Eskie Rescuers United

Taffy
Taffy, our beloved Eskie and friend, made the journey over the rainbow bridge Saturday, December 3rd, 2011. He lived a long life and left us just before his 16th birthday. He was always a sweet, happy Eskie who liked everyone he met. The past year was a difficult one for all of us as Taffy's health degenerated. No matter how tired, sick, or in pain he was, he always made the best of every situation and continued fighting until the very end. He had a strong heart and a drive to continue living on this earth with the foster family turned adopters he loved so much and who loved him just as much in return. We are blessed to have shared his life for the last 3 years and will miss his joyful presence and his smile. He has left us with the fondest of memories and the best advice – a positive attitude is your best defense in the face of adversity. We miss you, Taffy, and will forever cherish our memories of you. We love you so much.

Tango
Tango Stewart-Barker (on the right, with his girlfriend and love of his life, Cynda the day before she crossed to the Rainbow Bridge), the sweetest boy ever. We have to say goodbye soon. It doesn’t get easier no matter how many have come along before. The light has gone from his sparkling eyes. There’s no bounce in his step. The constant grinning smile is a frown now. There’s no greeting bark anymore. We didn’t officially adopt Tango like so many of our other long term fosters, for Tango didn’t and couldn’t belong to just one human. Tango adopted ALL of us, Kim Stewart and Lysa, Jim Schulz, Dyan Laphan, Mark Stewart Barker. We orbited around him like the blue moon in the Chagall. We have loved him without limits. Nothing was too much or too difficult as long as it was for Tango. Without question, we would all do it again. Because it’s Tango. Sweetest, happiest, goofiest, bobble head Tango........... All we wanted for Christmas was for Tango to hang in just a while longer, but it was just not to be. Our sweetest boy crossed The Rainbow Bridge this morning.........Denise and Mark Barker, December 18, 2019

Teddy
It has been a very sad heart breaking time for my husband Micheal and myself. We had to put Teddy down Monday April 4th 2021 it was so shockingly unexpected. I took Teddy to a vet appointment on Friday April 1st because I suspected he had an ear infection he had been rubbing his ears on the ground and had some drainage. He has had ear infections before no big deal. We elected to use the medication that last for a week because it had worked in the past and Teddy didn’t like us messing with his ears. Apparently he had a reaction to the medication, after 4 visits to the vet and emergency hospital over the weekend Teddy had declined he could not stand Monday morning he seemed to be suffering my husband and I took him to our vet Brodie Animal hospital to discuss best options for him. Unfortunately our vet Dr. Arambia believed something else was going on as he had been steadily losing weight and it was becoming a challenge to find foods that he would eat. We are still mourning his loss Teddy had become such a sweet loving goofy fur baby. He loved belly rubs, going for walks and car rides. He loved to play with his toys before we went for walks he always looked like Bambi on ice when he would play. He loved sitting in the back yard, chasing squirrels and he loved pizza. He has left the biggest hole in our hearts we miss him very much......Marie Murray, April 4, 2021

Tess
Four yrs ago, I was asked to foster a little girl who had not been able to adjust to a loving home. She was one of the "Tennessee six" who came from a documented hoarder situation (the kind where the decaying carcasses of other dogs are lying about). I met Heidi K. Ortmeyer at an exit off the NJ Tpke to pick up Tess (formerly Twister and Basil). The first thing she did upon seeing me, was to roll over on her back, looking at me with pleading eyes, that said "please don't hurt me." It was just heartbreaking. I remember saying, " Oh, honey. No one is going to hurt you." The bond was instantly cemented for me. She had my heart. Someone wanted to adopt her a couple weeks later, and I was thrown into a state of turmoil. As a foster, wasn't I supposed to work to place her? And, the potent adopter was a very nice woman. But, I just couldn't let her go. Ever so tentatively I wrote an email to Heidi (the ERU Director) and Gary ( the regional director ), asking if it might maybe be possible for me to adopt and keep her. You cannot imagine my relief and joy at hearing back that Heidi had hoped I would keep her. So Tess became permanent family, joining my Angel, and being the most tolerant and accepting sister to Gabriel, Kahli, Joseph, and then Sampson, who was her canine soul mate. Sadly, she was not so welcoming toward Oliver, but he was fine so long s he stayed on his side of the gate ~ She had many a quirk, and would become phobic of the strangest things. My favorite example is the period where she would not go out through a particular door, but would come back in that same doorway without a problem. I have no idea why. Eventually she got past it. Most recently, it was the entire backyard that was a no go zone - this from the dog who could scent the deer on the other side of the fencing at the back of the yard, at night, and would charge them, and send them running off. And let's not forget the bear we recently saw walking down my street she wanted to take on ~ Calling her was another thing that would send her into hiding, and noises like clickers????? Horrors. Nor would she dare to come down and sleep in the bedroom with me. But when I would first wake up, if I barely whispered, "where's TessTess?" she would come flying down the hall for her morning hugs and cuddles. And there was little more glorious than arriving home, having her and Sampson meet me at the door, with him scrubbing his face all over me while she snuggled in and rolled over for her much loved tummy rubs. I was gifted with her companionship for 4 yrs. I will miss her for many more than that.......Suzanne Loftus, January 20, 2018

Tess
Tess has lived at the Ranch since 2011, when she was rescued from a breeder in Canada who had over 60 eskies that needed to be rehomed. Chicagoland and ERU helped by taking several senior and special needs eskies, while Canadian rescue groups helped to rehome the younger dogs. Little Tess was adopted to a wonderful family but Tess never became comfortable. She stayed in a corner of one room except when she was out on her daily walks. When the family brought her back to me she turned into a different dog - happy to be "home." Tess Lived out the remainder of her life at the Randallstown Reskie Retirement Ranch.........Heidi Ortmeyer, December 14, 2016