Happy Holidays from Nelson House B & B

Ozzie and Zack are cozy by the fireplace. I am nibbling our supply of home-baked shortbread. The Bed and Breakfast closes tonight and tomorrow, so that we can share some time with families and friends.

Here at Nelson House B & B, we count our blessings and always give thanks for the warmth and kindness of our guests.

Wherever you may be - a toast to you! We send you best wishes for a loving holiday and a wonderful year ahead!

A new Cairn in town!

Some weeks ago I mentioned that we had decided to add a second Cairn Terrier to the family and the B & B. I am very pleased to introduce Zack to everyone!

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Zack started life in Missouri and came to us through the dedicated and life-saving efforts of a dog rescue organization - in this case, the Colonel Potter Cairn Rescue Network. "Colonel Potter" was a much-beloved Cairn Terrier who died in a car accident. In his name, a U.S. and Canada-wide non-profit network has been established to rescue Cairns from puppy mills and unscrupulous backyard breeders, auctions and animal shelters. In these days of recession, many of these dogs, like Zack, have been given up by their families for economic and personal reasons.

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We consider ourselves very lucky to have found a four-year old, fully house-trained, sweet and intelligent young dog like Zack. He has been through a lot - abandoned by his first family after he encountered relatively mild health issues, briefly in a shelter, flown to Seattle, driven to Canada and cared for by a series of strangers. He has been with us only a week but with the help of our resident Cairn, Ozzie, he is relaxing and starting to believe things will be OK. They will be better than OK, Zack. We promise you all the love and care that we can give.

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If anyone reading this should be thinking of a getting a dog, please consider looking on the internet for these rescue organizations that are out there helping almost every breed. The dogs will come to you only after a full veterinary check-up, treatment, vaccinations etc. The dogs will have been settled down in a Foster Family to observe and prepare them for your adoption. The dogs are usually purebred and available for a donation to help defray the non-profit's costs. Most of all, these dogs NEED and DESERVE to live a long and happy life. Won't you help? In return, they will love you forever!

What are we doing these days?

August has been flying by. It is traditionally the busiest B & B month of the year. Briana is back from a trip DownUnder and just in time to be thrown back into the hurly-burly. She has been baking up a storm just to keep up with tables of twelve!

Matthew has borne the weight of daily cooking, cleaning and a "million other things" this summer. As someone who only cooks breakfast on weekends and occasionally cleans, I send out a BIG Thank You to him! It takes heart to find the energy for innkeeping. As our guest, it will most likely be Matthew who answers your phone call or greets you at the door. He is the one who will worry over your dietary limits and be sure to present your breakfast beautifully and done just right.

Me? Well, yes, I do some bed & breakfast laundry, emails, shop, book-keep and make sure the bills get paid. That doesn't touch the other batch of bills and maintenance on the homefront. Then there is the care & rental of the Mexican vacation condo.

Lately, O'Neal & I have been focused on finding a brother or sister Cairn for Ozzie. Ozzie turned nine this week - a happy birthday was celebrated in the park. He is a vigourous dog and usually thought to be much younger. We decided that now is the time to adopt. We discovered a North American-wide Cairn Terrier Rescue Society that is doing wonderful work for dogs rescued from puppy-mills or given up by owners. The stories that we have heard are tragedies of greed, ignorance, neglect, cruelty, just bad luck and failing health.

Anyways, we have passed the screening and home visitation reviews and are now in the hands of a Cairn/human matchmaker. Wish us luck!

Built Terrier Tough

Thank you for everyone who asked! Don't worry. Ozzie is on the mend and will soon be back at his Front Desk position.

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Whatever airport security, jet lag, traffic hassles or border lineups have contributed to your day, he is dedicated to taking the "ouch" out of your grouch. He is very good at what he does. He will quickly have you signed into the bed and breakfast experience and bring back that smile inside.

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Please let us know, how have dogs affected your life?

Ozzie & Team Nelson House

It is a bright, hot & sunny day in Vancouver but I still feel grey today. The cutest member of Team Nelson House, Ozzie, our Cairn Terrier, is in the hospital, under general anesthesia. Since visiting a Sunshine Coast cottage, frequented by many other dogs, he has developed a stubborn infection in his left ear, that has not been responding to the usual frontline medication. Therefore, it's time for a deep ear flush, some lab work and new meds specific to his problem.

The smile on Ozzie's face has never wavered. Even with one ear limping, he greets our bed and breakfast guests, in fact every human being, with equal love and grace. People always ask if he is a puppy. He is going on nine. If anything, his affection and trust have grown with every passing year.

I have never known him to have a bad day. I have done my best to preserve his canine belief in the kindness of strangers. Everywhere he goes, he catches the eye of young and old, rich and poor. Inevitably, he interrupts their busy lives just long enough to meet his soulful, intelligent gaze and return that happy grin.











How have dogs affected your life?