Operation Scarlet, Inc.

Chinese Shar-Pei Rescue of Lancaster, PA 

"2004"

 Previous Pei-Mate

of the month

January

Pei - Mate of the Month

Jet McGinness

Hi! My name is Jet. I am the third Shar-Pei that O.S. rescued. I arrived in 1991 at the age of four months. I was really scared being in the shelter and did not understand why I lost my home. Then I was rescued by O.S. and things became better. It was not long before a very nice man and lady arrived and they said they wanted to take me home. HOME! Boy that was just the word I wanted to hear. The last 12 years have been absolutely wonderful. I start each day being thankful for my family. I am what you call "one lucky dog"! Now my mom is going to tell the rest of my story. I know you will like reading her part because she is great at writing stories. See ya! Ok, Mom, it's all yours!

 In February 1991 my husband and I went to Operation Scarlet to look at a 5-month-old puppy. For me, it wasn’t a case of love at first sight. As we walked into the room, there he sat, looking up at us with a head too big for his skinny body, a face only a mother could love and the shortest coat of hair I’d ever seen on a dog. I thought to myself, “Please don’t let this be the one. He’s got to be the ugliest dog I’ve ever seen”. My husband thought otherwise; he was thinking, “This is the one!” He was able to see past the “cover” and into the “book”. A few weeks later Jet was ours; 12 years later he still is.

Over the years we’ve shared many adventures. We worked through puppy hood and the “terrible two’s”. We got First Place and Most Improved in obedience classes. We’ve gone for walks, car rides and just relaxed at home. Jet was my constant companion when I rode my horse. He loved nothing better than to go for long rides through the woods and fields, making sure we were safe from all kinds of critters, both real and imagined.

Jet takes the business of being a dog very seriously. He’s not one to play with toys or chase balls or even play with his two brothers. He doesn’t care for hugs and kisses. He’s too busy being a “real” dog. He can be aloof, independent and his own man but he’s always there.

Over the years Jet has had numerous nicknames, including Prickly Haired Gargoyle, Mama’s Dog, Velcro Dog, Buddy and a few others not said in polite society. Now he’s the Old Geezer. Whatever he’s called he’s still the best dog anyone could hope to have. We’re so glad he’s been a part of our lives these past twelve years and look forward to the adventures to come.

Looking back over the years it’s hard for me to believe I thought Jet was ugly. As my husband did twelve years ago, I also learned to see beyond the “cover” and into the “book”. This is only one of the many things this wonderful dog has taught me.

- Debbie McGinness

                                                      This is me at 4 month of age                                           This is me at 12 years old

Feburary

Pei - Mate of the Month

Khan Leister

Hi! My name is Khan. I was rescued in 1997 by Operation Scarlet. I came from a shelter in Delaware. Everyone says I look like a lion and sometimes I sound like a lion too, but I am basically a pretty nice guy. I am so thrilled to be the Pei Mate for February and I have so much to tell you. The most important thing is that I now have a wonderful family and I have been with my adopted mom and dad for quite a few years. I have trained them well and they completely understand my likes and dislikes. Every dog should be given the opportunity to adopt a mom and dad like I have. Also, every Shar-Pei should be lucky enough to be rescued by O.S. because they find wonderful people for the homeless kids, like me. Thank you O.S. for saving me. I will always remember you and be thankful to you for saving my life. Now comes the rest of my story! First of all, my dad and I discussed what we would like to tell you. Secondly, I agreed that Dad should go first, but if he happens to let anything out of the story, I will be sure to add it at the end. Here goes! Take it away, Dad!

We were on a day trip to Lancaster County in September 1997 when we stumbled upon a dog rescue expo at Donecker’s Art Works in Ephrata, PA. As we approached the entrance, we were greeted by a dog being taken out for a walk, which we immediately recognized as a Shar-Pei. We went past all of the rescues for other breeds and in the very center of the semi-circle of tables was another Shar-Pei. After talking to the representatives for Operation Scarlet, we walked away with one of their business cards with the thought “Some day it might be nice to adopt a Shar-Pei”. By early October, we had made two trips to O.S. to view and meet some of the “kids”. On our third trip, we were interviewed, and by late October “Mikey” had been placed with us. We chose him because he was the only one that came right up to us and rolled over to give us his belly to scratch.

“Mikey” didn’t seem like a suitable name for someone that has ¾ inch canine teeth and looks like a lion, so we immediately changed his name to something more fitting – Khan. To this day, we are very happy with both the decision to adopt him and to change his name. When we first brought him home, Khan was 43 lbs., had a “questionably defiant” attitude, and very little hair on his belly. After more than 6 years, he has maintained a weight of 57 lbs., a beautiful coat that is luxuriously thick, and we think he is the best we could ever have hoped for.

His favorite activity seems to be sleeping, but he sure does love to play with his stuffed toys when his 10 minute attention span permits it. Sometimes in the summer we will blow child-safe bubbles in our back yard, which he chases and tries to catch. Always close to our sides, Khan has to be where the action is. If one of us is in the kitchen and the other in the living room, he will plop himself down in one of the doorways in between. If we are both in the kitchen, he will want to squeeze himself in even though all three of us can’t fit. He has never caused any problems for us, such as chewing, making messes, or getting into things he shouldn’t and after 6 years, we still enjoy watching him “run” and “bark” in his dreams while he is asleep. Thank you Operation Scarlet for allowing us to find a loyal friend we would never otherwise have had.

- John and Paula Leister


Hey, wait! They forgot to tell you some things! My very favorite thing to do every morning is to run up the steps with Dad, open the bedroom door with my nose, and wake up Mama by pulling down the covers with my paws. Then I roll over on the bed and push up against her back just to make sure she will get up. If she’s REALLY lucky, I will give her a kiss on the face. I really like my house, especially since my dad fenced in the back yard just for me – that is why I take care of the place while they are gone. Sometimes I can be a little over-protective, but it is MY house.

I am pretty proud of myself, though, for improving my attitude over the years. I must say I have made leaps and bounds since I have lived here. I am good in the tub when they give me my bath, when I get brushed, and I even calm down a lot faster now when people come to visit. I have tried to train my humans to the best of my ability – they know I like to be close to them, but once in a while they almost trip over me anyway. They know I want what they are having for dinner, but sometimes they don’t give me any. I guess they don’t want me to get a belly ache.

I would like to thank all of the volunteers at O.S. who took care of me while I was there. Without them I probably would not be here, and especially Aunt Dawn, because without O.S., they would not have been there to take care of me at all.

- Khan



P.S. I had some help typing this.
 

March

Pei - Mate of the Month

Myra Laucks

Hi! My name is Myra. I am one of the 21 Shar-Pei that was rescued from a condemned house in 2002. I was very shy when I was rescued and also very confused because when we were taken from the house, we did not know where we were going. We were taken to something called a shelter. There were lots of dogs there. Since there were so many of us, they had to put us in their conference room. Then people showed up with cameras and started filming us. I heard someone say that we were going to be on TV. Then I saw people come in that called themselves Operation Scarlet. They started petting us and talking really nice to us. A nice lady talked to me and said that everything would be ok. She took me and my canine friend, Ivy, to her car. We were not feeling too good, so she took us right to the doctor. After I started feeling better, she came back for me and took me to her house. Well, guess what? I never left that house. I am so glad, because I really like her and my new dad and my two big sisters. They are Shar-Pei too. I am really enjoying my new life. Thank you O.S. for saving me and my 20 other Shar-Pei friends. I hear they are all enjoying their new homes and thinking life is just grand. Now my mom is going to tell you the rest of my story.

Myra came into our household as a foster dog. OS did a rescue of 21 dogs from a condemned house in Carlisle and Myra was one of those rescued. She wasn't in good shape at all. She had very little hair, was very shy and was polluted with fleas and other parasites. We weren't looking to add to our family. We had lost our first Shar-Pei, Precious, about six months prior to Myra's arrival. We were enjoying our other two Shar-Pei, Mocha and Yuengling, and thinking that two Shar-Pei were just the right number. Little did we know that dear, sweet Myra would work her way into our hearts. We figured that she could just stay with us until there was room at the rescue and then she would find her "forever" home. Little Myra had other ideas. She knew she had already found her "forever" home! Myra fit right in with Mocha and Yuengling. She did have to eat in her crate for a month or so because she was food aggressive and we didn't want any disagreements.

Myra has become Daddy's little girl. Wherever he goes, she is sure to follow. She is also now starting to sit on his lap to watch TV. She is truly a couch potato. The three "girls", as they are affectionately known, love to play together and chase each other. Myra normally instigates the chasing with her play bows. They are also very good at keeping those pesky squirrels out of our backyard. That is one duty that they all take very seriously. All three sit at the back door and watch for the squirrels to come down the tree and then off they go to chase them.

We want to thank Operation Scarlet for rescuing all 21 of those poor, dear souls from that house and for allowing Myra to enter our lives. She is truly a joy and is constantly entertaining us and her two "sisters". Keep up the good work Operation Scarlet. What you do for these wonderful dogs is an inspiration.

Michele and Bob

April

Pei-Mate of the Month

Ping Pong Petrisko

Hi! My name is Ping Pong. I am a five year old male Shar-Pei. I am a rusty black brushcoat with flower markings which is not very common in my breed, but definitely gives me a very distinguished look. Here is a picture of me that shows my flowered coat.

There is really not too much to tell about my background other than I was rescued from a shelter in Maryland. An Operation Scarlet Representative bailed me out of the shelter. I stayed at her home on a foster care basis because the rescue was full. My foster parents soon realized that I had "issues" with strange men--and I could be pretty up-front about it. I was very comfortable with my foster parents and really liked my foster mom a lot, so I was extremely thrilled when I heard them talking about adopting me. Yippeee! That is what I was hoping for. My foster mom calls me a diamond in the rough. I really have come quite a long way since she has been teaching me how to behave like a gentleman. I could hardly wait for adoption day. I watched my new mom read what is called a contract and then she picked up a pen and signed on the dotted line. What a thrill that was! I now have a family of my very own! My mom is Vicki Petrisko. She has been with O.S. for quite a few years and she is even an officer. I am really proud of her. Okay, Mom. Now it is your turn to tell the rest of my story.

Ping's favorite thing in the whole world is a walk. His second favorite thing in the whole world is a walk. His third favorite thing in the whole world is...you guessed it, a walk. Cookies fall in there somewhere, but the walk is definitely top of the list. Ping is my sensitive one...he hates when the dogs on Animal Cops or Emergency Vet cry. If they cry, he cries. We just end up turning Animal Planet off because it upsets him so much. Ping does seem to gravitate toward women more than men...even in the dog realm. The only one that he plays with is Isabelle, and they can really get to romping around. He is also madly in love with Lucy the German Shepherd that lives next to us. If he's walking around and sniffing down by the lake and his tail starts wagging like crazy, I know he just found one of Lucy's spots. Ping is extremely gentle to work with and just loves to be rubbed and talked to--he's come a long way from the dog that didn't know how to act out of a crate in a home environment. The only behavior issue we're still working on (besides the fact that he still hates my Dad) is when Ping gets really revved up, I have to step in and calm him before I get body slammed, tackled, or my body parts start disappearing into his mouth.

What a good boy! I love him lots!

- Vicki Petrisko

May

Pei-Mate of the Month

 

Hi. My name is Mo Mo Chun. I am called Mo Mo for short. My story begins when I was picked up as a stray in Brooklyn, NY. I had ID, so the center located my owners, but to my dismay, they did not want me back. I was so sad. I was sent to Operation Scarlet on July 19, 2003. Dawn and her staff took excellent care of me. I was taken to the vet to have surgery on my eyes. I was beginning to think that this was my new home, but little did I know when I saw a couple come into the room that a wonderful new life was about to begin for me. I looked up from my kennel and my eyes met the eyes of a big guy wearing a funny looking cowboy hat. The couple left the room and the next thing I knew I was taken over to another room to meet my soon-to-be new family. It was love at first sight. How happy I am in my new home with my new family. My dad takes me everywhere. He tells me I am his co-pilot. We are inseparable. If this is dog heaven, I am in it. There is no such thing as a dog and his master. This is my dad and my best friend. Thank you Operation Scarlet for my new home and family.

Very gratefully,

Mo Mo Chun

 

I just love children!

          

I love babies and getting baby hugs