Writen on a cloudy day...

Greetings on a dark and cloudy day.

Earlier this week Kim took Sasha to Broadview Animal Clinic to have her front, right leg amputated. This was the best thing for Sasha's pain, activity level, and quality of life. She came through surgery with flying colors and is now resting and recovering at Kim's home. She will start feeling better next week. Right now she needs help to stand and to go outside to potty. Her full recovery time should be just a couple of weeks.
Her surgery cost just over $600 so it was great to have the help of Sasha's sponsors and the Cycle Slut fundraiser.

One of the most common questions I get is about tracking down litter mates for reunions. We had our first meeting of the CPR Alumni Homecoming Committee this week. The Homecoming Event will be a great big get-together of all of our previously adopted dogs and puppies. Since CPR opened it's doors in Oct. 2005 we have rescued and adopted over 4000 puppies. I do not think everyone will come. My hope is that we'll have at least 100 alum at our event. SAVE THE DATE: we're planning for September.  Think you'd like to attend? Drop me a note so that I know I won't be the only one there! Right now, we think that there will be no cost to get into the event. We're planning for contests and games (these will have entrance fees because they're fundraisers) as well as inviting Animal Industry Folk to join in and sponsor a booth. (Are you an interested industry folk? Let us know!) We will have all of our photos books out, we'll be taking photos for before and after, we'll have ways to meet up with litter mates, prizes and MORE.
Would you like to help out but aren't the type to plan or go to meetings?
WE NEED:

• Ideas for a location that can accommodate us (electricity is a must).
• Cool, fun or classy items for our BIG Raffle (We can send you a letter of intent, our 501(c)3 and a donation receipt.) 
• Maybe you have a time share you can, um, share?
• Restaurant gift certificate?
• Pet Lover’s item?
• How about a basket of goodies for the pampered pet?
• Or pampered pet owner?
• Connection to an airline, hotel, manufacturer, retailer, groomer, trainer….
• Are you a talented artist with a work you can donate?
• Tight on cash but long on time? Maybe you would make a call or write a letter or email to ask for a donation on our behalf.
• A neat, eye-catching invitation design asking for event sponsors that we can send to local businesses.
• A neat, eye-catching invitation design inviting previous adopters to the event.
• Recommendations for event service companies (that provide tents, chairs, tables) that would be willing to offer non-profit discounts or donations.
• Have you come up with some way you can help that I haven't? We'd love your help. Please let me know what you'd like to do!

There's a lot going on at CPR that I'd like to share.

The first is Puppy #291, now known as River, pictured on the left. River came in on Thursday from a shelter in Santa Fe. She has a Cherry Eye. Unlike people, dogs have a third eyelid in the corner of each eye that contains a tear duct. Normally you don't see it but sometimes, for reasons unknown, it can come out of it's normal position and swell. That is a condition called cherry eye. You can see it on her left eye. The treatment is usually to surgically move it back into place.
Today I met River's adopter at Broadview Animal Clinic so that her Cherry Eye could get treated. She was in the great spirits of a puppy who'd never been to a vet's office and didn't know what was in store. She had a great weekend of hiking in the mountains and seeing a herd of deer. Today her eye looked a lot better. I could hardly see her third eyelid but the adopter and I chose to go ahead with the surgery just to make sure that it was taken care of. CPR paid for the surgery as agreed upon on our contract with River's adopter. He's promised to keep in touch so we can see River as she grows.

Last Friday Denver Cycle Sluts threw CPR a fundraiser. We played BINGO with Denver's Original Camp Drag Comedy Troupe. Visit their website here. We had too much fun! There were a TON of prizes, some provided by CPR and some by the Cycle Sluts. It was hosted at Hamburger Mary's so there was food and lots of drinks. (BTW, it was 21 and over only. Not a family event!) They raised $1,150 for us at that event. Thank you Denver Cycle Sluts for a great time and a fabulous fundraiser. Also thanks to Kitty for getting us in there and to Kitty, Rhonda, and Kim for setting up prizes.

Sasha is a 10-11 mth old lab/whippet mix that we brought into the rescue back in October, pictured to the right. She was one of a litter of six pups that were hard to find homes for because they were a little older to begin with. Volunteer Christy Elly and friend of volunteer Robin both adopted pups from this litter. Poor Sasha has had the hardest time. She's been adopted and returned 3 times. This last time the adopters discovered that she has a growth plate problem that will require surgery. They are not prepared to handle such a surgery so they chose to relinquish her back to our care so that we can get her the help she needs. Kim and I have taken Sasha to an Orthopedic Specialist and an Orthopedic Surgeon for opinions and cost estimates. It looks now, like the best thing for Sasha's recovery, quality of life and opportunity for re-adoption is to have her leg amputated. She goes in for surgery next week. Her foster mom Jackie will tell you that she is active, loves to run and play, as well as sit next to you on the sofa. All of these things she'll continue to do after her surgery. After a short recovery she'll go up for adoption and find a new home. Many people have asked about helping with Sasha's surgery financially. Thanks to last week's fundraiser and a private sponsor (Samantha and her CPR Alum Three-Legged dog Scribble) we'll be able to cover Sasha's surgery and recovery. However, donations are always accepted and appreciated. Donations can be make directly to our Camma-Lyla Fund from the donations page on our website. Click here to go to the CPR website donation page.

I'll be sure to update you on River and Sasha as information comes in. See you soon!
Brook
ps. I love Google's spellchecker!