I was really excited to meet Jake, and I can tell you he is a real sweetie. He just had reconstructive surgery at Iowa State University to fix his nose and upper lip after he was neglected.

Read the story below or click here to watch the video.

———————-

DECORAH (KWWL) -”He’s just a happy-go-lucky dog,” said Brenda Flatjord.

Jake is a four to five-year-old black lab mix. He’s currently being cared for by Brenda Flatjord and the Humane Society of Northeast Iowa in Decorah.

Jake and another dog were picked up by a local sheriff’s office and taken to the impound. When neither dog was claimed by an owner, the Humane Society of Northeast Iowa took them in.

“‘We just couldn’t believe it,” said Flatjord.

Jake’s nose and upper lip were missing. He also had bad infections and fleas. Flatjord said it’s clear he was neglected.

“His toenails were completely curled into the pads of his feet. He could hardly walk,” said Flatjord.

Veterinarians who treated Jake aren’t exactly sure what caused his injuries, but believe it’s from constantly rubbing his nose and face on something such as a crate or confined space he was locked in.

“We just looked at him, he looked at us and we said we have to do something for this poor guy. He deserves better,” said Brenda Flatjord.

Jake just went to Iowa State University for reconstructive surgery to fix his lip and open his nostrils. Before, he couldn’t even breathe out of his nose.

“It’s swollen. It’s got stitches. It’s scabbed, but his lip looks amazing. Before, all you could see was teeth. They think we can take him back at a later date, and they can make the nose look better,” said Flatjord.

The Humane Society of Northeast Iowa is trying to raise about $3,000 to pay for Jake’s surgeries.

“He’s pretty deserving of it,” said Flatjord.

Brenda Flatjord said despite everything he’s been through, Jake’s tail is always wagging. She said Jake’s worst quality is that he snores, but it’s actually music to Flatjord’s ears because it’s a sign he’s nearly recovered from his injuries.

The next phase is to find Jake a permanent, good home.

The other dog brought in with Jake was already adopted. There are no charges pending in this case because the owner hasn’t been identified.

If you’d like to make a donation to help pay for Jake’s reconstructive surgery, you can send money to the Humane Society of Northeast Iowa, P.O. Box 76, Decorah, Iowa 52101. Specify the money is for Jake.

Posted under In the News

Join us on Saturday, June 15 at the M & M Lounge in Cresco for a new event: WOOFSTOCK!

Woofstock’s family-friendly activities include: Woofy Walk (Strut Your Mutt), Paw to the Pedal Poker Run, Agility and Obedience Demonstrations, Best Dressed and Most Obedient contests, meet ‘Thor’ our K-9 friend, SNAP (Spay/Neuter Assistance Program of Northeast Iowa) and HSNEI informational booth, food stands and some terrific live music.

The ‘WHY’ behind ‘Woofstock’ is not only to celebrate our most cherished pets but also to help raise money to build a no-kill shelter, which provides vet care and housing to homeless animals for the communities served by the Humane Society of Northeast Iowa (HSNEI), including Howard, Winneshiek, Allamakee, Clayton and Fayette counties.

Schedule of events:

11 a.m. WoofyWalk & Paw to the Pedal Poker Run (pre-register for Poker Run call: 563.203.9268)

4 p.m. Obedience Demonstration, Informational and food booths, FREE popcorn & cotton candy

5 p.m. Yappy Hour, Adoption Fair, 60’s DJ music

6 p.m. Meet Thor, our K-9 Friend, 60’s Best Dressed Contest (pet/owner), Most Obedient Contest (pets only)

7-9 p.m. AbsoluteHoot (live music indoors)

9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Hitfaced (live music on the street), Late Night 60’s Best Dressed Contest & Stupid Human Tricks

Posted under Pet Events

Teddy locked Cubbie and me out of the house. It’s true.

Here’s what happened. I needed to take Cubbie to his appointment at the groomers. I didn’t want to bring Teddy along in the car just for the ride because he tends to get car sick.

So I grabbed Cubbie and started getting him out the door. As we were leaving, I put up this baby gate I have, which keeps the dogs from going into the basement when I’m not home. Cubbie and I go out the door and I hear a crash. Immediately I know Teddy has knocked the gate over (which he’s never done before). He wasn’t happy I was taking Cubbie away without him.

I put Cubbie in the car quick, and I went back to the house to put the gate up again. Well, I couldn’t open the door more than a sliver because the gate was wedged between a wall and the door and thus blocking the door.

By this point I was already running late to get Cubbie to the groomer, so I just decided to take him to the groomer and then deal with being locked out of the house.

On the drive to Shaggy Chic Grooming Boutique, I was thinking in my head how I might be able to get back into the house. The door through my garage was blocked, and my front door still had the deadbolt on it from overnight. My only option was my back patio door, but I’ve never actually used that key so I wasn’t sure if it would work.

I dropped Cubbie off at the groomers, drove home and luckily my patio key did work. So there is a happy end to this story without destruction to one of my doors or windows.

 Thank goodness I made it back inside my house, and Cubbie’s furcut looks great!

Posted under Cubbie stories

Teddy, Teddy, Teddy. My sweet puppy (whose almost not a puppy anymore) is turning into a bit of a destroyer.

When I’m home, he’s well-behaved and entertained. However, I see another side of Teddy when I have to leave the house.

My dad thought it was separation anxiety, but I really believe it’s boredom. I think when I’m not home Cubbie is used to sleeping, and Teddy needs something to occupy his time. He is the kind of dog that doesn’t like to be bored. So he gets into stuff. He can even reach stuff on the kitchen table! Stuff I’m very sure I’ve put out of his reach. I’m convinced he’s a ninja. He can get anything and everything.

When I’m going to be at work, I usually put Teddy in his crate. I come home about halfway through my day (the four or five hour mark) to let both Teddy and Cubbie outside and let them run around for a little bit. If I don’t have much left to do at work, I let Teddy spend the rest of the afternoon running around the house with Cubbie.

Well, Teddy is making it more difficult for me to let him run around the house when I’m not home. Once a week (on my days off), I mentor at Waterloo Schools for one hour during the school year. Since I was only going to be gone for barely more than an hour, I left Teddy out of his crate.

I came home to find he’s managed to lock himself in the bedroom and proceeded to chew a hole in the back of my book shelf.

I think I can describe exactly what happened. Teddy began pulling on my robe on the back of the bedroom door (as he always does) and the pulling caused the door to shut. Since he was locked in the bedroom, he had to find some way to “entertain” himself. That’s when he started tearing the back off my bookshelf.

Another day I was gone for about an hour to run to the grocery store, and I came back to find this. One of my photo albums pulled off the shelf and chewed up.

You might wonder why I don’t close the bedroom door so they can’t even go in there. I usually do, but on these two occasions Cubbie was sleeping on the bed, so I didn’t want to “lock” both dogs in the bedroom or leave Teddy out and Cubbie in. He would have sat at the door barking the whole time.

Also, when I do shut all the doors Teddy still finds ways to “destroy.” This is what I came home to after work the other night. Apparently Teddy thought he liked the loveseat better without its slipcover or cushions. My favorite part of this is my shoe in his dog bed. Again, I THOUGHT I put the shoe out of reach.

I’ve started started calling him “Teddy the Destroyer” or “TEDinator” because he reminds me a little bit of a terminator.

I’m very tempted to set up a camera one of these days just to see everything he’s up to while I’m gone.

Posted under Cubbie stories

(Cedar Rapids, IA)  The Out Here With Animals Event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 18th at Tractor Supply, will feature several nonprofit organizations coming together during one event to provide education and awareness about animal services and care in eastern Iowa.

Groups and services will include Iowa Humane Alliance with coupons and information about affordable spay/neuter, PAWS and More Animal Shelter with $25 microchipping for your pets, Last Hope Animal Rescue with adoptable dogs, Down By The Creek Companion Animal Programs and the 4-H Willing Workers Group to name but a few.

So come on out here to Tractor Supply in Cedar Rapids for education, animals and fun for the whole family!

Posted under Pet Events

Cubbie found a way to stay cool Tuesday night as we were getting ready for bed.

He decided to hog the fan.

Posted under Cubbie stories

My mom requested one gift for Mother’s Day – an afternoon with her grandpups. So the boys and I went to Oelwein to spend Sunday afternoon with my parents.

My dad grilled us lunch, and we spent most of the afternoon outside enjoying the sun and the newly renovated back porch and deck.

The boys dug in the rocks for peanut shells dropped by the birds (my dad has at least a dozen bird feeders with all kinds of different food), they ran around and they enjoyed a nap in the sun.

My mom does so much for me and for Cubbie and Teddy, I truly cannot thank her enough. I really don’t know what I would do without her. She’s the most generous person I know, and I’m thankful everyday to have her as my mother. I can only hope to be half the woman she is.

It was a wonderful day! When we got home in the evening, the boys were exhausted.

Posted under Cubbie stories

Happy Mother’s Day! I’m not a mom to children, but I do consider myself a dog mom to my two furry “children.” This poem is the story of my life.

———-

“Before I Was a Dog Mom”

Before I was a Dog Mom:
I made and ate hot meals unmolested.
I had unstained, unfurred clothes.
I had quiet conversations on the phone,
even if the doorbell rang.

Before I was a Dog Mom:
I slept as late as I wanted
and never worried about how late I got to bed
or if I could get into my bed.

Before I was a Dog Mom:
I cleaned my house every day.
I never tripped over toys, stuffies, chewies
or invited the neighbor’s dog over to play.

Before I was a Dog Mom:
I didn’t worry if my plants, cleansers,
plastic bags, toilet paper, soap or deodorant
were poisonous or dangerous.

Before I was a Dog Mom:
I had never been peed on,
pooped on, drooled on,
chewed on or pinched by puppy teeth.

Before I was a Dog Mom:
I had complete control of my thoughts,
my body and mind.
I slept all night without sharing the covers or pillow.

Before I was a Dog Mom:
I never looked into big, soulful eyes and cried.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn’t stop a hurt.
I never knew something so furry and four-legged
could affect my heart so deeply.

Before I was a Dog Mom:
I had never held a sleeping puppy
just because I couldn’t put it down.
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was well.
I didn’t know how warm it feels inside
to feed a hungry puppy.
I didn’t know that something so small
could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Dog Mom:
I had never known the warmth, the joy,
the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the
satisfaction of being A Dog Mom.

Author: Unknown

Posted under In the News

Sadly, it was time to get rid of Teddy’s puppy fur.

Thanks to Shaggy Chic Grooming Boutique in Waterloo for giving Teddy his first “big boy” furcut. They said he did a great job! (What a relief!)

I got it cut now so it would have time to grow out a little before the Cubbie Tails Dog Day at the Ballpark on June 23rd.

When I brought him home, it was funny to see Cubbie’s reaction. I’m not sure he recognized Teddy at first!

I think he looks cute, but I’ll admit I do love his long, sheepdog fur. His fur is still super soft, and I’m curious to see how it looks a little longer, but not too long.

Posted under Cubbie stories

The Humane Society of Northeast Iowa in Decorah is hosting it’s Fourth Annual Spring into Action Fundraiser on Saturday, May 11th.

This year’s event is going to help pay for reconstructive surgery for a dog named Jake. Jake was mistreated and lost his nose and upper lip. He must breathe through his mouth.

The humane society is trying to raise $3,000 to pay for reconstructive surgery for Jake.

Saturday’s event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Danan Lansing Memorial Building at the Winneshiek County Fairgrounds. It includes a silent auction, bake sale, pet photography and pet adoption fair.

For more information call 563-382-0500 or click here.

You can also mail a donation to:

Humane Society of Northeast Iowa

P.O. Box 76

Decorah, IA 52101

Posted under Pet Events