Remember Mochie--the little girl who needed open-heart surgery? Well, she met the doctors at the University of Tennessee Vet School on October 24, and had surgery the very next day! She sailed through her surgery and went home to recover on November 4. Once she had sufficiently recovered, she had her spay and dental procedures.

Shortly after Mochie returned home from having surgery at UT, we were contacted by a family who had previously adopted from us. Now this little girl is living happily ever after in her new forever home.

We want to thank everyone who wanted to help Mochie. We especially want to thank a very special supporter who covered the entire cost of her open-heart surgery. Without this support, we would be unable to help dogs like Mochie. Thank you!!!

Diabetes is NOT a four letter word! What could be sweeter than these two little girls, Sherry and Wendy? And, yes, they have diabetes. With proper nutrition, medication and some extra TLC, diabetes can be managed. And these little girls can lead a normal life.

With a diabetic, diet is of paramount importance! Sherry (pictured left) who came from a puppymill has gone from 6 to nearly 8 pounds. She gets two little insulin shots a day at 12 hour intervals, and they are so easy to give! A piece of cheese before and after can make it a calm procedure! And a post-shot cuddle and kiss help too! Anybody can do it! Her foster mom was talked through her first insulin injection over the phone, it's that easy!

Wendy (pictured right) came from a Florida shelter and is the happiest little soul on the planet! When Wendy arrived, she weighed 5.6 pounds but is now up to a healthy 7.7 pounds. Those once protruding hip bones now form a nice round bottom! Shots for Wendy are a breeze! She never notices! Of course, she gets her cheese and cuddles too! But she never even flinches when she gets her injection--couldn't be easier! And this one will do anything for a tummy rub!

These little sugar babies each need a home. There is a special bond that forms when you care for a dog that would die without your help. Without their daily injections and special food, these little girls would not live. They don't look or act sick, but they depend on you in a special way. And you can't help but feel a special tenderness for that dependence. A sugar baby can melt your heart in an instant. It's so very little extra effort. And the rewards for giving this extra will come back to you ten-fold!

If you think you might be that special someone who can give that little extra for one of these girls, please contact us. If you can't adopt, any donation toward their care would be greatly appreciated. Just let us know it is for Wendy and Sherry!

By Pam Ewart

I've been bathing dogs for more years than I'd like to admit to, but for a living only for the past 12 years. In that time, I think I've tried just about every bathing method possible from giving at least 15,000 baths myself, and learned others from attending seminars and trade shows, and from books.

So, first I want to dispel a couple of myths about dog bathing that I still hear quite frequently. In Skin & Coat Care for Your Dog, David Duclos, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Dermatology, wrote, "You can't bathe your dog too often. Dogs have more oily and waxy secretions from their skin onto their hair than humans. Some dogs can become sensitive to an ingredient in shampoos or detergents. This is a rare occurrence but can happen."

Another myth is that human shampoo shouldn't be used on dogs because the pH is different. Again, Dr. Duclos, "In dogs we need shampoos that lather well and are able to cover large areas in an economical and effective fashion. You can use human shampoos on your dog, but most people find that shampoos made for dogs are preferable over human shampoo." The pH balance thing on dog shampoos is a bit of a myth also because it probably will be altered by your tap water. At least, that is what a group of curious groomers from around the country who did a small experiment found.

With all that out of the way, let's get down to getting the job done in an efficient and effective manner. Professional shampoos almost always have a dilution rate on them that you don't find on most shampoos available in pet stores, but it isn't that difficult to figure out on your own. Start with 7 ounces of warm water and 1 ounce of shampoo and adjust from there. Eight ounces should be enough for most Maltese. Beauty supply shops have squeeze bottles that are ideal for this purpose.

No matter where you are doing the job, it is best to have a towel or bath mat in the bottom so your dog has sure footing. Next, if you aren't using a tearless shampoo, put a drop or two of mineral oil in each eye. If you forget to use the oil, DO NOT do this once shampoo is on the head as it may actually cause the shampoo to adhere to the eyes. You can also put cotton in the ears if your dog is prone to problems caused by water getting in them. Now for the nice warm massage. DO NOT WET THE DOG. Just apply the diluted shampoo directly on the dry dog, starting at the dirtiest end first so it will have the longest contact time and do the most good. Once the dog is all soaped up, just rinse and the bath is almost done. You will find that the shampoo goes in and out of the coat quite easily.

Any shampoo that you choose for use on a Maltese or any white dog should not have a yellow dye. Your shampoo should have either optical brighteners or be a deep purple. You can add Mrs. Stewart's Laundry Bluing to any shampoo as long as you don't over do it or you may have a blue dog. (Remember the little old ladies with their blue hair?)

Follow the shampoo with a conditioner. For most dogs, I recommend a silicone conditioner called "The Stuff" which is available in most catalogs. It not only helps prevent matting, but helps shed dirt. However, if your dog's skin is dry or you have a problem with static, then a regular conditioner should be used.

My only comments regarding medicated shampoos are READ THE DIRECTIONS and wear gloves. If it says to leave it on 5 to 10 minutes and you don't, you have wasted your time and money and probably needlessly annoyed your dog. If the dog is shivering because it is cold, wrap it in a towel and still wait the 5 to 10 minutes.

The last parts of the process are drying, combing and brushing. Most professional dog dryers do not have heating elements. When using a human dryer it should be set on the lowest heat possible or held far enough away that the dog is comfortable. For brushing I recommend a good coarse comb. That isn't an error. I don't like brushes because they will skip over a lot of tangles and mats. They are best used just as a finishing tool.

Now if you are all enthused about trying a new method, go find the dog because s/he figured out a long time ago what is about to happen and has scampered off to a favorite hiding place in the hope that you will lose interest in the whole project after hunting for a while. -- Pam is a groomer in Houston, TX, fostering Christopher, and mom to Jules, Bob and Jasmine (all from SCMR).

A little old man, arthritic and sore,
It seems I am not wanted anymore.
I once had a home, I once had a bed,
A place that was warm, and where I was fed.

Now my muzzle is grey, and my eyes slowly fail.
Who wants a dog so old and so frail?
My family decided I didn't belong,
I got in their way, my attitude was wrong.

Whatever excuse they made in their head,
Can't justify how they left me for dead.
Now I sit in this cage, where day after day,
The younger dogs get adopted away.

When I had almost come to the end of my rope,
You saw my face, and I finally had hope.
You saw through the grey, and the legs bent with age,
And felt I still had life beyond this cage.

You took me home, gave me food and a bed,
And shared your own pillow with my poor tired head.
We snuggle and play, and you talk to me low,
You love me so dearly, you want me to know.

I may have lived most of my life with another,
But you outshine them with a love so much stronger.
And I promise to return all the love I can give,
To you, my dear person, as long as I live.

I may be with you for a week, or for years.
We will share many smiles, you will no doubt shed tears.
And when the time comes that I must leave,
I know you will cry and your heart, it will grieve.

And when I arrive at the Bridge, all brand new,
My thoughts and my heart will still be with you.
And I will brag to all who will hear,
Of the person who made my last days so dear.

An Apple a Day Dog Treat

Come see over 300 animals up for adoption from over 50 rescues. Educational demonstrations by some of metro Atlanta's animal experts. Vendor booths will have pet related products for purchase. There will be pony rides for the kids, and other fun and educational things for the kids. Mocha My Day will have a coffee, smoothies and gourmet foods. Diva Dogs Mobile Dog Grooming will attend with their mobile dog grooming van. SCMR WILL HAVE ADOPTABLE DOGS AND AND SPECIAL FUNDRAISER ITEMS FOR SALE COME SEE US!!