in a dog bed near the futon.  When I got up this morning more good food,  pacing, Phyllis is still on her hands and knees, but I am finding that I like when she calls me to pat me and I have started following her around  .I think she thought I wasn't scared anymore so she tried to pick me up.  I made sure she knew I didn't like that.  I wiggled till she put me down.  I don't remember the last time anyone held me and I am not sure whether I like it or not.  Pat me, ok, but don't pick me up.  It gets worse.  In the afternoon she sawme sleeping in a dog bed so she thought I must be so much more comfortable, and I am, but..................that doesn't mean put a leash on my collar.  I felt that thing dragging  me and took a mini fit.  I cried and rubbed against the wall and generally freaked out until she took it off.  As today wore on I have been feeeling better and when Phyllis decided to pick me up this afternoon she used a soft blanket and I liked it and didn't try to geet away.  Tonight, just now, while she is typing for me, I went up to her and put my paws up and let her pick me up and I sat in her lap.  I like it!  She feels nervous to me.  I have been known to bite if I am scared but I am really trying not to let that happen.  Things seem to be getting better a little at a time.  I wonder what Sunday will bring.  More hands and knees, more holding, less pacing maybe.  Bella goes home on Monday so I am hoping Phyllis will spend more time trying to make me feel at home here because I really think I like this place.  If I just could stop being scared.  I know I need to be groomed, I need a check up I need to be neutered, whatever these things mean, but I heard Phyllis say she won't let anyone do anything until I feel less afraid.  If she could get me out on a leash and I learn to go to the bathroom out there I think all her dreams would come true and her legs wouldn't hurt so much.  From the looks of her wrinkles, I don't think she is very young and so cleaning the floor must hurt her legs and back.  I'll let you know what tomorrow brings.............tomorrow

Stevie Day 1

ay.i, Stevie here.  I am back.  So I walked all night Thursday night and most of Friday.  I did smell food Thursday night and found it and ate it.  I couldn't find the water and it was right there in front of me!  I ate again Friday morning and then continued to try to figure out where I am.  Phyllis makes a funny noise that makes me go near her and I did let her touch my head for a second but it scared me to I ran away again.  I also notice that Phyllis is on her hands and knees a lot.  I can tell because of where the sound comes from.  She is telling me something.  I can tell you what she says, but I don't know what she is talking about.  English is not my language yet.  She keeps saying I would go on a leash so she could take me outside to do something!  Pee! Poop!  I have no idea what she is talking about but whenever she does go down on her hands and knees I hear things spray and towels wiping.  I have no idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Today, Friday, Phyllis has called me to pat me and I have let her every time.  Sometimes I want to go near her but I can't find her so I start to turn in curcles until she knows what I want and makes that funny noise.  I am still petrified but Phyllis is pretty much leaving me alone.  She did make a mistake tho.  There was a door to outside and she opened it to sit and have her coffee.  I like the breeze and weny there.  When she came in she shut the door and went I wanted to go out there again I walked into the door!  So today I taught her something.  I am blind.  Don't change a thing and if you need to close the door put something very soft there for me to walk into.  Geez.  I know she's trying but really!!!!  More to tell for Saturday.  Still pretty petrified but the food here is good and no dogs bother me and nobody makes me go outside

Stevie's story

I'll tell you what I know about Stevie and then let him keep you informed of his life as it is happening. I was asked by the URY coordinator with Miami Dade Animal Control if I would take a new foster.  After Marley left I had Delia, Chewy and Kosmo who were here for very short times each and have been adopted by wonderful people.  So, when I was asked to take a dog that was coming out of the shelter so it would not be euthanized I was ready.  Kosmo left Wednesday for his new home and Thursday the 1st of December I met Jenn, the liason person, and lots more for UYR, to pick this little 4 year old boy from her.  It was only the day before that I found out he was a stray and that she thought he has sight problems.  By Thursday she was pretty sure he was totally blind.  I also knew that he was a very scared dog.  She brought him over to me and put him in the car, leash attached.  I will now let Stevie tell you what has been happening.

Hi, I listened to Phyllis and I can tell you that yes, I was a stray but I don't remember how that came to be, I am about 4 eears old and I weigh about 8 pounds but Phyllis said I should weigh at least 10 or 11.  I rode home in the car with Phyllis.  I was very nervous because I had just spent two days with a girl, Jennifer, that I liked and didn't know what was happening to me now.  I stood up on the seat the whole time I was in the car and had no idea where she was taking me or what she looks like because I can't see anything.I was petrified, and I still am.  The car stopped and Phyllis took my leash and led me out of the car.  Boy oh boy was I scared.  I have never had a leash on my neck and she was trying to make me go with her.  No way!  I lay on that ground and started rolling and rolling around and screaming hoping I could get loose and just run.  Phyllis almost freaked out too.  I could tell because she kept saying funny things like O God O God.  It didn't help and finally she got me into the house.  Dogs were barking when I came in but they saw how scared I was and they just ran away.  I couldn't wait for her to take that thing off my collar.  I start walking anyplace I can find that doesn't have a wall and it was a lot of work to figure out where I was.  From Thursday night when I got there at 7 pm until Saturday at noon, I don't think I got a wink of sleep.  I just walked and walked and mapped out the house so I would know how to get around.  I am petrified still, but I think things might get better after awhile.  I will continue my story soon.