The YTNR Board of Directors established a new award to recognize and honor the work of a YTNR volunteer who exhibits consistency, diligence, follow through, and overall excellence.  This award follows our long standing tradition of recognizing the efforts of an outstanding individual.  This year's recipient is a person who has earned the respect, trust, affection and appreciation of not only the YTNR Board of Directors, but also the Volunteer body.

This year's recipient, Mary Schmidt, has served YTNR for twelve years.  Mary has worked tirelessly as Secretary to our Board of Directors, and it is with enormous gratitude and love that we establish "The Mary Schmidt Distinguished Service Award."

Mary announcing the Smoky Winner

One of the highlights of the Annual Ball is the announcement of the winners of the yearly Smoky Awards. All our rescues are special and we like to acknowledge them and their rescue stories. All rescues adopted between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011 were eligible for nomination.

Since new people have joined our great group since the last Ball, it might be fitting to retell the story of WHO the Smoky of the "Smoky Award" is. We turned to Bill Wynne whose heart was stolen over 60 years ago by his 4 lb Yorkie, Smoky - his angel in a foxhole.

              WHO  IS  SMOKY OF THE YTNR SMOKY AWARDS?

Smoky was a four pound Yorkie that was found in an abandoned jungle foxhole in New Guinea in early 1944 by a soldier whose jeep had stalled in the jungle.   The next day the Yorkie was sold for two Australian pounds ($6.44) to 20 year old PFC. Bill Wynne. Bill and Smoky flew combat missions and went through many air raids together. She lived on rugged army tropical food including at times C and K rations, while they served 18 months straight in combat. They traveled 40,000 miles overseas.

When YTNR was planning its very first rescue ball in 1999, the first thing that came to mind was creating a special award for the Yorkie Rescue of the Year.  It seemed logical to name the award after Bill Wynne's world famous Yorkie rescue. After nominations came in, it quickly became clear that each story was special and touching.  Each rescue is a great rescue, just as Smoky was. She started a movement, in rescue, in therapy, in obedience that showed people what a 4 lb dynamo could do. 

Announcing the year's Smoky Awards each year at the Ball is something we look forward to, through laughter and tears. It reminds us of why we do what we do, and how much it is SO worthwhile.

We receive many nominations each year. It is never easy to narrow the field; each dog has its own story, fortunately ending happily with a new and loving forever family. Some of these little dogs are senior citizens; some have health issues requiring ongoing care; some never knew human love before; some were strays; and some came from families who loved them but could no longer care for them.

And now...

Our second runner-up is Mitzi, adopted by Sharon Hansen from Illinois. Mitzi is now the loving hostess in a bed and breakfast, welcoming guest and serving as a good will ambassador for Yorkshire Terriers.  

Our first runner-up is Gracie Mae, who came to YTNR from a hoarder who did not give her much health care or love. She had horrible ear infections, crystals in her urine and other issues.   Adopted by Al and Sue Allen of Arizona, and after not even a year of good care in her new home, she is a healthy happy dog. Gracie Mae didn't know what treats were, but after earning some for good behavior, she quickly learned. Most of all she enjoys hugs and cuddling and assurance that she is loved.

Every dog nominated is a winner in its own right, but after much deliberation the committee arrived at their decision in awarding the 2011 Smoky Award to the dog whose life was most improved after finding his new forever home.

Our 2011 Smoky Award goes to a little one who was rescued from a pound by a wonderful YTNR foster mom, who nursed her back to health after spaying and removal of several decayed teeth. Alas, her foster mom passed away after a valiant fight with cancer and pneumonia. One day after the funeral, Stacey was adopted by Pam Mindt and Hannelie Vermeulen of Oregon. She braved her way through a mastectomy shortly after she stole the hearts of the vets and staff.  

She went through having a fistula in her mouth closed up successfully, to getting her incontinence under control with daily medication and fighting off other little bugs, to living as healthy as one can with two bad hind legs.

Over the months Stacey learned to share - from "it's all about me" and "pet me now, don't stop" to "OK I'll be quiet and listen". That's what it takes to be a therapy dog and share the office with mommy for a hard day's work with soldiers returning from war and adjusting back home. She would love to follow her mommy to Afghanistan as a combat stress control dog to help out US soldiers - since she is a military brat after all - and they are taking therapy dogs with. But her other momma is waving the Peace Out flag and stomping her foot down as hard as any Yorkie can - she'll have to wait for the Reserves in Portland OR and receive care packages from Kandahar to see her through!

Our 2011 Smoky of the Year - Stacey

Pam and Hannelie, congratulations to you both!

Our heartiest congratulations and best wishes to all our adopted Yorkies and their new families!

When my old friend, Gretchen, and I met for lunch recently, the conversation inevitably turned to dogs. She'd expanded her family to include a Yorkie and a MinPin left at a local shelter by a couple who could no longer afford to care for them. In these times, shelters are tragically overcrowded, and even totally adoptable animals have little or no time to find a forever home. These two were lucky. Their small size and generally good physical health made them more adoptable than many larger dogs, buying them a little extra time. When Gretchen met them, they both exhibited signs of emotional stress. They were already grieving the loss of the family they loved, and even though they were caged together, the stress of shelter life filled them with fear and anxiety.

She took them home, determined to soothe their nerves and mend their broken hearts with love, good food, love, and more love. Gretchen is a life long animal lover, and she's rehabilitated a number of dogs and cats-and one goat. She uses a little Tellington TTouch, as well as flower essences and a whole foods diet with high quality supplements. She knows what she's doing, so I was a bit surprised when she pulled up her sleeve to reveal a number of tiny, inflamed bite marks.

Sadie, the MinPin, was responding nicely to TT, flower essences and a loving home. She still seemed sad at times, but was beginning to bond with Gretchen and her daughter. Samantha, the Yorkie, was another story. Wary of everyone, tense, unwilling to be petted, she snapped, snarled and bit at those who offered love and comfort. She even rejected Sadie from time to time. Covering her punctured arm with her sleeve, Gretchen sighed. "What next? Any ideas?"

I did have a couple of ideas.

One: Get Sadie a Thundershirt (Thundershirt.com). I suggested Gretchen wear long sleeves and gloves to put the Thundershirt on Sadie. Better safe than...bitten again!

Two: Hair Slides! This Tellington TTouch is relaxing, a good choice for a nervous, fearful, or high-strung animal. Also helpful for dogs afraid of being groomed.   Sadie resisted Gretchen's attempts to TTouch her, or touch her, but this could be different.

HAIR SLIDES ...courtesy of Linda Tellington Jones

HOW TO:

Hold a small tuft of hair between your thumb and index finger, or use the spaces between the fingers of your flat hand, to gently slide up from the root of the hair to its end. Start as close as possible to the roots of the hair and follow the lay of the fur. If you do your Hair Slides slowly and gently, you will build a calm, deep relationship with your dog.

Note:in a long haired dog, run your fingers through his hair with a gentle pull as you might run your fingers through your own hair.

Back:

Hair Slides can be an enjoyable introduction to TTouch bodywork for dogs that do not readily accept other TTouches. Hair Slides on a dog's back create more awareness and flexibility n a gentle and loving way. You can work large areas of the back with your whole hand, and smaller areas with your fingers.

Shoulders:

Dogs that pull on the leash, or that are hyperactive, nervous, or high-strung, are usually very tense in the shoulders. Try these Hair slides to relax them. Hair Slides done on a large area with the fingers of your flat hand lead to deep relaxation. Support the opposite shoulder with your other hand. On long haired dogs, separate your fingers and glide upward through the fur.

Head:

Most dogs like slow, gentle Hair Slides on their heads. With this TTouch you can calm down a nervous or fearful dog, and build a special relationship. Hair Slides are also helpful for dogs that suffer from panic attacks or dogs that bark or whine constantly. Keep your dog's head still by placing one hand under his muzzle.

IF A DOG'S HAIR IS TOO SHORT TO DO HAIR SLIDES, lift your dog's skin up gently with your thumb and index finger and slide along the hair while letting go of the skin very slowly.

Getting in TTouch with Your Dog

Linda Tellington-Jones

Copyright 2001:

Trafalgar Square Publishing

Used with permission.

When Gretchen called two days later, she told me she'd first practiced Hair Slides on short haired Sadie, with Samantha near by, watching. Sadie had, in Gretchen's words, "absolutely melted!"  

Encouraged, a somewhat relaxed Gretchen approached Samantha quietly, gently tossing her a treat soaked in Rescue Remedy. She ate the treat, but moved away, so Gretchen gave Sadie a few more slides. Finally, Samantha approached them, sitting close by. A few more treats, a few more Slides for Sadie, and Samantha allowed Gretchen to do two Slides on her back before pulling away. Encouragingly, she did not snap or snarl.

Gretchen left both dogs on the couch to nap, returning later for another Hair Slide session, again beginning with Sadie. This time Samantha tolerated about a minute of Slides before she pulled away. Gretchen patiently repeated this several times, never forcing Samantha, always stopping when the dog showed she'd had all the Slides she could tolerate.

The next morning, Gretchen again sat down with Sadie, who clearly wanted more! Samantha jumped onto the couch, watched for a moment, then crawled into Gretchen's lap, almost on top of Sadie. This time Samantha accepted Hair Slides for several minutes. Her eyes softened. Her body relaxed. Her breathing slowed. Eventually she, too, absolutely melted!   The beginning of a beautiful friendship!

Till next time, Stay In TTouch!

Penny Case

Guild Certified Tellington TTouch Practitioner

Star9fish@aol.com