2011 Spring Corgi Fling

[Corgifan]

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5292/5548545708_12a028f287_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/corgifan/5548545708/)
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Gromit & Friends headed up to Phoenix on Sunday to attend the Arizona Cactus Corgi Rescue "Spring Corgi Fling." I was very glad to see when we got there, as was Gromit, that there was no actual flinging of Corgis going on.

There were nearly 80 Corgis that showed up during the day making it the biggest all Corgi event in Arizona since the late, great, CorgiFest 2000. The picture above only shows the 20+ die-hards who stayed to the end of the day.

There was agility stuff that the Corgis could use to frustrate their owners and a flyball team did a demo that was impressive. There was also a raffle to raise money for AZ CCR (http://www.flickr.com/photos/corgifan/5548545708/) and best of all, there were four Corgis that got adopted into their forever homes.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5177/5547943955_1642b51dee.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/corgifan/5547943955/)


Our new friends Dwayne and Monica took Bennie the tri-color home to be a pal to their new girl Cali, who came from Gromit's breeder last year.

Slideshow of the rest of the photos is [URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/corgifan/sets/72157626196487341/show/"]here. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/corgifan/5547943955/)

We had a grand time but how could you not when it's practically wall to wall Corgis?

Doug

[LoveMySadie]

Doug,

The pictures are just fantastic! I love the little guy on the hot pink blanket with the classic corgi head-tilt going on, and the full-face close up smiling corig is greeting card ready! +WUBCLUB+

Looks like a grand time was had by all!!!

Leslie

[Jespah]

I agree with Leslie - wonderful photos as usual! Lots of great little happy faces - they all sure looked like they were having a great time! Good to see that Holly got to go an be an honourary Corgi. :WINK:

[CorgiMum]

80 corgis, wall to wall, Heaven!!

How wonderful that rescues went to their forever homes that day.

Thanks so much for sharing the wonderful pictures Doug, a heart warming way to start my day.+WUBCLUB+

[CasaCorgis]

Great photos, Doug! And thanks for letting us know that four special corgis were adopted into their forever homes -- always good to hear good news every now and then.

I like the photo of the girl corgi with her pink dress and tiara. A Princess for sure!

Enjoyed all of the pictures in the slide show, too.

[jcj528]

Great pictures, Doug. Thanks for sharing them with us!

[Jaxerspal]

Wow! I would have been in corgi overload mode. Doug, did all the corgis up for adoption get adopted?

And Gromit had no need for concern, I don't think there is anyone in the world withthe strength to even consider "flinging" a corgi. :BIGLAUGH:

[thebeach.corgi]

Wow, what a corgi-palooza :SMILE: All sizes, colors and ages.

Heaven certainly contains a clan of lovely corgis, 80 or so minimum.

Thanks for sharing your wonderful photos. My favorite is of Gromit and Holly piled on top of their Mom. +WUBCLUB+

[peep_erz]

Those were wonderful pictures. Thanks for sharing!

[Corgifan]

LoveMySadie, the Corgi on the hot pink blanket is Missy, Gromit's great-aunt, a retired hearing assistance dog. Missy, at age 12, has DM but is hanging in there, using a cart, and is still a happy Corgi. Water exercise therapy has been good for her.

The corgi in the close up shot is Miss Abbey and he mum was so taken with the photo she asked to buy a copy. I told her the photo was free but she could make a donation to AZCCR to help the cause. A win-win for all involved. Abbey's owner also the owner of Terrance, the tri-Cardi in the cart who's a big, lovable guy.

Jaxerspal, Sadly, not all the Corgis got adopted and some probably never will be. Sad story with a not so bad ending: Ozzie and Joey have been together all of their lives. They came to rescue at 60lbs and 80lbs respectively. Their owner had been feeding them about 5 cups of dog food every day!

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5252/5548536706_bdc955cd8b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/corgifan/5548536706/)
Ozzie and Joey (http://www.flickr.com/photos/corgifan/5548536706/)

Since coming to AZCCR Ozzie is down into the 35lb range now and Joey is at 60lbs or so but has quite a mass of fatty tumors in his belly and chest and the vet considers operating a poor choice because of the size involved and Joey's age. Since both dogs are 12 years old now not many folks would take them on, especially with the health problems Joey has. I suppose they will likely live out their days with AZCCR people where they will get plenty of love, small meals, and good vet care. Not such a bad ending compared to what might have happened to them with being rescued.

In some of the pictures you see some nearly all white Corgis with tail and in the pens. They came out of California from an animal hording situation. The dogs are basically sweet but have no social skills and painfully shy but not aggressive. They are young enough that with the right efforts and love they might be adoptable at some point.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5292/5548541186_822cfca3c1.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/corgifan/5548541186/)
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My heart still goes out to Cooper (on the left below), whom I met a few months ago. Cooper was born blind.

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/corgifan/5548527846/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5183/5548527846_ec92fe18de.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/corgifan/5548541186/)
Adopt us please! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/corgifan/5548527846/)

He's such a happy little guy, loves people, but is very aggressive towards other dogs. My gut feeling is that he'd be a great dog in a quiet, steady home where he could learn his way around and bond with one or two owners. If we didn't already have two dogs I could imagine me bringing Cooper home but it's not meant to be. Hopefully someone else will recognize a special little Corgi when they see him.

Doug

[LoveMySadie]

Oh Doug, Cooper's story breaks my heart! And I had wondered about the nearly white corgis...are they mixes, or are some corgis that fully white? I know it would be a fault if they are pure bred corgis, but they are strikingly beautiful!

Leslie

[Betsie]

The Corgi's that are mostly white are called whitelies. And for the dogs that were getting five cups of food a day? Connor would be soooooooooo happy.

[LoveMySadie]

The Corgi's that are mostly white are called whitelies. And for the dogs that were getting five cups of food a day? Connor would be soooooooooo happy.

Betsie, when I first scanned this post, I read it as "whitelillies"...I like that name better. :LAUGH:

Leslie

[jeepgal]

Looks like loads of corgi fun!!

[Corgifan]

Oh Doug, Cooper's story breaks my heart! And I had wondered about the nearly white corgis...are they mixes, or are some corgis that fully white? I know it would be a fault if they are pure bred corgis, but they are strikingly beautiful!

Leslie

Yup, those are whitelies, as Betsie noted. There are some pictures of Corgis with coat faults (http://www.pembrokecorgi.org/colors.html) on the PWCCA website.

Most of the white ones at the picnic are not mixes (one might be) but I'd venture to say they are not well bred either. I don't mean to sound snooty about that, either. If a backyard breeder or puppy mill overbreeds close relatives, as might have happened with someone hoarding animals, then the look of the dog (plus health) will change and deteriorate in many ways.

There was a gentleman who took one of the whitelies out of it's x-pen and was trying to coax it to play so maybe the little guy will find a home. More pix of the whitelie Corgis here. (https://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=137345512946441&aid=59661)

Doug

[corgiland]

Thanks for sharing your wonderful photos, Doug!

It sounds like it was a great get together!

[taflar]

Most of the white ones at the picnic are not mixes (one might be) but I'd venture to say they are not well bred either.

Reputable breeders *can* get whitlies too. Not often, but it does happen.

I don't mean to sound snooty about that, either. If a backyard breeder or puppy mill overbreeds close relatives, as might have happened with someone hoarding animals, then the look of the dog (plus health) will change and deteriorate in many ways.

A back yard breeder or a commercial kennel would not be "hoarders" in my book. This is a touchy subject with me as often it implies any one with multiple animals or more than someone else thinks they should have is a "hoarder". Which would often include me.

A back yard breeder often doesn't have many animals but breeds his/her pets for a little extra money.

A commercial kennel, often called a puppy mill, will by necessity have many animals as they are producing puppies for the commercial market (pet stores). They might have several breeds. Commercial kennels can be clean and well run with healthy dogs. However health checks are another story.

A puppy mill, well that defination depends on the person. The AR groups think any breeder is a puppy mill (and yes, they would include me in that). Some say anyone breeding for profit is a puppy mill. Personally I think that a true puppy mill is one of those places that has dogs in small cages (not runs), They are not fed good food, groomed, etc. Usually hidden in out of the way places. These places could be shut down on current abuse/neglect laws and it doesn't matter what one calls them.

Hoarders are someone that has a mental illness. Usually not just too many animals but other things too. Things have gotten out of control, they can't take care of the animals they have, can't keep up with housework or yardwork etc. It's NOT the average byb or hobby/show breeder.

My guess on the whitlelies is that dogs have been bred for the flashy markings, perhaps generation after generation. And eventually they end up with a whitelie.

Just asking that we be careful of how we use the labels and how some of the mismarks, blueies and whitelies can come about. They can all happen with ANY breeder, even with reputable ones.

Off my soapbox now,
Peggy

[Corgifan]

Reputable breeders *can* get whitlies too. Not often, but it does happen.

A back yard breeder or a commercial kennel would not be "hoarders" in my book. This is a touchy subject with me as often it implies any one with multiple animals or more than someone else thinks they should have is a "hoarder". Which would often include me.

A back yard breeder often doesn't have many animals but breeds his/her pets for a little extra money.

A commercial kennel, often called a puppy mill, will by necessity have many animals as they are producing puppies for the commercial market (pet stores). They might have several breeds. Commercial kennels can be clean and well run with healthy dogs. However health checks are another story.

A puppy mill, well that defination depends on the person. The AR groups think any breeder is a puppy mill (and yes, they would include me in that). Some say anyone breeding for profit is a puppy mill. Personally I think that a true puppy mill is one of those places that has dogs in small cages (not runs), They are not fed good food, groomed, etc. Usually hidden in out of the way places. These places could be shut down on current abuse/neglect laws and it doesn't matter what one calls them.

Hoarders are someone that has a mental illness. Usually not just too many animals but other things too. Things have gotten out of control, they can't take care of the animals they have, can't keep up with housework or yardwork etc. It's NOT the average byb or hobby/show breeder.

My guess on the whitlelies is that dogs have been bred for the flashy markings, perhaps generation after generation. And eventually they end up with a whitelie.

Just asking that we be careful of how we use the labels and how some of the mismarks, blueies and whitelies can come about. They can all happen with ANY breeder, even with reputable ones.

Off my soapbox now,
Peggy

I think how I wrote it was clear enough within the scope of the conversation. The sentence has qualifiers: "If a backyard breeder or puppy mill over breeds close relatives, as might have happened with someone hoarding animals, then the look of the dog (plus health) will change and deteriorate in many ways."

I was told that these whitelies came from an "animal hoarding situation" in California, not from a hobby breeder or puppy mill. Doubtful that the person with the hoarding problem was paying much attention to breed standards or was acquiring animals from careful, reputable breeders.

Doug

[taflar]

I think how I wrote it was clear enough within the scope of the conversation. The sentence has qualifiers: "If a backyard breeder or puppy mill over breeds close relatives, as might have happened with someone hoarding animals, then the look of the dog (plus health) will change and deteriorate in many ways."

But that really isn't how it happens either. It's breeding corgis with lots of white generation after generation. Or using a whitely in the breeding program.

Yes, I agree, bybs, puppy mills and hoarders don't pay attention to health testing, genetics or pedigrees. You're right there.

Reputable breeders sometimes breed close relatives. It's called line breeding. Inbreeding is mother to son, son to sister, father to daughter. VERY close relative. And yes, once in a great while a reputable breeder will do that too, depending on what they are looking to get or if they are trying to set a desirable trait.

It would be more common for a whitely to come from out crossing. When you out cross you have few genes in common and you can get a wider range of traits.

I was told that these whitelies came from an "animal hoarding situation" in California, not from a hobby breeder or puppy mill. Doubtful that the person with the hoarding problem was paying much attention to breed standards or was acquiring animals from careful, reputable breeders.


I agree, IF it was a hoarder and IF they were breeding, they probably weren't paying attention to breed standards, etc.

Where the the info that the previous owner was a hoarder would depend on if I'd believe it. If it was an Animal Cotrol person, then not so much. They are very loose with their labels.

I was just pointing out that we need to be careful in using these labels. Unless we know first hand, IMO, we can't really say who is a hoarder, etc.

JMO,
Peggy