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Shylo Breed: Border Collie/ Australian Shepherd Sex: Female Age: Senior (12 - 14 years) Size: Medium (42lbs) Color: Black & White Shylo is: In palliative care Housetrained Good with Kids Good with dogs Unknown with cats Up to date with shots Spayed

Sponsor Shylo! Cost to Date: $7323.08 Subscription Options Option 1 : $25.00CAD - monthly Option 2 : $50.00CAD - monthly Option 3 : $100.00CAD - monthly Option 4 : $200.00CAD - monthly

September 16/09

Shylo has come to us from the local pound after she had been abandoned just off the highway.

Shylo had been left unclaimed at the shelter for over 2 weeks before the shelter staff called us for help. This sad Grandma just kept herself curled up in a ball on her bed, often scaring staff members, as they were concerned that she had passed away!

She has perked up a lot since she has been started on pain meds and antibiotics for her skin and ear infections. The shelter tells us that she is so grateful for the occasional pet and a hug from the staff members.

Shylo is approximately 12 yrs old. This poor girl gave 12 loyal years to her owner who didn’t take the time to give back to her. Her condition upon arrival at the shelter was appalling. She was missing half her fur; her teeth are worn down to stubs from chewing at her itchy skin. Her ears hurt so much that the vet couldn’t even look into them without her screaming in pain! The staff had to lift her into the animal control vehicle for her vet visits as her back end is so sore that even with all her desire to get in, she could not do it.

She is such a sweet soul who will give you everything she's got, just for the acknowledgement of her existence.

She just pours her soul out for those who care. All she ever wanted was to give, with no expectation of anything in return, but yet her owners could not give that back to her by even calling the shelter to see if she was there. The sparkle in Shylo’s eye now that she knows she is loved is heartbreaking because all she ever needed was to know someone cared. Now she has that chance….

Usually for dogs like Shylo, we will plead for a foster for her so that we can get her into a home to heal after we tend to her medical needs. However, we can't make this girl wait any longer than she already has. Her head is on fire with the infection in her mouth, and she is in a real amount of pain. Shylo will be seeing our vet on Wednesday to receive the medical attention she desperately needs, and then we will put her into boarding until we can find her a foster, or until she is adopted.

October 1/09

Shylo has been into the vet and had her dental done. There was so much infection, and so many rotted teeth that this poor old girl had to have 14 teeth removed! Many of her teeth were split lengthwise up into her gums. Can you imagine the pain she must of lived with for who knows how long? No wonder she was curled up in a ball and the staff thought she had passed. It probably was just so uncomfortable to move at all! Shylo is healing now and is on some pretty strong pain meds to control her pain while she heals. For the most part, she is happy and animated and gets up and walks around here and there. She is no bigger than a minute, 40lbs at the most. She is great with the other dogs, and appears house broken. We have also discovered that Shylo is hypothyroid, which would explain her skin condition and loss of hair. You can't see it in the pictures above, but she is actually quite bald along her lower back. We've started her on medication for that as well, and we're hoping that soon Shylo will be feeling normal again. She sure is a sweet girl, and interacts well with everyone!
November 5/09 Shylo is completely hilarious and has certainly come into her own in these last few weeks! She is a happy, animated girl, who keeps us wondering if she is really as old as they said... Shylo plays with toys, is happy to pretend she is a ferocious lion when I pretend to creep up on her toy. She can't really hear, so that effects her voice, and she lets out this high pitched squealing growl while her whole body wiggles with delight! At meal times, when I feed everyone (yes, quite a sight to see with 7 dogs), Shylo holds her ground and when she thinks I am getting close to getting the dishes on the floor, she starts hollering at me to hurry up while STOMPING all four of her feet at one time! Shylo loves to be loved, and sinks her whole body into a hug, enjoying every single moment of it! Her thyroid issues are starting to settle out and we are just waiting for her last test results to be able to adjust her medication. It's easy to see though, that she is already feeling much, much better :) Shylo is a complete love, and would love a home that will give her as much love as she has to give.  November 30/09   Shylo is motoring along and is as happy as she can be! Her thyroid is under control now (monthly cost of about 10 bucks) and her over all health has significantly improved! She attended our last adoption day on November 21st and was completely hilarious! Every time we turned around she was off in a different direction! She held her own the whole 4 hours and on the way home she yelled at everyone to stay out of her spot in the vehicle and to watch where they were putting their big clod-hopper feet. :) She is just a small little package with a lot of gentle personality! December 2009 Shylo is one of the sweetest and most loving little dogs you could hope to have join your life. She loves her walks and is so well behaved. She loves to sit next to you and receive some cuddles when you're watching TV or reading a book. Shylo is still a little shy at times, although she comes out of her shell quite a bit when new people arrive. Then she must be front and center, checking them out to see if they should dare be allowed in her domain. She continues to have new hair growth although it's been a slow progress for her. However, her thyroid has completely settled out, and it's obvious she feels soooo much better! Shylo is a spry girl with a great sense of humor and melts our hearts everyday. Thank you to everyone who sent in donations and treats for her over the holidays! She didn't *really* want to share her new found loot, but decided that she had to watch her girlish figure after all :)   March 2010 Shylo continues to be her sweet little self, who asks for nothing more than the occasional hug and scratch behind the ears. She is very animated in her interactions with people, and I swear sometimes I can see her scoffing at something. She has a very dry sense of humor and will still play like a young dog when she gets going. She loves to boss the puppies around and put them all in their place! But when she is up for playing, she will seek one of them out and thump them in the forehead to wake them up and get them going. :) When she wants to softness of the couch or her chair to lay on for a snooze, she will go over to it and put her front paws up on the edge, and then bark at me to come and lift her hind end up for her. If I don't notice her right away, she gets quite perturbed about the whole situation and let's me know it! Shylo's favorite times of day are meal times and nap times. She'll dance around and bark and sing her heart out while she waits for her bowl to come. It's quite hilarious to see actually. So often these wonderful senior dogs get passed by because people can't let their hearts love enough to lose them sooner than they would with a younger dog. It's such a shame really, as dogs like Shylo have so, so much to give, and the time that a family would have with her would be extra special.    Shylo deserves that happy ending, just as much as any young pup. She really is very special and we're hoping that an equally special home will come along and open their hearts to Shylo. April 30/10 Our beautiful, gentle Shylo is still going strong! Everyday, she lights up the rooms of my house with her goofy grins and silly ways. She is such a loving and easy girl to have around and so expressive in her ways, that you always knows what she wants/needs/is thinking. Shylo is starting to have trouble with the stairs now - but mine are quite steep! You would think that she would just stay upstairs instead of following me into the basement to do laundry, but since that is usually where I give the bones out, she isn't taking any chances that she might not get hers! Age may of slowed her body down, but don't mistake her for any wash out! Shylo probably gets in at least a mile walk every day with what she does wandering around the property. When the pups become too much for her, or they find a squeaky toy that I have hidden, Shylo heads down to the front of the property and finds herself a place in the garden to have a nap. When she is up to it, she will actually play quite vigorously with the other dogs, but I have to really watch them, as she gets knocked over fairly easy. However, the only thing really hurt, is her pride. I'll bet she was quite the force to be reckoned with in her younger days :) Nothing and no one gets by Shylo or is allowed to pass until fully checked out and given approval. While we all dearly love Shylo, and she loves us - this isn't the best set up for her with all the activity that the puppies and constant new dogs bring. We'd love to see Shylo in a retirement home where she can just rest and be well loved. She needs a special chair that is just her own, a good diet and a heart of gold to match her own. October 30/10 Shylo has been in our care for a year now, with no particular interest in adopting her. It is so sad to see these seniors get overlooked when they have so much to offer. People often don't want to take them on because they don't want to get their hearts broken so soon. But what is the alternative? Dogs like Shylo languish in shelters and rescues, without a home of their own or a person of their own to love just them. Shylo has paid her dues to humans. She spent the majority of her life being left behind and forgotten. No one really ever took care of her, her condition when she came to us was living proof of that! But Shylo is not dwelling on the past and thinking of the wrongs that have been done to her. She is enjoying being an inside dog, with enough treats to go around and hugs whenever she wants them. (sometimes when she doesn't too!) She is by no means on death's door, and while she may not be able to go for an hour walk, she does enjoy a quick romp around the block and enjoys the company of stable, easy going dogs. Our wish for Shylo is that she gets that solid gold home and can live out her retirement with ease and grace. January 2011 Our special girl is still here :) We had house guest over the holidays and they fell in love with our girl. She was, of course, the same charmer that she is always is - even though they had dogs with them, she decided it was all beneath her and ignored the whole mess! Just before Christmas, I decided that the living room carpet just had to go. I was just about done, when I found a protester: June 2011 It's coming up on 2 years now, since Shylo first entered into our care. We've shared some huge laughs with our girl and have enjoyed her every day. She has such a dry sense of humor and quite a lot of bravado! While she still has so much spunk, Shylo is starting to deteriorate and old age is getting it's grip on her. She is very bonded here and we understand all her little quirks, wants and needs. We are more than happy to cater to her every whim - which are very few. Shylo has moved into palliative care now in our main foster home and is no longer available for adoption. After two years, this is home for her, and GSRBC will take her the rest of the way. We're hoping she has another 2 years left, but it is obvious that will not be the case. She is a very good girl and very well loved. :) Thank you to everyone who is sponsoring Shylo and helping us to help her! Shylo sure appreciates all her supporters (she thinks they are really fans) and we promise to keep you updated on her via the monthly sponsor mail out. Sponsor Shylo! Subscription Options Option 1 : $25.00CAD - monthly Option 2 : $50.00CAD - monthly Option 3 : $100.00CAD - monthly Option 4 : $200.00CAD - monthly    Shylo is being supported by:
Monthly Sponsors: Howard Copeland ~ In honor of Aries - 2010 & 2011 Cassie & Chris - 2011 Patricia Wiser - 2011 Sue, Tom & Jet - 2010 Steve & Doris - 2009 & 2010 Leanne & Kent - 2009 & 2010 Sharon B. ~ October 2009	One Time Supporters: Tarah Brachman ~ In memory of Auggie & Harley ~ Jan 2010 Tarah Brachman ~ In memory of Auggie & Harley ~ Nov. 2010 Tarah Brachman ~ In memory of Mr. Bandito Karen Tsui ~ Merry Christmas Aidan! Kelli & Clint Taylor ~ February 2010 Liz B ~ Feb 2011 ~ in honor of Dr. Douglas Liz B ~ May 2011 ~ in honor Bella Blair & Bonnie Thompson ~ July 2011 Valley Vet Services ~ July 2011
Thank you for your support!!

                                                   GSRBC's Shylo