1. Tell us about yourself. Where do you live? Interests? Hobbies? Family?

 

[Paula Fonseca] I was born and raised in California's central valley and still live here today.  My husband of 31 years and I own an amusement company that keeps us working 7 days a week for 9 months out of the year.   When I'm not out producing the children's areas for street fairs and festivals, I like to be at home either sewing when it's cold outside or gardening when the weather is nice.  I have three grown daughters.  My youngest is still at home while attending college and helps to care for the foster dogs.

2. How did you become interested in Yorkies?

 [Paula Fonseca] My middle daughter bought a Yorkie puppy as a gift to herself when she graduated from college.  She and the puppy lived with us that summer.  When she got a job and moved away, I had to get a Yorkie of my own!

3. How and when did you get involved in Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue?

 [Paula Fonseca] When I told my daughter that I wanted a Yorkie, she told me that if she had it to do over, she would get a rescue dog.  I had no idea that Yorkie Rescue existed!   I contacted Carla and she promptly recruited me to be a foster mom.  That was in 2008.

 

4. Tell us about your Yorkies. What are their ages, names, hobbies? ^:)

 [Paula Fonseca] I have 3 Yorkies - the first two were a result of my failing Foster 101, Dixie & Muppet, both age 10.  The other is Dolly, age 7.  They are my constant companions, hanging out with me in my office during the week and patrolling the streets of the festivals we do on the weekends - in their own uniforms of course!

5. What do you love about Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue?

 [Paula Fonseca] This is the most fulfilling thing I've ever done.  I love to get a new foster dog, get to know them, tend to their needs and finally find the perfect furever home for them.  The fosters I've had remain my dogs no matter where they go to live, as their families become my friends and I get to keep in touch with the Yorkies over time.

6. What else would you like us to know?

[Paula Fonseca]  I'm very excited to be attending the Yorkie Ball this year.  I can't wait to meet all the people that I have talked with on the phone and corresponded with over email in person.

Yorkies are super intelligent Beings with noble spirits and huge hearts contained in small, adorable, but extremely vulnerable bodies. A common physical problem with Yorkies is Tracheal collapse , a condition in which the the rings of the trachea become weakened, leading to serious respiratory problems. Treatment ranges from management for moderate cases, to surgery for the most serious cases. So far, no solution is perfect.

If a Yorkie you know is suffering from Tracheal Collapse, Tellington TTouch can help the dog by strengthening the immune system and stimulating the body to heal. TT can also help relax a dog made anxious by the breathing challenges brought on by TC. TTouch is also helpful in an overall program of prevention. We so often feel helpless when our beloved friends are struggling with TC, or any physical or emotional issue. TTouch is something we can all do, and even a little TT makes a difference!

TTOUCH TIME:

Personal comfort and relaxation is vital to a good TT session. Sit with your back well supported, feet on the floor.   Use pillows or rolled towels or blankets to support your arms, allowing your body to totally relax. Shake your hands vigorously for a few seconds, imagining tension flowing out through your fingers. Take a few deep, slow breaths. As you exhale, imagine your breath going out through the bottoms of your feet, deep into Mother Earth.   Allow the tension in your body and the cares of the day to flow out with your breath on the exhale.  

     Once you've collected and relaxed yourself, place your Yorkie in your lap, facing away from you. Rest one of your very relaxed hands on each side of your dog, making a soft, warm contact. Close your eyes for a moment, bringing your awareness to your hands. Can you feel the movement as your dog breathes? Sense a heartbeat? Does her body feel tense? Relaxed? Notice the body's temperature, the breathing rate.  

     In this comfortable, supported place, you can easily TTouch your companion in several ways,. Directions for individual TTouches can be found in past columns. There is a wealth of information in books and DVDs at TTOUCH.COM.   Search Tellington TTouch on YouTube.com for a variety of free demonstrations.

   Notice how your dog responds to each TTouch. Does the dog lean into your hand? Pull away? Stiffen? Soften? When there's resistance to a particular TTouch, try it lighter, faster, slower, in a different place. Switch to a different TTouch.   Check in with your own breathing. Holding the breath creates tension in the hand that TTouches. Yes, really!

Imagine the dog's trachea growing stronger, more flexible as you TTouch. Work the ears, including the area around the base of the ears, to stimulate and support the entire system, including respiration.

Conclude each session by stroking from nose to tail with your full hand, as if smoothing the entire dog.

POSSIBLE PREVENTION?

A valuable member of my animals' healthcare team is a widely respected holistic veterinarian. She has a true passion for facilitating vibrant good health in animals, a passion I share.

I asked her if tracheal collapse could be prevented from occurring in the first place. Her response was fierce, unequivocal:

NO COLLARS! NONE. People drag those fragile little dogs around by their necks and of course the trachea's going to be damaged. How could it not be?

Take off the collars! Don't use them in the first place. Use a harness!

She also suggests small dogs will benefit from a join supplement containing glucosamine and hyaluronic acid (HA) to strengthen cartilage tissue of the trachea.

Warm thanks to Roberta Carmean for sharing her creative, non-drug tip for soothing dogs with tracheal collapse:

Summer fun

Hello from Meee and my Pack :o)

Hope you are all enjoying the pawsome summer. Unfortunately it is almost over :o(
Meee and my Pack are having a blast with all kinds of fun activities like visiting family, going for walks and just soaking up the sun. 

We have had a lot of rain where we live and that brought out lots and lots of hungry mosquitoes. Let Meee tell you they are Obnoxious! Argh!
My Mommy makes sure that we are sprayed with all kinds of natural good smelling bug repellent and when we get in the house we have to pass her thorough inspection. When people smell us going by, we just tell them it's from our little Sis, Aida ;o) 
Speaking of Aida, funny story:
She and my Daddy have a nightly routine of playing fetch with a squeaker toy of her choice and Meee and my  Bros are just sitting on the "sidelines" watch them "bond" (she is still a bit shy with my Daddy). One night after bringing the toy back to my Daddy who was laying on the bed, Aida wanted to play tug-of-war instead of fetch and in the process, she got pretty wild which caused her to roll off the bed. She got angry with my Daddy and started yelling at him because according to her, he "pushed" her off the bed. She was causing such ruckus that my Mommy came into the room to see why she was so upset. Upon asking her, she started yelling even louder insisting that my Daddy made her roll off the bed and kept calling him meanie. (Between you and Meee do you think she will get into college?)
We do have lots of fun with her though and we are all so happy she is part of our family. 

Towards the end of each summer, my family's tradition is to embark on an architectural doggy boat cruise on Lake Michigan in Chicago.

It is a pawsome and relaxing outing with lots of four-legged babies and their Pawrents. The cruise is 90 minutes long and everybody is always in a good mood. Afterwards we have lunch at one of the outdoor restaurants along the Chicago River where everybody is very friendly to us.

This will be my second year and for Aida and my Bro Ray, will be their first time. My Bro Leo is the veteran with his 10th year. 
Some of my bloggie friends are coming too and Meee cannot waaaaait for it. 

My Mommy asked my Mama Corrine if she could make Aida an outfit appropriate for the boat cruise and not only that she made one for her on very short notice but she also made her a hat to go with it and she surprised Meee with a vest :o) We just LOVE our Mama Corrine. 
MaryElizabeth, said that the vest was a gift for Meee :o) from her and Mama Corrine. Meee is sooo blessed! Thank you both sooo much! 

Wishing you all a blessed September. 
Love,
Neeko :o)

 A customer was continually bothering the waiter in a restaurant; first, he'd asked that the air conditioning be turned up because he was too hot, then he asked it be turned down cause he was too cold, and so on for about half an hour. Surprisingly, the waiter was very patient, walking back and forth and never once getting angry. So finally, a second customer asked why didn't they just throw out the pest.
"Oh I don't care." said the waiter with a smile. "We don't even have an air conditioner." ~

Love to all,
Neeko :o)

Love to all,
Neeko :o)