I'm back ;)

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

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...

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

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

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

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.

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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

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.