Remember Ms. Valentine ... RIP

~ Ms. Valentine ~

February 14, 2011 (Day one of Rescue) - September 13, 2012

 

Rest in Peace our sweet girl! You were one survivor and amazing turkey...

Before and PRICELESS!



February 2011

 

June 2012 - "I am a diva and I do have Attitude - I am turkey and I am proud!"

 

When I first arrived at "Foster" Farms retreat, I met Ms. Valentine, a very special rescue, just like me, except she was a turkey.  It is with a heavy heart that I must tell you that Ms. Valentine, the beautiful white turkey girl, has passed after a long 3 week battle to stay alive.
 
I will miss her turkey conversations with everyone who would listen and her special songs when she got her treats.  Oh, and when in a dog kennel riding in the car, she would bark like a dog.  Yup, pretty amazing!  Most of all I will miss the morning "turkey walk."  When Jewel would go to feed Ms. Valentine and the barn kitties, I would sneak (yes, I can do that now ... kinda ... it was more of a bull dozer ... "Jewel, I'm coming too!")  We shared so much together.  I still wait at the door, just in case.

A lot of my fans know that Ms. Valentine came from a "horrific" hoarding case as the only surviving turkey (all the turkeys in her pen were dead), along with dogs and if I remember correctly cats.  She was emaciated, dehydrated and naked.  She was a survivor.  Folks thought she lived by eating her feathers to stay alive until the "rescue train" came with food and people to help.

She was going to live at a sanctuary and had to be tested for "turkey stuff" prior to "crossing state lines."  Well, wouldn't you know, her blood test showed positive for exposure to salmonella (and the only way they could tell if she was a carrier or just exposed was to euthanize her and run more tests).  REALLY? 

Well, Ms. Valentine was put under quarantine at Jewel's "Foster Farm" Retreat and was given the right to live IF under NO circumstances she would be around other poultry.  Well, no other poultry here ... just us, canine and feline family.  So, very quickly I could see that she stole Jewel's heart and everyone else that she met.  She loved attention, petting, preening and would have a lot to say to anyone who would listen (did I already mention that?) 

She loved to eat (just like me) especially corn on the cob and raspberries.  When she would get her corn, she would sing her "corn song," (even I thought it was pretty cute, even though she wouldn't share her corn with me).  She got so healthy so would lay eggs ... one every other day for a long time. 

 

Fall of 2011

Three weeks ago she stopped eating and Jewel had to entice her with special things like watermelon and worms (ICK!) ... her crop became engorged with fluid.  The girls learned it was a condition for which there was no cure.  She fought for a long time but today she crossed the rainbow bridge with so many others where she could be healthy once more. 

She was such a character and a delightful personality who will never be forgotten.  And most of all - she was loved!  Remember Valentine ... she was one of a kind.

~ Summer

© Summer’s Journey – All Rights Reserved

I DID IT!

**Monday, June 18, 2012**

Hello FANS!  On August 15th, 2011, I left the vet's to start my journey with Jewel and everyone who believed in me at 127 pounds.  Dr. B. and the girls figured that when I was originally rescued that I probably weighted 137 pounds or more. 

On Monday, June 18th, 2012, just 10 months later, I have reached my goal weight and tipping the scale at a slim, trim and healthy 81.5 pounds!  I have lost at least 56 pounds!  I am "looking GREAT" if I don't say so myself.

Jewel, Mercy and I celebrated with a plain hamburger and I even got the bun!  Now that was a real treat and I know that I won't be "dining" on those very often (so I can keep my healthy weight and lifestyle), but boy, was that yummy!

August 2011 - Before

June 2012 - Now :)

Just wanted to share the GREAT news with you!  Remember, be healthy, eat healthy, and live every day to the fullest!

I'll be in touch soon!

~ Summer

BTW - The first day of Summer is June 20th!

© Summer’s Journey – All Rights Reserved

REUNION TIME!

**June 5th, 2012**


Hello World, all of my fans and my favorite kinders! 

Today Jewel asked me if I wanted to go for a car ride and see some very special kids ... You don't have to ask me twice if "I want to go" and "see kids."  I could feel a sense of a big surprise and I knew I was going to be part of it!

If you remember last fall on November 4th, 7 months ago almost to the day, I got to meet Pat Mill's and her very special kindergarteners at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Catholic School.  The class participates in "Care for God's Creation," an all-year social justice project. Every Friday is Quarter Day! and the students bring in a quarter for a charity that benefits homeless animals and they were helping ME!!!  When I saw them last year I couldn't hardly walk ... well, fans ... things have changed ...

So, it was going to be a surprise for the kids.  They were going to go to the park and see the ice cream man (whoa, did you say ice cream?) and then I was going to show up.  Pat says the kids ask about me all the time.  Now how exciting is that?  Brooke showed up and off we went.

We finally got to the park where the kids were playing and having ice cream. I couldn't wait to see them  ... OK, they were a long way off, so I had to stop and rest for just a moment. 

Well, the kids saw me and it was a sea of kids running toward me and I was surrounded with kids and ICE CREAM!

Jewel even made an exception and the kinders got to give me treats (little pieces of milk bones, even though I was hoping for ICE CREAM).  I was in heaven!  After lots and lots of pets and doggy kisses, Jewel gave the kids an update on my progress.  They couldn't believe how "slim" I am and how I can walk.  Jewel told them that I may never be a normal dog, and that over 5 doctors have looked at the x-rays and examined me and that there is no surgery that will fix me and that I am not in pain.  They are amazed I have come so far ... losing over 50 pounds and now walking over 1/2 mile every day to the creek and back ... in just 10 months!  And that I couldn't have done it without them and the love of so many others!

The kids presented me with more quarters to help with my medical bills and also a folder of drawings and special words just TO ME from each of them.  I couldn't figure out why the girls had tears in their eyes, but it was tears of JOY!

And then before we knew it, the kids had to go and they were on their way back to school.  I could have hung out with them all day!  I didn't want them to go!  I'm hoping their first grade teacher next year will let me come and visit them!

After they were out sight and safely on their way, I caught the scent of FOOD, so I stopped to sniff and caught up with one of Jewel's other dogs. Chloe ... (watch me go in the video below)...

And then it was time to go, back to the car, and to my new life with Jewel and the rest of her pack.  What a special day!  And don't you know, my last weigh in I was a SLIM 84 pounds!  

What a lucky dog I am ... I love my life and everyone in it! 

Until we meet again (soon),

~ Summer