Featured Rescue Followups September

Today's Featured Rescue Followup will be for September. There's some good news for some of the dogs that have been looking for a home. While I do hope that all the dogs I list are adopted, there are many (many, many, many) more out there that I haven't listed that need a home just as badly.



If you can open your heart and your home to one dog, you can change the course of his/her life forever. You can make a difference.

DDF PSA ~ Just a Dog

Someone emailed this to me this morning and I enjoyed it so much I thought I'd share it with you. It makes me think of a conversation the other day that I had with a coworker who insists that spay/neuter surgeries should be done off the back of a pickup truck in her farm yard. *sigh* I wish I could reach the people who think like that but I wonder if I ever could?

JUST A DOG - Author unknown




From time to time people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog", or "that's

a lot of money for just a dog". They don't understand the distance traveled,

the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog".



Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog". Many hours

have passed and my only company was "just a dog", but I did not once feel

slighted. Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a

dog", and in those days of darkness the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me

comfort and reason to overcome the day.



If you, too, think it's "just a dog", then you will probably understand

phrases like "just a friend", "just a sunrise", or "just a promise". "Just a

dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure

unbridled joy. "Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that make

me a better person. Because of "just a dog' I will rise early, take long

walks and look longingly to the future.

So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all

the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the

pure joy of the moment. "Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and

diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog", but the

thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a man". So the

next time you hear the phrase "just a dog" just smile, because they "just

don't understand".

Pictures Say a Thousand Words ...

Hey everyone ... It's Monday ... I went to Tim Horton's for my coffee and the Tim's Card machine was broken ... Been "one of those days" and it isn't even lunch time yet!! So let's have a little fun for today ... I LOVE reading everyone's captions for pictures so here's one for you ...

If a picture says a thousand words, what does this picture say?

Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinic - Kansas

I am posting a list of Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinics that I have run across in my internet travels. I've never tried these clinics out but if you have, PLEASE post your experience about them!! For a complete list of the states/provinces, see the contents page here.

KANSAS

Featured Rescue - Samwise the Beagle

It's been a while since I posted a Beagle as the featured rescue so when I ran across this guy's description, I thought that I must have been holding out for a guy like him!



Samwise is at the Guelph Humane Society along with at least four other Beagles. He came in as a stray so the shelter has no history on the little guy. He is reportedly loving and gentle but, unfortunately like so many other Beagles out there, a runner. Samwise will need an active home to keep him fit and well exercised.

Dogs In Strollers - Part 2

I love the response I received from my dogs in strollers post yesterday! Great responses! I love it. Keep it coming. I won't retract my statement because it is what I believe, however, I will clarify a little. I will agree that some people buy these strollers for their dogs who have physical disabilities. Most people who buy them, however, do not have dogs with disabilities and most are not old.



On Sunday of this weekend I was at PIJAC which is a Pet Trade Show in Mississauga, ON. While there, I saw four people with dogs in strollers ...



The first was a dog who was barking and lunging at people as they walked by. When asked, the lady replied that her dog was 3 y/o.



The second was a lady with three Chi's in the stroller and one on a leash outside the stroller. All of these dogs were dressed up in clothing. I did not stop to speak with her. They were crawling all over each other trying to get out but they were strapped in so they couldn't.



The third had two Shih Tzus (or Shih-mixes). These dogs were nice and quiet until a dog on a leash walked by ... then all hell broke loose!! The stroller dogs were leaping at the dog on the leash without regard for the plastic cover, which was the only barrier between the dogs. I shudder to think what would have happened to that poor, goofy St. Bernard if those Shih Tzus had broken through the plastic.



This comment stuck out for me from yesterday's post ... the only people that think using a dog stroller is silly, are those that have not had an older dog or a disabled dog in their lives



Well, I think a stroller is silly and I have had older dogs who have age related disabilities (unable to walk/move around, etc). I stated in my reply that there are many other ways to assist an older dog with arthritis that does not affect the ability of the dog to interact with the rest of the world, nor do they affect the ability of the dog to be a dog.



Do you realize that all of my dogs get old too?? My last dog lived until she was 15; the one before that was 18 when she died. Neither of them spent any time in a stroller but each of them had medical problems. One couldn't walk well (would lose her balance and fall over - often required our assistance to get up and move around) and was on heart medications for years. One had tumors that affected her walking (though we weren't able to remove them) so walking and running was difficult and painful for her - that didn't stop her.



Instead, I changed the way I cared for my older dogs - I did not expect them to take super-long walks with me; instead they were taken for multiple short walks. They spent time with the family but we brought dog beds wherever we took our older gals just in case they needed a rest. When our dogs get old, we need to change the way we care for them. They need special food and special treatment. They soak up the extra love. Sometimes they get scared when their hearing goes or when their vision is impaired by cataracts.

Perhaps I will write a post about care of older dogs in the near future. I think people don't realize that caring for an older dog is different than caring for a younger one. Just buy them the senior dog food, right? Well ... that's a good place to start but definitely not where it ends.



DDF ~ Dogs In Strollers

I can not believe how many people are jumping on the doggie-band-wagon and buying a stroller for their dogs! How rediculous is that? It makes me so sad to see people so lonely that they overcompensate with their dogs. I understand why they do it, but it is very sad to see because they could put so much of that energy into something more healthy.




Anyway, I heard this on the radio last week and now it's being passed around via email so I thought I'd publish it. The humour is rather cynical but I wonder if that's the mind-space I'm at right now ... I really enjoyed listening to this read on the radio and then enjoyed it just as much re-reading it on charlesadler.com. If you have a few minutes, I would recommend taking the time to check it out.




Dog Gone! by The Menzoid.

News Reel - Windsor man Jailed

I had thought that I posted this news article when the dog was brought in but after searching through my blog's archives, I suppose I simply read it on emails. It is yet another story about asshat owners who abuse their dogs without realizing the damage they cause. Another person who should NEVER be allowed to own an animal again. The latest news article is here but I will warn you ... the picture they included with the article is NOT pretty ... If you are uncomfortable viewing it, please read below for a summary.




Anyway to make a long story short, Tyson, a three-year-old black Lab mix, was found wandering around the streets of Windsor with a condom strapped to his penis. The condom was so tight that it had cut off the blood circulation and within 24 hours infection had already begun to spread. He had to be euthanized after an external infection spread internally to his abdomen and bladder.



The owner of the dog, Anjalo Abeywickrema, came forward and admitted he had done this terrible thing because the dog "urinated and “humped everything” in his house". WHAT?!



Abeywickrema was out on parole (he had been sentenced for manslaughter) at the time that he did this. Abeywickrema’s parole was revoked and he has been in prison since his arrest on May 13. He has been sentenced to 4 months for animal cruelty and isn't allowed to own an animal for 5 years.



How sad is that? It's bad enough that the guy killed his dog in a HORRIBLE way, but he's ONLY going to get 4 months?? And the guy's lawyer says he will probably only serve two-thirds of that time! What is WRONG with our legal system??

Reportedly, Abeywickrema has mental health challenges. If that's the case, then where are his social workers? If he is unable to care for an animal in a cruelty-free way then I'm willing to bet that he hasn't got all his ducks in a row and he really should have workers checking up on him daily unless he's living with mentally sound and responsible adults (which in this case, I'm willing to bet he DOESN'T). 

The only ones with their heads farther up their ass than the dog's owner is the lawyer who would actually represent this guy, followed closely by our legal system that allows him to be free after only a few months of jail time.

Congratulations, asshats.

Let us know when you're ready to come up for air and maybe we can discuss possible ways to fix our crappy system (no pun intended).

Featured Rescue - Big Red the Doberman Pinscher

I was driving to work the other day and saw a red Doberman Pinscher running along the side of the road with a 2"x10"x2' in his mouth! It made my day. He was SO proud of himself! Showing off to all the cars what he had. Thanks to him, I thought I'd post a dog similar to him for today's Featured Rescue. I LOVE Doberman Pinschers; I used to think that the only dogs I would ever have "when I grew up" would be Dobies ... I still haven't grown up and I still haven't had a Doberman grace our home. There's still time but I look forward to the day I bring one home.

Meet Big Red, a 3-4 year old male Dobie. Big Red is described as "typical dobie in his personality. He is a big baby, very active, and sensitive." He looks like a good guy. I wonder why he's in rescue?



Big Red is being cared for by All Breed Canine Rescue, London, ON. If you're interested in adding Big Red to your family, please don't hesitate to contact them!

Book Review - Canine Sports and Games

I bought this book a few months ago and finally have finished reading it. I don't know how I found time to read it ... a few minutes here ... clean up after dogs ... a couple pages there ... work/sleep/eat ... a paragraph or two ... Anyway, somehow I did it. I read a book! I'd like to start including some book reviews since there are SO many books about dogs out there and it's hard to tell which ones to buy ... I've started reading a BUNCH of different books but I never seem to find time to finish them.



I bought this book, Caninie Sports & Games, because I wanted to read about some of the sports I can do with my dog. My perma-ACD is a very active gal and I would like to keep her busy (because a tired ACD is a non-destructive ACD! We nicknamed her "Destructor" for good reason).




I've heard about many dog sports but having never actually participated in any of them, I am not well-versed in the actual execution of any of them. (I've been asked a few times to join a fly-ball team with K and I'd love to do it but I just can't stand the incessant barking!)




This book was great for me. It explained each of the different sports in a separate chapter and with enough detail to give you an idea of what it is but not so much that you get confused. If you haven't a clue what you'd like to do but you want to do something, then this is an awesome place to start looking. This book is a stepping stone to help you choose which dog sports to tackle.



On the other side of this, if you want to know specific things about a sport, then you really should either join a class or get a book that is specific to that game/sport. This book does not get into detail for the different sports - it is simply an overview.

PupDate - Foster Dog, Hypoglycemia in Dogs, Pictures!

Things are progressing with our foster dog, Red. *Knock on wood* we haven't had a bad incident with her for almost two weeks now. Rather than attacking the dogs, she now tries to play with them. We have been taking her to meet other dogs in a fenced yard and have noticed some great success. We have noticed that she tries to head the other dogs off if they are running around (using her body and mouth). IMHO, This is good progress because we've gone past the "I want to kick your ass" to "You need to stop running around".

She's getting *better* with the cats ... she now will stare at the cats, then turn around and come to get us to let us know that "there's that cat" ... "it's right there". I can live with that; at least she's not biting the cats anymore. It's been recommended that I get a muzzle for her so I can start working her without a leash inside the house. I'm not sure about that since I'm not very keen on using muzzles, but maybe there are times when exceptions must be made.

In other "news", my resident ACD and "chosen one" has been having some interesting symptoms. We aren't sure what it is but are hoping it is simply Hypoglycemia. She will be fine one moment, then heaving and vomiting the next ... when she is finished vomiting, she falls over. The first time she did it, her whole body was twitching in convulsions (sounds like a seizure, doesn't it?). The second time she did it, she got up immediately with no twitching. I know ... it could be epilepsy and the fact that she has a heart murmur doesn't make it any better. We have an appointment tomorrow for blood work ... here's hoping it's something easy that we can manage! I'll keep you posted.

And ... finally ... I have herding pictures! Yay! I attended a herding "Fun Day" this past weekend and had someone take lots of pictures. I will be sifting through them and will see if there's a post-worthy one in the bunch. (Yeah, I haven't had time to go through them yet)

Featured Rescue - Einstein the American Bulldog

Today's Featured Rescue is Einstein the American Bulldog. I went looking for a dog who looked similar to the dog in yesterday's news reel, but then I found this guy and HAD to post him! The SPCA Serving Allegany County states that he looks like Petey from the Little Rascals and that was the deal-maker right there. I LOVED the Little Rascals ... it used to be one of my favourite TV shows; and Petey is the reason why I fell in love with Bully breeds.

The SPCA Serving Allegany County states that Einstein is an escape artist, which is how he earned his name ... now I have to admit that if I had an escape artist of a dog, I would probably go with a name like Houdini or something ... but to each his own.

What do you think? What would you name this guy?

News Reel - Re-Homed Dog Attacks New Owners

The following news article has created quite a stir on one of the email lists I'm on. Dog savages boys in frenzied attack as they lie sleeping. As always, I have to ask myself why people do such idiotic things??

Why was the dog not crated?

Why would you allow a dog (who probably outweighs your children) to be unsupervised by an adult?

What happened earlier in the day - could it have triggered this attack?

Why were the kids (13 and 12 y/o) allowed to sleep on the couch watching TV and why weren't they in their beds?

Why would you EVER allow a dog you just brought into your home 1 week ago to have the run of your house??

Why? Why are people such asshats? Don't they see the errors in their ways?? Just ... why?

I'm sorry to award this one today. I don't like reading these articles. 

Ms Paterson has earned the Dogs Deserve Freedom ASSHAT Award of the day. Congratulations, Ms Paterson - your asshattery has not only damaged your children but also resulted in killing your dog.

This "episode" will probably emotionally scar the two brothers for life - they may lose all trust in dogs (or even certain breeds). A very sad day for dogs.

People tell me that it's "cruel" to crate a dog but I would like you to think about this ... Was it worth it? Was it worth not crating the dog for something like this to happen??

What's more cruel? To crate a dog or to allow it to fail so badly that it is euthanized and children are harmed??

Babies, Dogs and Full Time Work ... Oh My

I ran into an unfortunate situation yesterday. It's one that happens so often and it really bothers me. I would like to spread the word about something that is very important to many people ...

You Do Not Have To Give Up Your Dog If You Or Someone In Your House Has A Baby

Believe it or not, people have been having babies for centuries! And guess what?! They didn't get rid of their dogs just because of the new baby. There are many different ways you can manage to have both! *gasp*



Yesterday, a lady told me about her wonderfully trained, 4 y/o GSD who suddenly needs a new home ... why? Because her daughter just had a baby. It's a "preemie" (4 weeks early) and she's concerned about the dog hair and the baby's under-developed lungs. The dog is great with kids and has never shown any issues but she tells me that she doesn't think the baby can breathe in the dog hair.



I wanted to scream at her. I wanted to shout. I wanted to jump up and down. I wanted her to come to the shelter and watch as they PTS so many unwanted dogs and cats who'se owners decided that it was "unfair" to keep them when they couldn't make time for them. It's ok, MY dog will be adopted because he is such a great dog. Uh huh. Right. News FLASH! They are all "great dogs" but that doesn't hold off the needle/gas/bullet. ASSHAT




Instead of saying all that, in my wonderfully tactful way, I said that are ways you can manage the hair if you actually want to. So I ask why she doesn't contact a groomer and have him groomed every 3 or 4 weeks for the duration of the time that the baby is "at risk"? (And how long would the baby be "at risk"? 4 weeks? 6 months? Big deal - we're talking about a dog's life here, not some stuffed animal - and I can tell that she's attached to the dog at least a little) She tells me that the dog doesn't like the groomer she took him to a while ago, so I respond with "why don't you find a different groomer then? There are at least 3 in this town and there are usually others in different towns if you want to go farther out". I also tell her that sometimes the dogs take a bit of time to get used to grooming (after all, it's the groomers job to clean parts of a dog that many dog owners never bother to even touch - of course he may be a little leery about some stranger bathing him! That's what training is for dumbass).




She also tells me that it "wouldn't be fair" to the dog to keep him since they won't have much time for him when the baby comes home. If I hear that phrase one more time I'm going to go postal.




Right .... because giving away your dog is MUCH MORE FAIR than spending a little less time with him for a few months. There are at least 3 adults living in the house ... I'm sure ONE of those three people can spend an hour or two with the dog a day. That's not THAT much to ask. Yep. Instead, it's better to uproot your dog, abandon him, let him think that his family doesn't love him anymore and dump him off to the first person who shows an interest. Let's hope they don't euthanize him when he becomes too much for them, or is too big, or is too hairy. Right. That's much more fair than spending a bit less time with him while the preemie baby is "at risk".




Yep. I might have pissed her off but by the end of the conversation, she was starting to make plans about how she can manage to keep the dog. I hope she does because it's not that easy to find a home for a 4 y/o GSD in our town.

Maybe there IS some hope for the Asshats of this town ... maybe.

Featured Rescue Followups August

Today's Featured Rescue Followup will be for August. There's some good news for some of the dogs that have been looking for a home. While I do hope that all the dogs I list are adopted, there are many (many, many, many) more out there that I haven't listed that need a home just as badly.



If you can open your heart and your home to one dog, you can change the course of his/her life forever. You can make a difference.

News Reel - Boy Sentenced After Killing Family Dog with Hammer

Yeah, you read that headline right ... Boy Sentenced After Killing Family Dog with Hammer ... The article reads



A 15-year-old boy who broke into a home in Grand Rapids, Mich., and killed a family's dog with a hammer has been sentenced to spend up to 20 years in prison.



He could get out of prison in as little as 3 years. Turns out this kid broke into the house for some loot in May; was bitten by the family dog (a dachshund); and proceeded to hit the dog in the head with a hammer. The frustrating thing is that he wasn't even charged with animal cruelty! He pled guilty to a "home invasion charge" (otherwise known as B&E).



If he was charged with Break&Entering, I wonder why he wasn't charged with "Theft under/over $5000" or animal cruelty? Is this another loop-hole? He didnt' leave the scene so he can't be charged with theft? He was "protecting" himself so he can't be charged with animal cruelty?? Sometimes the legal system makes me sick.



No wonder people commit crimes ... they don't ever have to pay any penalty for them. Their legal aid always finds loop-holes for them to jump through. I bet he was charged as a minor. I'm glad he's going to prison but it should be for a lot longer than 3 years.

Featured Rescue - Toby Taco Bell the Chihuahua

The Chihuahua ... if ever there was a breed that is misunderstood, it is you. In the midst of the "he's so kyoot" and the "oh look - he's so little" people tend to forget the most obvious one ... "He's a Dog". People get these super cute little guys and don't bother to do ANY training. Come on ... how many of you know of a Chihuahua who does Agility? Or Flyball? Or Rally-O??



Because of their small stature, most people don't treat these little guys "like a dog". In fact, I am willing to bet that more than 95% of dog owners out there treat a Chihuahua differently than other breeds. Why? Why not? Don't they deserve to be treated equally? They can bite just as easily as a Pibble ... so why don't people bother? Could it be because they are "so kyoot"? I'll remind you of that next time you have a Chihuahua hanging off you by his teeth.



I believe their size, lack of training and the massive amount of media attention this breed receives accounts for the reason why there are currently over 13,000 Chihuahua's listed on Petfinder.com TODAY!

Today's featured rescue is Toby Taco Bell who is listed with the Mississauga Humane Society. He lived with an elderly couple until, yep - you got it, they moved to assisted living and couldn't take their dog. He has been retraining (behaviour modification) at a foster home for 5 months.



If this story makes you go "Aawww ... how sad ... " then please give your head a shake. Remember, this is a dog. He has been poorly trained and poorly socialized. If he was a Pibble, do you think someone would have given him 5 months worth of retraining?? Certainly not in Ontario - he would have been euthanized immediately after the surrender papers were signed.



Is anyone asking why these people couldn't be bothered to train their dog? No, because they are elderly and are in a home now and "Aawww ... how sad ... " comes out most people's mouths for them too, right? But who suffers in all this? The dog.



Why aren't we making people responsible for their actions? Why is it always the animal who suffers?

Picture Say a Thousand Words ... Captions!

Hey everyone ... sometimes I have pictures I want to share with you but I haven't got a topic to post about them or haven't got a caption for them. Have you ever seen "Caption Contests" in magazines?? I thought for those pictures I haven't got a caption for, I'd ask you guys what you think it should say? So ... please take a look at the picture and answer me this question ...

If a picture says a thousand words, what does this picture say?