COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL August 24, 2016
Small dog needs a
“Maxi” home
Maxi’s article illustrates the
plight of thousands of amazing
dogs.
Three-year old Maxi is a beau-
tiful swirling blond and white
colored Shih Tzu who loves ev-
eryone and tummy rubs! He was
abandoned fi lthy and matted and
tied to a fence. Finding Maxi in
this inhumane way was double
troubling because he is blind.
Today, describing Maxi as
appreciative and sweet is an
understatement! He has the
usual Shih Tzu temperament
that adores people, children and
other dogs. He loves life and
shows it by spinning in happy
joyous circles. He also loves
kitties but he has trouble fi nding
and following them.
“Maxi is an excellent house
pet!” said his foster mother,
Sonja. “He is trustworthy in
the house and barks for potty
breaks. He is well-mannered
and sleeps from 10 p.m-7 a.m.
before heading outside for tinkle
time with my Australian Cattle
Dog, Ben.”
Don’t mistake Maxi’s blind-
ness for being ‘physically im-
paired’. He needs to get outside
because of his enthusiastic love
of life and exploration using his
nose and excellent hearing.
Maxi has emerged from his
once shy shell, where he was a
very slow walker, to now break-
ing into a trot while on leash.
When Sonja drops the leash,
the little one wanders where he
pleases, pokes around and fol-
lows scents within the safe con-
fi nes of her fenced yard. He is
so happy that he does “zoomies
in the meadow,” running around
and around until he wears him-
self out!
“This handsome Shih Tzu is
thrilled to have a playmate in my
Ben,” said Sonja, “Maxi has to
‘fi nd’ and fi gure out which end
of Ben is which, before jumping
on Ben’s head to start a game.
Yesterday, I was in the lawn
chair reading and Maxi was on
a long leash. Ben was next to
my chair. Maxi discovered Ben
and bounced up and down in his
excitement to play. When Ben
reached out and ‘touched’ Maxi
with his paw, it thrilled Maxi to
no end, because he could ‘play’
back. Maxi stood up on his
back feet and batted for Ben’s
head! It is obviously a fun
game of ‘hit and miss’ and I get
very little reading done watch-
ing them play.
TOPS OR 0181 DRAIN
Wants to thank Jim’s Point S Tire of
Cottage Grove, US Bank of Drain, and
Dickey’s Parts in Yoncalla for their
contribution of school supplies for the
children of Drain and Yoncalla. Also,
Chapter members of 0181 Drain.
Benjamin is less than ideal as
Maxi’s ‘Seeing Eye Dog’ be-
cause he is larger than Maxi and
walks too fast. Sometimes when
Maxi is trying to ‘fi nd’ Ben, he
walks right under Ben’s tummy
and out his other side, not even
realizing it and keeps on look-
ing.
Maxi and Ben are great
friends, so I tether them togeth-
er, so Maxi won’t get lost. As a
cattle dog, it is right up Ben’s
‘line of work’! When I have to
run into the house, I ask Ben to
‘Sit! Stay!’ on Maxi’s tether and
Ben does.
Inside, Ben steals Maxi’s toys
from Maxi’s pen and tears them
up. So the three of us made an
emergency visit to a pet store
for Maxi to reFURbish his sup-
ply!
When I picked Maxi up to
foster, I lined the crate with his
favorite blanket and toys for his
ride home. Yesterday, I tethered
his harness to the ring in the
back of the Jeep and he sur-
prised me by putting his feet up
on the wheel-well so he could
‘see’ out the window!
Then he came and put his
front feet on the console, close
to my arm, and sat there like any
sighted dog looking out the win-
dow. What is that about? He is
totally blind! His actions con-
fuse my brain!
Maxi relishes being held like
a baby, and for afternoon naps,
he burrows under his big pillow.
When I come back to look in on
him, I never know which end
will be sticking out, but being
blind, I guess he doesn’t either!
I would love to keep this up-
side down cuddle bug, but I
know he is perfect for another
family and re-homing this trea-
sure leaves me open to rescue
and foster another deserving
dog.
Older dogs are the best to
adopt. They appreciate and
love you for saving (and feed-
ing) them. I hope that Maxi’s
future fur-ever home has anoth-
er small dog who loves playing
and can teach him the rules of
their home! In other words, be
his ‘guide dog’. And when he
gets it will run his happy end-
ing article! Contact Sonja, Ben
and Maxi: theposse@sonic.net
Benefi ts of Adopting Adult
Pets
They have developed wonder-
ful and unique personalities.
They appreciate that you
‘saved’ them and are devoted
Cottage Grove Art Walk
Fri. Aug 26th 6-9
how
Art S ning
Ope
Live c
Musi
d Artist:
Feature
PAM
DENNIS
Stop in
and get
a
20% off
coupon
for futu
re
framing
!
Photo by Mr. “Angel Scribe”
Sonja and her cattle dog, Ben, with their current foster,
Maxi, who is in need of a very special home.
to you because they remember
what life was like before your
love and home.
Our family discovered that the
adult cats we adopted ended up
as our gift! The felines loved us
the minute they knew they were
safe and cared for. Their bond
to us was deep.
As we age it behooves us
to adopt an adult pet so that if
we pass fi rst then the pet is not
young and ends up in a shelter.
Sadly these wonderful animals
are then passed up by humans
looking for a puppy or kitten
because they have no idea of the
treasure they just walked by!
have something furry to love
that loves you back!
Report a puppy mill! Humane
Society’s Hotline. 1-877-645-
5847
Humane Society for Neuter/
Spay Assistance Program. (541)
942-2789
Share your wonderful pet’s
story.
angelscribe@msn.com
Archived Tips ‘n’ Tales:
www.AngelScribe.com
Adopt Loving Pets
www.PetFinder.com
It makes you feel good to
South Lane Physical Therapy LLC
Did you know?
W. STU HOGG
PT, OCS, COMT
As a patient at SLPT you
receive free and unlimited
access to Emerald Fitness
Club in Cottage Grove.
Orthopedic • Sport • Spine
Thank you again from all of us at
TOPS OR 0181 Drain
4PVUIUI4USFFUt$PUUBHF(SPWFt
7A
MARIE WILLIAMSON
PTA
303 Main Street, Cottage Grove OR
Phone: 541.942.6482
Fax: 541.942.6483
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