The second Monday of my new volunteer experience is over. Now that I knew the ropes I was in BUSINESS! In fond memory of my last experience, I brought TOOLS! Imagine a nice, long-handled pitchfork used for moving hay or other large animal 'stuff'. Now imagine that much smaller, but still with a nice long handle. Yeah, that's right, no more stoop for poop. Dry heaves begone. Cleaning time was a cool 20 minutes from start to finish. Good thing too. The ruckus would have woken my own dogs happily sleeping 10 miles away.
This time I had 5 wards:
Lily the loud beagle found a home. Woo Hoo. Paws to you chickie.
"Nugget" is the name of the old Golden I fell in love with last week. True to form the old guy didn't mess his kennel area up. He's lost a little weight in the past week making him much sleeker. It looked like his paws saw some grooming too as his fluffy hair socks were no more. He prances like a king. Awesome dog. Jackass owner for relinquishing him. OK, maybe I am being too harsh. Perhaps the owner was critically ill and could not keep him. Was there NOBODY else that could take him in? If there's anyone out there that wants to help out this old guy he will make a wonderful pet. Maybe you're thinking about getting a dog, but don't want the hassle of housebreaking. Here's your dog.
"Gordita" was still there too. She looked a little different this time. Turns out she had just had 14 teeth removed. Poor little girl. She took 10 seconds outside then turned tail and begged to go back in. I petted and cuddled her inside for a few minutes to make up for the short walk. Hopefully an Italian Greyhound rescue will take her in and get her out of little dog jail.
"Brownie" is still there too. Not a surprise. WTF is it with all the Pit Bulls? These dogs are big, smart, powerful animals that need attention. She walks with me like a champ and still likes to fetch, but could use someone to spend some time teaching her. She'd be a great walking/jogging partner for someone who lives or wants to live an active lifestyle.
New dog #1: "Jimmy Boots" is a Jack Russel Terrier mix. Not sure what the mix part is, but that dog can JUMP. He stands about 14 inches tall, but was eye-level with me most of the time I was around his kennel. (For those of you who don't know me, I'm 5'5", so that dog was probably mixed with Mexican Jumping Bean. Not 2 seconds after I got him collared and leashed headed out to the walk area he lifted a leg and, you know whatted all over the other leashes hanging outside the kennel area. Jackass. I got him outside as fast as I could and he proceeded to pee on anything vertical. Overall his other manners were, well just OK. Turned loose in the chain link area you could see him calculating how much of a running start he would need to clear the 6' fence. Leash on buddy. It's not his fault... It's not his fault... repeat.
New dog #2: "Dorrian". Pit bull about 1 1/2 years old. I repeat, WTF is it with people getting PIT BULLS they are not prepared to train. He was pretty scary in his kennel. The whole time I was nearby he half-crouched and puckered his muzzle like he wanted to say something while staring me down. I faced my fear of being mangled, walked in and tried to nimbly slip the collar over his ears. They wouldn't put a biter out here with the volunteers right? He jumped up on me, got to 2nd base and tremled when we left the kennel. OUtside he was a nice dog - just uneducated. His thing was to jump up and smack boobs at every opportunity. Who was he in a previous life, I wonder? He managed to kind of learn a sit while out there. Then he heard a loud noice and buried himself between my knees shaking like he expected something really bad... Poor dog. Jackass prior owner. I wish I had time to foster him and teach him something. He could make a nice dog. He'd be another really good jogging partner. I jogged around the parking lot with him a few times to test him out. Yes, I got strange looks.
Now for the soap box. Last week I took criticism for not making the experience sound glamorous. Newsflash-there's nothing glamorous about dumping your untrained dog when it's no longer a cute puppy. These dogs sit around next to their own and other dogs' filth while waiting, wishing for someone to save them.
If you want to do something good for your dog, train it. I'm not suggesting it needs to perform like an agility champ at Westminster. Just make it adoptable for crying out loud. Sit. Down. Off. Drop it. Don't pee on everything in sight. Walk like a civilized dog on a leash. Basic stuff really. Nobody is impressed with your dog when it acts like a lunatic dragging you or your child at the other end of a leash. I promise you that.
I shudder to think that Gracie the WonderLab, AJ or Weatherby could find their way to a place like this. It's not out of possibility really . If anything happens to me and my husband what will happen to the dogs? Their only chance to find a reasonably good future home is to behave and act like something another person would like to have. They need to be marketable.
Down from soap box.
Be happy. Hug your pets. And for Gawd's sake, teach your pets (and children)something. It could save their lives.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Volunteering Part 1-Dry Heaves For Everyone
Well, I promised myself years ago (OK decades ago) that I would volunteer at an animal shelter. Last week I signed up, and this week I actually did it. On my way home following my "Exit Interview" from my 11 1/2 year career I was admittedly in a strange mind. (More on that later.) I don't know why I took that particular route home other than to stop at the Animal Control building.
I signed up for Monday mornings, so I have something to look forward to and mark my week with.
My first day came. Little did I realize that it was a holiday that would close the shelter. They let me in anyway since the animals still needed some basic care. The girl there to show me the ropes was really adamant about leaving as early as possible since it was supposed to be a day off. Noon was her cutoff. No problemo. I had hoped to be there far less than that. Check.
I worked with 4 adoptable dogs. The time started with cleaning out the caged area. After about 20 minutes of dry-heaving I was finished. I clean poo of various species every darn day. Why was this so off-putting? You'd think I would have learned some poo-proofing techniques over the years. After I got my breakfast back in check I hosed everything down and changed bedding. There was still time to actually walk dogs - the REAL reason I was there after all...
I chose the loud little beagle mix first. "Lily" kept baying at me while running around like a little fool. She makes my jack russell look like a quiet dog. After a few minutes she actually made eye contact with me and allowed me to issue some basic commands amid avid bird watching. Cute dog!
Next was the italian greyhound, "Gordita". The first 10 feet outside froze her SOLID. Poor thing. The only thing I could think of was to run her as fast as she would go to get the blood moving. That's not all that moved... More poo. Gack! This thing was like 5 pounds. How could THAT much come out of her?
Then came the golden retriever. No name on the cage, but this one was a golden oldie. White face. Rough coat. Winning smile. He was really good on leash - and house broken. I thought the pee would never stop once he got outside. And more of you guessed it... Swallow hard. Breathe... He had a good roll in the snow and pranced around as proudly as his old bones would take him It saddens me that an old guy like that found his way into the pound. He deserves a wonderful life in his golden years.
Finally came "Brownie" the Pit/Bulldog mix. I saved her for last thinking she'd be the strongest puller. She was noisy and rambunctionus in the kennel area - barking, whining, screeching... Secretly I hoped I would run out of time before her turn. No luck for me, but SCORE for her. It turned out pretty well. She fetches really well, and then shakes the crap out of what she brings back. She knows some basic commands like sit, drop it, leave it. Surprisingly she was good on leash. What a looker too! If I had the need for another dog she'd be it! Though I have to wonder about the safety of my cats... Maybe not the best idea. Fortunately I have plenty of dogs already and don't need to change anything up.
Two hours on the dot later I am home. The stink of kennels clings like a cheap cologne. I wonder how long it will take to rid this sensation that I need to dive into a tub of Lysol? My dogs sniffed curiously for a minute then resumed their posts as guardians of the couches.
Later peeps.
I signed up for Monday mornings, so I have something to look forward to and mark my week with.
My first day came. Little did I realize that it was a holiday that would close the shelter. They let me in anyway since the animals still needed some basic care. The girl there to show me the ropes was really adamant about leaving as early as possible since it was supposed to be a day off. Noon was her cutoff. No problemo. I had hoped to be there far less than that. Check.
I worked with 4 adoptable dogs. The time started with cleaning out the caged area. After about 20 minutes of dry-heaving I was finished. I clean poo of various species every darn day. Why was this so off-putting? You'd think I would have learned some poo-proofing techniques over the years. After I got my breakfast back in check I hosed everything down and changed bedding. There was still time to actually walk dogs - the REAL reason I was there after all...
I chose the loud little beagle mix first. "Lily" kept baying at me while running around like a little fool. She makes my jack russell look like a quiet dog. After a few minutes she actually made eye contact with me and allowed me to issue some basic commands amid avid bird watching. Cute dog!
Next was the italian greyhound, "Gordita". The first 10 feet outside froze her SOLID. Poor thing. The only thing I could think of was to run her as fast as she would go to get the blood moving. That's not all that moved... More poo. Gack! This thing was like 5 pounds. How could THAT much come out of her?
Then came the golden retriever. No name on the cage, but this one was a golden oldie. White face. Rough coat. Winning smile. He was really good on leash - and house broken. I thought the pee would never stop once he got outside. And more of you guessed it... Swallow hard. Breathe... He had a good roll in the snow and pranced around as proudly as his old bones would take him It saddens me that an old guy like that found his way into the pound. He deserves a wonderful life in his golden years.
Finally came "Brownie" the Pit/Bulldog mix. I saved her for last thinking she'd be the strongest puller. She was noisy and rambunctionus in the kennel area - barking, whining, screeching... Secretly I hoped I would run out of time before her turn. No luck for me, but SCORE for her. It turned out pretty well. She fetches really well, and then shakes the crap out of what she brings back. She knows some basic commands like sit, drop it, leave it. Surprisingly she was good on leash. What a looker too! If I had the need for another dog she'd be it! Though I have to wonder about the safety of my cats... Maybe not the best idea. Fortunately I have plenty of dogs already and don't need to change anything up.
Two hours on the dot later I am home. The stink of kennels clings like a cheap cologne. I wonder how long it will take to rid this sensation that I need to dive into a tub of Lysol? My dogs sniffed curiously for a minute then resumed their posts as guardians of the couches.
Later peeps.
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