About dogs

Sampson

2011-02-19T13:54:00.001-08:00

Sampson is a 6 yr old husky mix looking for a home. He's lived outside for 6 years and as if that wasn't bad enough he had to have his left eye removed due to infection. He's a happy and spirited boy who desperately needs someone to love him. Could that be you?

I'm back ;)

2010-11-01T05:23:00.000-07:00

Wow, its been a looooong time since I've been here but its symbolic of my life, I wasn't there either. I can't fully explain it but I felt hopeless and lost my direction. There have been many changes; loss, confusion and pain that I had to work through to come back but I think the biggest factor has been learning to live one day at a time. I've rarely been in the "here and now", didn't know how to do that. I took on so much emotionally that I just lost control, and was forced to stop thinking about yesterdays regrets and tomorrows fears and it taught me that I couldn't handle anything but the present.

Its been a tough lesson but I feel stronger now and hope I can continue to remember it even when things are going well.

Bullet

2009-05-24T17:01:00.001-07:00

Poor Bullet. We got him from a woman at the beginning of May who couldn't take care of him any more. (Her husband left, she's never home, etc.)

Bullet has had bloody diarrhea since at least last November after the woman's husband left. The vet says its colitis but we don't know what's causing it. We've had him dewormed and on several different medications, grain free food, etc; he had to have surgery to sew his rectum in because it wouldn't go back in on its own (from the constant straining). The vet says it'll take time but I have my doubts 'cause it just goes on and on...

He's a wonderful dog, great with other dogs, adults and kids. He's happy and active and so lovable, but the damn bloody diarrhea won't stop. We've spent way too much of our funds already and he needs so much more--maybe a specialist and I don't know how we're going to afford it. He needs a guardian angel!

No one would adopt him like this so we have to figure it out. We just have to.

Backyard breeders, grrr...

2009-04-26T05:13:00.000-07:00

Sac was purchased from a backyard breeder as a puppy. Now he's 8 months old and too much to handle for his senior owner. To a backyard breeder, all it takes is money. No references checked. No questions about experience or what would happen to the dog in the event of the owner's "incapacity" (or worse). Just: HERE'S your dog, that'll be $600 please.

I live in a small area where it takes awhile to find good homes for big dogs, especially German Shepherds, even purebreds. You can find them in a shelter for $150 and I've known many people to just give them away. They're usually mistrustful of strangers, tend to run rather than stick around off leash, and need plenty of exercise. They're heavy shedders, tend to have health problems, and can be an insurance liability. And they're really strong. (I once transported a White GSD who had to be walked by 2 people and we could barely handle him together). These dogs are not for the inexperienced.

Sac's owner had no idea what he was getting in to. His last dog had died at 13 yrs old, he didn't realize the demands of raising a puppy or the brute strength of a teenage GSD. The breeder should have known but was more concerned about making money than getting this dog a good home.

I'll spend many hours getting the dog neutered and doing reference checks and home visits so Sac will go to the right home. At a fraction of the amount originally paid for him. There's little profit in rescue, its all about making sure the dog gets a good home.

So in the best case scenario, this dog would have had a good, prepared, permanent home to begin with. In this scenario, at least the owner found a rescuer instead of just chaining him to a doghouse or dumping him on another unprepared person. It could have been worse.

UPDATE: I'm happy to say Sac went home with his new family yesterday. He has a GSD friend, a big fenced in yard to play with her in, 3 older kids who love dogs, and a mom and dad who are experienced with shepherds. He'll live indoors, get plenty of love, attention and exercise. Best of all, he'll get to be a puppy again! YAY!

Peaches

2009-04-03T17:29:00.000-07:00

Another unwanted cutie. Cast away after she had puppies, she went from the owner to 3 other homes until she came to us. She is just what every adopter wants in a dog. Cute, personable, plays when you want to, cuddles, and looks up at you like your the most awesome person she's ever met.

Again, I'm left wondering how anyone could give up this precious babe. Its rarely about the dog but often says so much about the person.

Gasport Dog

2009-03-15T06:14:00.000-07:00

I'd gotten many emails from people begging me for advice, with the subject title "Gasport dog".

Sara lived in an outside kennel for most of her 2 1/2 years. She had a companion but he disappeared awhile ago and so she'd lived alone with a lonely doghouse as her only comfort. Poor thing, she's afraid of all new things, won't get in the car, sometimes won't go inside after a walk and sometimes won't go outside. She crouches down and lets her entire 60 lbs become dead weight. She doesn't fight me but she doesn't help either. I guess this is how she chooses to deal with her scary new world-by not consenting to participate.

The good news is that she's coming around. She's wagging her tail and giving kisses. She loves and trusts Julie and she's great with other dogs. She is gentle and sensitive. She will be an ideal family companion. I curse the woman who forced her into solitude, but its so common for people to be so aware of their own needs and so oblivious to others.

Ginny found her Angel

2009-02-13T06:32:00.000-08:00

Ginny lived with a senior citizen until he died and then she lived in his trailer alone for a month until the owner's son found someone willing to take her. This person brought her to Dogs Deserve Better in Dunkirk. We had hoped to get her adopted but she turned out to be older than we thought and had medical issues.

Ginny has been in a foster home and at a boarding kennel for 15 months as she has Cushings symptoms (drinks lots of water and needs to go out frequently to potty), and is 9 years old. No one has expressed any interest in her until Debby came along (most people only want carefree, low maintenance dogs.)

Debby saw Ginny at the boarding kennel and noticed her sad eyes and asked a lot of questions until we agreed to give her a chance with Ginny. I have been taking Ginny to the vets every few weeks or months for testing to find out why she has constant thirst and urination. She's had a couple urinary infections and had to have several teeth removed in the meantime. We still do not know what her illness is.

Debby not only loves Ginny, she wanted her even when she found out about Ginny's medical problems. She loves her in spite of her issues and has gone out of her way to accomodate her constant need for water and frequent potty breaks. She's had Ginny approved to go to work with her as a therapy dog so that she can take her to work when no one's home to care for her. Debby obviously sees Ginny's value in spite of the extra time and work she requires.

I'm truly amazed that they found each other and truly grateful that Ginny found her furever home. This tells me there is hope for all dogs, no matter what their situation.

_______________________________________________________________________
I am eternally grateful to the boarding kennel operator who took good care of Ginny for a long time and gave her love and attention until her furever home could be found. I have no doubt that if Ginny had been taken to the spca, she would have been euthanized. She owes her life to the people who stuck by her and respected her as a deserving creature, as they all are. I'm proud to know so many people who value the lives of these living creatures even when its not cheap or convenient.

Little Emma

2009-02-02T05:51:00.000-08:00

Emma is a 4 month old, 19 lb beagle found a couple weeks ago. So far, no one is looking for her. She is a cute, sweet little thing who was found going through somebody's garbage on an extremely cold day. The woman who took her home went door to door throughout the neighborhood looking for the owner but no one knew who she could belong to.

Hard to believe no one's looking for this wonderful little puppy. I wonder where she came from and why someone isn't out there doing everything imaginable to find their baby. How did she ever end up out in the cold? Did she slip out the door after a rabbit?, was she out playing with the kids and just ran off? She isn't starving and doesn't seem to be abused so who would let her go?

Emma, is someone looking for you? Were you loved? Do you miss your family? Do they miss you? Maybe you were given to someone who didn't really care what happened to you although its hard to imagine. Whatever your story, only you know. I will make sure it ends well though, Chris, Francine, and I.

I quit

2009-01-25T10:30:00.000-08:00

I quit the rescue. Every Friday but for a handful, I drove 20 miles to clean the shelter and spend time with the dogs for 2 1/2 years. No more.

It wasnt' just Hans although that was the last straw. There were many things I brought up but never got answers on and it was never clear who was in charge of what. If I couldn't come in, I didn't know what to do besides posting for help over and over; if there was a specific problem with a dog, I'd ask what was to be done but rarely did I get an answer leading me to believe they didn't want to be bothered.

I just didn't feel significant. Maybe I wasn't but for 2 1/2 years, I was good enough to spend my Friday's cleaning and looking after the needs of the dogs. When I had an opinion, I was just the "cheap labor". Guess I didn't fit in.

Pepie's dead

2009-01-14T17:22:00.001-08:00

Pepie's dead.
I first met her in March of 2005 while walking my dog. I saw this sort of "rabbit hutch" off the ground and didn't quite understand what I was looking at so I went up to take a closer look and there was a dog inside. Pepie. What the hell? I went up to talk to her and she was friendly and quit barking after a few seconds. She looked so sad. So lonely.

The rest is a series of frustrations, tears, and setbacks because try as I might, I couldn't convince the owner or the authorities to get her out of there. It was legal, they said. He was a nice man, they said. They, the good 'ole boys.

Much has been written about her on the internet. Many knew of her plight but were as useless as I in making a difference in her pitiful life. We all tried, we all loved her and now we all feel sad and angry and confused.
Did she ever know love, kindness, comfort? Did she know so many cared? Did it even matter? She will haunt me the rest of my life because she had no life, she just waited to die.

Ooooooh, that little Pongo

2009-01-03T06:41:00.001-08:00

Look at that little face, don't you just want to scoop him up and cuddle him to death? He is a cutie at the rescue I volunteer at. I think he was too energetic for the owners and was left tied up outside. I'm so glad he came to the rescue and got out of that awful situation.

He's so squirmy and active and untrained--lots of poo and pee in his kennel and really hard to hang onto. It'll take him some time to learn how to deal with attention and love. You can just tell he craves it; after a few minutes with him, he starts to focus on me and shows me all his cute little tricks. He retrieves all his toys for me and doesn't tire of going after them again and again.

I held him as I talked to a visitor to the rescue, one who seemed to talk with her hands and all the while he followed her hands with his eyes and kept trying to grab them although, she was mostly oblivious to it. (I laughed inside.)
Whoever adopts him is in for a ton of exercise and a lot of entertainment. He's one special pup.

Happy Holidays

2008-12-24T15:19:00.001-08:00

I hope all my human and animal friends have a wonderful holiday. If you are chained, I wish for your release into a warm, loving, inside home. If you are lost, I hope you are found by your sad and lonely guardians. If you are at a pound or rescue, I hope you are adopted by someone who loves and respects you as part of the family. If you are human, may you do everything in your power to get respect and love for all animals from all humans.

Hans

2008-12-20T04:32:00.000-08:00

A coonhound/beagle x was adopted from the shelter I volunteer at about 6 months ago. Chris picked him up in someone's barn the other night as he had apparently run off and some people held him until they could find the owner. Turns out, the owner keeps him in a barn and lets him run loose. The rescue doesn't have a problem with this as he appears well fed (but filthy and smelly) and happy. I don't know how they can think he's happy, he was obviously happy to see them but I don't know if that means he thinks he has a great life. He could just be relieved at being found.

Anyway, the adoption contract calls for him to be an inside dog but now I'm hearing that that is just the ideal and that as long as he's fed and warm, the rest is just "guidelines". This is a rescue that I respected but now I feel betrayed! How can they allow this? I think that since they don't know how to handle the situation, they convince themselves that this is okay. Or maybe they don't really have a problem with it. We have a beagle there who was previously chained to a doghouse--she is the sweetest, friendliest dog--does this mean she was happy being chained to a doghouse? I guess we see what we want to see.

I don't want to quit as I love the dogs but last night, my volunteer night at the rescue, I was so sad. I felt like crying all night, thinking that these precious dogs may fall into bad hands and have no one to rescue or protect them. It isn't enough that they're merely better off then before. I just picture Hans being out on his 53 acres, in danger of being attacked by wild animals, shot by hunters or hit by a car. I picture him being isolated and alone in a barn. This is just not acceptable but I don't have a say or a choice. Its not my place. If I quit, I'm not helping them and I love the dogs so I'll probably continue but I just feel so disillusioned.

The spirit of Christmas

2008-12-12T03:12:00.000-08:00

I just read an article in my local paper about the importance of buying local. But to have a truly terrific holiday season, I will donate time or money to the less fortunate instead of driving myself crazy trying to find the perfect gift for people who already have more than enough.

We're a society of consumers. We work more, buy more, pollute more and waste more than is necessary for our survival. Why not work less and enjoy more? How many toys, tv's, and things do we need? How much money and how many hours must we spend in line to have a "happy" holiday?

I just can't stand all the excess anymore. And I'm a part of it, but I'm trying to change. I just don't need anything and I don't want anyone wearing themselves out just to make sure I have more. The people I buy for don't need anything either so it takes forever to figure out what to buy, its just gotten so old! I refuse to spend what little spare time I have driving to a mall and spending more than I can afford to buy useless stuff that is so unnecessary.

The true spirit of Christmas is not "shop 'til you drop" but to give to those less fortunate. I will keep this in mind for the holidays and support human and animal charities to help those who are truly in need.

JR

2008-12-07T11:22:00.000-08:00

We picked up JR yesterday from Panama. I first saw him a couple months ago on Freecycle looking for a home, a forlorn creature alone and looking resigned to his fate.

He lived chained to a doghouse for a year and a half, all of his life. I haven't been able to get him off my mind so when I found out he was still chained to that doghouse, I had to go get him. How can anyone take such a loyal, social creature and isolate him this way?

We picked a blustery, 20 degree day after it had snowed a foot to drive out into the boonies for this boy. I'd never been to Panama, a small, out in the sticks kind of place. Luck was with us and between our google map and GPS, we didn't get lost or run into any icy roads.

This poor dog growled and barked at me for about 10 seconds until he decided I was a friend and started jumping up and licking me. He was so happy for attention. Knowing that he wouldn't bite me was all I needed to see and off we went. He was scared to get into the car and took quite a bit of convincing, pushing, and pulling but we got him in. He'd never been in a car, or a house or even to the vet in all this time.

JR's at a nearby boarding kennel for now until we can get him vetted and ready for adoption. He has an inside kennel and a huge fenced in yard to run in. He seems to get along with other dogs so he will have plenty of doggy company to play with. JR is so happy to have attention now, he seems to smile at me in thanks. How can these creatures be so forgiving and so grateful after all they've been through? I can't imagine.

What is this obsession?

2008-11-30T05:25:00.000-08:00

For as long as I can remember I have loved and cared about dogs. When I was little it was beagles. My father had around 14 of them for hunting (yeah, he must have been obsessed too) and I can remember playing with them in their doghouses. I would lay in the straw with them and talk to them for hours. Sometimes I'd hook one of them (or 2 or 3) to a leash and take them for a walk. They were my friends.

The neighborhood strays were also my friends, back in the 60's people didn't confine their dogs like they do now. I remember Bootsy, a boxer x and Brownie, a lab x. I didn't know their real names but that's what I called them. One time I brought them into my house and hid them away in one of the spare bedrooms. My mother found them and let them go and I felt so bad that they couldn't stay with us.

I can remember a big barrel of Purina Dog Chow in the hallway near the door for the beagles. I used to take handfuls for a snack for myself. I thought it was quite good at the time.

Now, I would never accept seeing those poor beagles living in a kennel in doghouses without trying to help them but back then, I just didn't understand why they couldn't live inside. I still don't. How could anyone not want these sweet, cuddly little creatures inside with them?