Saturday, December 24, 2022

Christmas Dogs.......

I wrote this last year...but decided not to subject the kids again. I liked these pics and figured they deserved another chance to be seen. Merry Christmas to all of you!!!!     

 Every year I buy or borrow some type of Christmas collar or headpiece for my dogs. This is something they really don't appreciate. I've been taking pics for years and keeping them for my own enjoyment but I want to post them. I had a bunch with my Huskies that I will probably post later this week or next, but I want to post this year and last.

     Last year I bought some antlers and you can see how that came out!!!!

Tank is always up for it!!


    Tank is my bullet proof dog. Nothing really phases him. Whenever we take these pics he's the one shot guy, he knows it will be done in a second!!!

     Ah, the girls......not so much. For every out of focus pic I finally get there are 40 that get trashed. Well here is last year for the girls.....







     Lu on the top and Faith under......best pic I could get of either one!!!!

     So I was walking through Kohl's a couple of weeks ago to finish my shopping when I saw the next great Christmas accessory for the kids!!! I knew they wouldn't feel that way but.....so here they are Tank, Lu and Faith!!









    As you can see, same reactions, but you've got to admit that tree is cool!!!
    I was putting the tree away and found a collar I had used and decided to put that on Lu.....lo and behold I couldn't believe it!! At last I have one in focus Christmas pic for her!!!!

     Have a great evening!!!!

Thursday, December 22, 2022

The Story of Kaylene (Mango)

I always hate to report about our wonderful dogs who have now gone to the Rainbow Bridge....but Kaylene has now joined that group. Those of you that were around Husky Haven many years ago will remember her. I was going to write something but decided that the story her Dad, Randy, wrote was better than anything I could say. We will miss you sweet girl........


 Alone and scared with blood streaming down her muzzle, the nameless six

month old Siberian husky lay on the side of the road with a bullet lodged in her

face. Some cruel and heartless person shot her and left her there to die. The

young dog’s story could have easily ended tragically there on the side of the

road, yet another casualty of animal cruelty. No one would tell her story or

remember her as a faithful companion.

As luck would have it, this dog’s tale would have a different ending. The Houston

SPCA ambulance picked up the petite black and white Siberian husky and

rushed her back to their facility to stabilize and evaluate her. A call was made to

Pat Snyder with Husky Haven, Inc. to see if she would take the girl into her

rescue program. Pat listened to the voice on the other end of the phone tell of the

callous shooting and the little Siberian’s need for medical care and a second

chance at life. Husky Haven has given over a thousand second chances to

abandoned and abused dogs. As soon as Pat heard of the young dog’s plight,

she knew that she had to help. This anonymous dog would receive a name and

an opportunity to have a future. Pat decided to call the unnamed Siberian husky

Kaylene.

Pat rushed to the Houston SPCA to pick up the dog and drove directly to the

Canfel Care Animal Hospital where Dr. David Wainwright was awaiting their

arrival. X-rays revealed that there was a bullet lodged in her nasal cavity. As he

assessed the extent of the injuries, Dr. Wainwright determined that in order to

remove the bullet, the Siberian would have to undergo invasive surgery and lose

an eye. The veterinarian decided that leaving the bullet was the best course of

action. He performed surgery removing bone from the right top side of her jaw

and had to extract all of the upper teeth on the right side of her mouth. A hole the

size of a quarter remained starting from her nasal cavity leading through to the

roof of her mouth. As a result of her injuries, drool drained out of her nose and

she required a special diet. Her sinuses were easily irritated and she had

frequent sneezing spells.

During her recovery time as a rescue in the Husky Haven, Inc. program, Kaylene

learned that people can be kind and helpful. Her gunshot wound began to heal

and eventually, after several months, the hole in her face closed up completely.

The scar remains as a reminder of a malicious and cowardly act perpetrated on a

helpless animal.

It was also during her recovery that Kaylene met her best friend. Tango is a

large, beautiful black and white Siberian husky. Pat was caring for him on a

temporary basis while his owner was overseas for work. Tango met numerous

rescued Husky Haven dogs, but Kaylene was the only one that ever really

interested him. The two became fast friends. They played together and took naps

together; they were inseparable.


Tango’s owner returned to Houston and came to pick him up and take him home.

He saw the strong bond that had developed between Tango and Kaylene and

decided that he had room in his heart and his home for one more. Kaylene finally

has a forever home with a loving and compassionate man and her best friend.

“Within the heart of every stray lies the singular desire to be loved” - author

unknown. It seems fitting that the author of this quote is unknown as are so many

stray animals that never get a chance to know love and safety, but are forced to

run the streets and fend for themselves. The “Happily Ever Afters” are what make

the rescue effort worthwhile. Knowing that a dog is alive and becomes a member

of a real family as a result of your efforts is a great feeling.


Tango passed away in April of 2014, he was a wonder friend to both Mango

and I. After he passed Mango was so depressed that Husky Haven came to

the rescue again by providing a new best friend for her, his name is Arizona

and we are all bonded together for life.

September 27, 2020 Arizona crossed the Rainbow bridge. He was a best

friend and the happiest, anyone could have ever had. He is missed by all.

Mango is now 12.5 years and doing well. She misses Tango and Arizona, but

still has her human love on at her forever home.


After Arizona ascended Miss Mango was Queen of the house even though

she had aways been. Mango and the cats Mimi and Ashly had a truce but did

give chase and torment each other from time to time.

I was home most of the following years with Mango. We enjoy our walk

routine every day either going down to the creek or along Champions Drive

picking up golf ball. Over time Mango as we all do was slowing down.

Occasionally, she had the zoomies and did her Happy-happy dance, she was

always ready to go-go on a walk The spring and summer of 2022 were not

kind to her she had surgery to remove a cyst on her eye lid and again to

remove a broken tooth from when she was shot. She recovered but

continued to slow down over the following months. I knew the time was

getting close, but she continued to be happy and excited. On November 10 th

I departed for a work trip to Africa. during that time her organs began to

shut down. Upon my return on December 15, she was in pain and swollen.

She was happy that I was home but there was no happy dance or even a lick.

All she wanted was to go for walks even though she was in pain and would

stumble. We walked that evening, and I was up at 3am Saturday morning,

she was sitting outside in the rain and cold. When she saw me, she just

walked to the gate to go for a walk. We had several shorter walks before

10am and she laid in the front yard grass has her, Tango and Arizona all

enjoyed, she was at peace. She was with me from September 2009 until

December 16, 2022. I was with her when she passed and at that time, I felt

a deep happiness and very bright light from her as she reached out and told

me she was fine and love me deeply as I love her. I was at peace knowing she

had ascended to be Tango and Arizona. Saki, Ike, Siber, Ruskie, Sasha, Mike,

Cookie, Sut, and all the other’s animals that have touch my heart.

It the “Story of Kaylene” the last sentence “Kaylene finally has a forever

home with a loving and compassionate man and her best friend.” Mango gave

me 13+years of happiness and love for a forever home. Love you Mango, don’t

be shy come visit me anytime!

December 16, 2022 Randolph Conrad.