Feeling the Heat...

As anyone who is involved in animal rescue/shelter work knows, the time from Spring to Fall is the most stressful and difficult time of the year. This is my first Spring/Summer working at Boone County Animal Shelter. I expected it to be difficult, but I didn't expect it to be this hard to deal with. The worst part of it all? We still have months and months to go, with no relief in sight until the leaves start to turn and the temperatures begin to cool.

Every day I walk through the shelter doors, I enter with a heavy heart and a feeling of dread, knowing that however crowded it was when I left, it will be even more crowded when I return. It is "kitten season," the time of year that produces a HUGE influx of newborn kittens. We are trying to save every single adoptable kitten and have had an incredible response to our call for foster homes. However, it still isn't enough. It feels like every week we are scrambling to find one more foster because ours are all full and we suddenly have a basket full of adorable kittens because someone didn't get their cat spayed/neutered. And we have lost a few litters, at this point. When you can't find anyone to take the babies, they simply can't sit in the shelter where they would be exposed to sickness. I stopped by yesterday (my day off) and left with an awful feeling in the pit of my stomach. It was early afternoon and we had already taken in 20+ kittens. How is a shelter supposed to cope with that? I know that the staff is having a difficult time coping. Often I think to myself, "So THIS is why shelters resist attempting to go no-kill." Trying so hard to save them all and not being able to is surprisingly more difficult than not trying at all.

Our adoptions are down. Way down. We have been in the "danger zone" with adult dogs for a while now. Even ONE adoption brings a sense of relief. That is one more life saved. I understand that people want to adopt puppies or small dogs but I can't help but feel bitter about the fact that there are wonderful adoptable dogs who happen to be a bit larger and because of that, they are passed over again and again and again.

The private rescues, one of our major lifelines, are so full they aren't able to pull animals from us as frequently anymore. There are a few who are helping so much, but even then it doesn't always work out. For instance, a local rescue pulled a dog from us only yesterday. At last report, he wasn't doing well at all in his new foster home. He was with us for so long and I can't help but think that he is acting badly because he has no idea how to be in a home anymore. The shelter became his home, and that is heartbreaking.

What keeps me going? The little "wins." The person who takes a chance on a long-term resident dog, or the new foster home. Support from my coworkers and my loved ones. On the note of coworkers, I don't know that I have ever felt so closely bonded with people I work with. I think it is an emotional survival tactic...we have to band together to make it through and keep our heads above water. We are quick to make each other laugh, try to make each other smile whenever we can because we don't know what will come through the door next.

I'm certainly not too proud to beg. If you have thought about adoption, please do it now. If you have thought about volunteering, please do it now. And for goodness sakes, if you can foster, PLEASE do it now. We need you now.

"Roadhouse"

UPDATE: ROADHOUSE HAS FOUND HIS FUREVER HOME!


So often, we see animals surrendered as a result of some sort of a life change. Foreclosure, owner illness, etc. This post is not intended to vilify owners who need to surrender their animals, and I hope that no reader takes it to be my intention.


Some of the most difficult cases of owner surrender involve senior animals. Roadhouse, (or "Roadie") was surrendered a few days ago. His owner was distraught and crying, and I'm fairly certain that if Roadie could cry, he would have joined in with his own tears. Roadie is 8 years old and through unfortunate circumstances, could no longer live the only life he had ever known. As his owner fought back tears so that she could fill out her paperwork, I had to lead Roadie away from the comfortable life he had known into an uncertain future. He strained against the leash, not understanding what was happening. I had to physically pull him away, which was heartbreaking for everyone.

The first day Roadie was with us, he was completely terrified. We gave him a large, warm kennel and bedded him down with a thick comforter. He lay in his kennel shaking and panting. Panting is a sign of stress, and Roadie's stress level was (and is) high. Every time I walked by the kennel he perked up, seemingly expecting me to remove him from this situation, or perhaps he was waiting for a familiar human to come by. The second day, my coworker Laurie brought him into the office, hoping that some human contact might calm him down a bit. I put down a blanket in the office, but Roadie would not rest. He paced and panted anxiously until we had to close for the night.

The unfortunate truth is that unless someone takes a special interest in this guy, his chances of adoption are not high. He is a older dog, which to the right adopter, could be a plus: housebroken, calm and good natured, this dog would be ideal for someone who wants a dog who doesn't need much work and wants a great dog to cuddle on the couch with. He is a Jack Russell mix, so he could likely have several more happy years in a home. I am hoping against hope that someone will read Roadie's story and take a chance on this guy. Are you that person? Could you take this sweet little man into your home and your heart? I have a feeling that if someone can help Roadie heal his heartbreak, they will receive an incredible blessing from him.

For more information on Roadie, check out his Petfinder profile. Please tell your family and friends about him, I know that together, we can get Roadie out of the shelter and into his true "furever" home.

Introducing Tanner! Plus, Bosco update!

Shy, timid dogs can be among the hardest to adopt. We often get shy dogs in at BCAS and if they don't readily interact with people voluntarily, people often overlook them because they want a dog who is playful, attentive and people-loving. Most of the time the shyness is a product of the dog's history--abandonment, being dumped because they are unwanted, etc. We try to put time into these dogs and teach them that humans can be loving and that it is okay to trust them.

A couple of weeks ago I was walking through an area of the shelter known as "Receiving." This is where we keep stray dogs during their mandatory holding period, aggressive dogs, etc. Usually, this kennel is merely a stopover for dogs who will soon be up for adoption. As I walked down the row of kennels I was greeted enthusiastically by most of the dogs there. I got to the end of the row and was about to leave when I noticed Tanner, huddled in the floor as far away from the front of the kennel (and me) as he could get. I checked the card on the front of his kennel and saw that he had just come in. This timid reaction isn't abnormal when a dog first arrives and I will usually give them a little time to settle down and realize that they aren't in any danger before I start to be concerned about their temperament.

Over the course of the next few days I realized that Tanner wasn't warming up to any of us. When I opened the door to the outdoor part of his kennel I couldn't even coax him back in. All of our dogs get thick blankets to lay on, but Tanner wouldn't lay on his. He chose to lay on the cold floor of his kennel because he was so frightened. I decided that I needed to take action if Tanner was to have a chance at getting adopted. I began trying to teach Tanner that people=good things. I worked to teach Tanner that people are good by giving him good things, like treats. I didn't press the issue and tried to make sure that Tanner never felt pressure or anxiety due to my presence. When I had a little extra time, I would give him his food personally...at first rolling bits of kibble toward him and eventually hand feeding him once he felt more comfortable with me. He soon began to wag his tail when he saw me, though it was a few more days before he would actively come to the front of his kennel to greet me.

This past Friday my coworker Kelly and I discovered that we each had an interest in helping Tanner in any way we could. We decided to try to get him out of the kennel because we wanted to get him out onto the adoption floor. At first, he was very scared so we took it slow, stopping often as we walked down the hall for treats and affection. Loud noises were scary for Tanner so we gave him plenty of time to adjust to the hustle and bustle of the shelter.

I'm pleased to say that in a very short time, Tanner is like a totally different dog. He is responsive, affectionate, attentive and happy. We actually got him to play with a toy on Friday night as well! This guy is going to be wonderful in a home and I hope that someone might read this and decide to give Tanner a second chance. He seems so grateful to those who help him, and I still can't believe that the happy, playful boy is the same scared dog huddled in the back of his kennel. We think Tanner is around a year old, definitely a shepherd mix, but he is a smaller boy. He needs to put a little weight on but other than that, this guy is perfect! Come check him out!

Also, I am pleased to announce that Bosco went to a Rescue on Friday! Adore-A-Bull Rescue is currently fostering the Bosco Boy and I couldn't be happier! Check out Adore-A-Bull here!

Update: Bosco has found his furever home thru the wonderful efforts of Adore-A-Bull rescue! Tanner is also doing well in his new home, according to his mom.

High points, low points.

My job is filled with high points and low points. The highs can be very high (like adopting out an animal who has been waiting a long time in our shelter) and the lows can be very low (like finding out that an animal is not adoptable because a former owner didn't do basic  needed preventative care to keep the animal healthy.) This post is about two of the highest and lowest points of the week.

[HIGH POINT] My week started off with a (short) road trip like no other. I was browsing my Facebook feed on Sunday night when this popped up on my screen. For those who want the short version, there was a female Pit Bull being driven from New Orleans (!) to a Cleveland Pittie rescue, and she needed a ride from Florence to Columbus. I was off on Monday for MLK Jr. day, so I decided to give them some help. I read up on "Mama" after I actually dropped her off near Columbus on Monday. A post from The Sula Foundation regarding the dogs can be found here. I encourage you to read the whole thing, but here are some excerpts:

"For the past month, The Sula Foundation has been working (at no fee) with authorities in Biloxi, Mississippi, in response to a recent case in which twenty-five dogs were seized after being found tethered on a rural property, covered in wounds..."

The article goes on to discuss the general condition of the dogs:

 "Several had to be euthanized due to gangrene. Others were so traumatized that they would only crawl along the ground in our presence, never rising up onto their feet."

I can't imagine dealing with a situation like this. The sad part is, it is happening all around us, every day. We have an incredible overpopulation problem with dogs in this country, and no other purebred dog bears the brunt of that more than the "Bully" breeds (Pit Bulls, Staffordshire Terriers, American Bulldogs, etc.) I was recently browsing the Facebook page of a local Pit rescue, Adore-A-Bull Rescue. They often post pictures of their dogs who are seeking new homes. A person expressed interest on the post regarding a female dog who is currently in foster care, expressing an interest to adopt her if she could "request" that she not be spayed. She wanted to breed a female with her intact male. [LOW POINT]

Wait. Really? Surely I read her post wrong. But no, she actually did go to a rescue group who pulls an unwanted, overbred, chronically euthanized breed from shelters and ask to create more puppies. This mindset, the person who thinks that one more litter of puppies can't do that much harm is the reason we are in the predicament we are in! Purchasing an animal from a pet store or a "backyard breeder" causes just as much detriment to canines as going to a puppy mill and people don't or won't try to understand that.

ASPCA.org states that "Approximately 5 million to 7 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year, and approximately 3 million to 4 million are euthanized (60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats). Shelter intakes are about evenly divided between those animals relinquished by owners and those picked up by animal control. These are national estimates; the percentage of euthanasia may vary from state to state."

I work at Boone County Animal Shelter, and I know that these statistics are not accurate regarding our save rates vs. euthanasia rates.  This problem goes far beyond the Bully breeds, and though I do have a soft spot in my heart for them, I hope that every dog has a fair shake in the shelter system. I am so fortunate to work in a shelter who gives every adoptable animal a chance to find their forever home.

Sorry about that rant. To lighten things up, here are some pictures of Mama (now named Sweet Pea) and I.

Mama was a total sweetheart!

Scars on her nose from a hard life, but she can look forward to much
happier times now.

This is what she during the majority of our time on the road.

The eyes really say it all. I see hope and a loving, forgiving soul.

We need your help!

As many of you know, we had an INCREDIBLE holiday adoption season. We blew every single record for adoptions out of the water, mostly thanks to the fact that we worked hard on promotion and offered special adoption fees to those who wanted to find their new forever friend. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life and I can't wait to do it again next year!

Unfortunately, now that the holidays are over, our adoption numbers have fallen drastically. It is surprising to me considering how many wonderful animals we currently have, purebreds & mixes alike. We are even running specials still, like waiving the adoption fee on cats over one year old. We have so many big loving kitties that really need a home right now! We have wonderful small dogs, medium dogs AND large dogs. In short, we have anything you need!
Please check out our adoptable animals, share with your friends, do ANYTHING at all you can to help us maintain our save rate and work toward our no-kill goal! We need adopters AND fosters. Foster homes save lives every day. Do you have a little room to save the life of a deserving animal?

(Not so?) Great Expectations

One thing I have come to realize during my work at BCAS is that sometimes unrealistic expectations play a big role in whether or not a dog will be adopted. I think there is a common belief that when you are looking for your new forever friend, the animal will "choose" you in some way. Don't get me wrong---I definitely think it is possible for animals and humans to have an almost instant connection. However, I find that some of the best animals are looked over because they don't fall in line with the expectation of what a rescue animal should be.

Adopting an animal that needs a little work can be an intensely rewarding experience. Whether that "work" consists of training, grooming, or even just giving a formerly starving animal proper nutrition. I think that people shy away from taking on these animals because they either think they don't have the time or patience for it, or they think they just don't have the knowledge or skill. And to be perfectly honest, I think it is difficult for people to see through what an animal currently IS (emaciated, boisterous & untrained, not properly groomed, timid) to see what how beautiful it can be with a little TLC. A good shelter will give you all the support and resources they can. For example, we often offer discounted training sessions with a local dog trainer. We can help you figure out what foods or toys are going to bring out the best in an animal. One thing we always tell people is to call us with ANY questions or issue. We don't simply get the animal out the door and into a home--we follow through to make sure that animal is successful in its new life.

As an example, I adopted my Great Dane Sadie from BCAS in the spring of 2008. It is hard to tell in this picture, but she was skinny. And I mean REALLY skinny. I think she was around 68 pounds (she weighs 100 now) when I met her. And here is the thing---she and I didn't have that instant connection. Well, she didn't at least. I fell in love almost immediately. But this was a dog (as many of our dogs are) who hadn't been treated well. She had been bounced around and landed at BCAS, but probably hadn't had a deep human bond possibly ever. She touched my heart though, so I took her home. I understood that what she need was some work. We worked on getting her up to a healthy weight. We worked on housebreaking her. We worked on teaching her everything that she would have been taught long ago had she been fortunate enough to be in a loving and caring home. I am not going to say it wasn't difficult and there were at least 2 times when I thought I might be crazy for even trying. But even though we got discouraged, we never gave up because I knew Sadie was worth the work. Fast forward almost 4 years and I have a connection with this dog that is so deep and so loving I wouldn't take a million dollars for her. The love she gives me on a daily basis dwarfs the amount of TLC she needed when we first got her.

My message to any potential adopter is this: the next time you go to a shelter and you see the skinny dog,  the rambunctious dog, the timid dog, the dog without a beautiful coat...please consider taking on a dog who needs a little something extra. Just like Sadie, you will find that the love you get from them will far exceed the work you put in.

Thanks for taking a chance on me, Sadie.

Archie update!

So first off, I want to end the suspense over Archie. The woman who came to see him (who happens to be my neighbor) fell in love with the little old guy! I have been getting periodic status updates from her via text. As of last night, Archie had really shown himself to be a connoisseur of cuddling, blankets, and warm sunny spots. I am so happy for him! He is currently in a foster-to-adopt situation, which basically means that if all goes well in the household over the course of the next few days, ol' Archie should get to stay in his new home!

I got Archie dressed up for the brisk day in a little sweater. 

Archie & his new Mom!

Archie and his new brother, DJ.

DJ happens to be missing the same eye that Archie is blind out of and he
has dry skin issues, just like Arch. Coincidence? :-)

This is the face of  VERY lucky boy!

All in all, I am very pleased at Archie's prospects. Several of our staff members looked at his teeth on Friday (one of the major ways to tell a dog's age) and everyone agreed that it is possible he isn't even that old! His blind eye might be a result of injury, in all actuality. Regardless, I couldn't be happier for this little guy. My coworker Kelly and I got really invested in and attached to this little guy while he was staying with us.

The sunset behind the shelter on Friday, the day I found out that Archie was
finally going home. It was a good day.