Daily dog: Baxter, Pointer

Baxter, Pointer pup

Choices

Sometimes when there's room at Toronto Animal Services South, they'll bring in dogs from other jurisdictions to try to get them adopted out in Toronto. Quite often these dogs are from Quebec but sometimes TAS will also select dogs from the U.S., usually from a high kill shelter in Ohio because the contacts, process and transport are established.

So how do you choose the dogs? There's only so much money. There's only so much space. You can't take them all. Do you choose the puppies because they will go quickly or do you leave them behind because you hope they'll stand an okay chance of being adopted even where they are? Do you choose the older dogs because they have no chance where they are or do you leave them behind because, well, they're older dogs and most people don't want them? Do you choose the black dogs because there's some prejudice against black dogs in the States and not so much here? Do you choose the purebreds or the mutts? Do you choose the big or small? Do you choose the shy or the outgoing?

It might seem like a feel good job to be able to do something like that, rescue dogs from elsewhere, but how good would it feel if you knew that in choosing one dog, the ones not chosen would likely die? How do you choose?

(click on images to enlarge)









These are ones that were chosen from the above and with help from Open Arms Rescue, they arrived in Toronto a couple of days ago:

Roman

Rollo

Raisin

Parker

Jayden

Godspeed to these five in finding their new homes and God help those left behind.

For adoption information on these and other dogs (and cats and other animals), please visit Toronto Animal Services.

Toronto Animal Services Friday review, Aug 21

This German Shepherd pup is super smart and also very high energy. He knows his "sit" command well enough but sitting still is definitely not what he wants to be doing right now.


Major's already been in a shelter for 4 months in Montreal. He's a relaxed older dog and hopefully won't be spending much more time in his kennel at Toronto Animal Services.

Update: Not even one day in adoption and Major's already been adopted! Hurray for Major.


Isis is a very friendly but submissive (to other dogs) Jack Russel Terrier. Outdoors, she's a doll, but unfortunately, she barks like a banshee in her kennel when she's trying to get someone's attention so she may not be suitable for an apartment.



Isabelle, a Beagle mix, is becoming more secure in her new environment. She was a bit shell shocked when she arrived at TAS after her previous owner died.



Farley is a very playful and affectionate young Border Collie mix. He needs some serious exercise, ideally off-leash and with other dogs. He was trying to get Isis to play with him but she found him a bit too big and energetic.



This pup Corgi, Ruddy, was a stray. His 7 day holding period is up so now he's up for adoption. Blink and he'll be gone.

Update: He's gone.


For adoption information on these and other dogs (and cats and other animals), please visit Toronto Animal Services.

Toronto Animal Services Friday review, March 27

I think on Fridays I'm going to start posting up photos of new dogs who have come into Toronto Animal Services South the past week. With all the rescue TAS is doing these days, a lot more dogs are available and I'm thinking the additional publicity can only help. These pooches are either already up for adoption or will be shortly.

Some of the photos have accompanying descriptions and some don't. That's not because the ones without have got no personalities but because I can only write fun, friendly, happy, etc. so many times before those words lose all meaning.

If you know anyone who's interested in adopting one of these guys, just contact Toronto Animal Services South at 416 338 6668 or go to their website.

You can also e-mail me and I might be able to give you some additional information before you go check them out.

Sira is fascinated by birds and I've never seen a dog actually point before but she certainly knows how it's done.

Scratch

McTavish may look like he's got Scottish ancestry but it's all in the haircut. He's actually a Lhasa Apso but came in with thick fur so dirty and matted that the groomer decided to give him buzz cut.

Gigi

Chanel is a puppy mill dog who is a fab dog. Since she's spent most of life inside, and likely inside a cage, she's still very curious about the outside world and is a little anxious around loud noises. Otherwise, she's a wonderfully affectionate dog and great on a leash.

Update on Gigi here.

Well, that didn't last long

I went to TAS this afternoon, despite there being no adoption or stray dogs, to visit Jenny and her two pups who are still too young to be separated from their mum just yet.



I also said goodbye to Wally who is going home this evening, hopefully for good this time. He'd been adopted and returned once already last week after less than a day with a new owner. Someone told me the reason the owner gave for giving him up but it was forgettable. The usual blah blah.

Goodbye Wally

While there, I came across this little stubby legged guy, Scooby, who had just been brought in yesterday. He was found curled up in his owner's lap who had been dead for two days. No living arrangements had been made for the dog so the family signed him over to TAS for adoption.

Hello Scooby Doo

Of course I'm going to say this: We must remind ourselves that if there is any chance of us dying, and at last count that would be 100% of us, we really need to make arrangements for our pets. That may sound insensitive but it's not as insensitive as neglecting to make sure a beloved pet has a secure future.

This guy's story will have a happy ending, though, because he's an adorable sausage of a dog who will be everyone's favorite. I took him out for a walk and some photos and he was very well mannered on leash and sat whenever I stopped. He's easily trainable with a gentle, owner focused personality.

By the time I got back from the walk, a new dog had just been brought in - another owner surrender, again for the same forgettable reasons. This one was an 8 month old puppy. She seemed a little scared but was highly affectionate, constantly trying to crawl between my legs, and quite submissive. All the experts at TAS say she's a Lab/Pointer cross so that's what she is.



Hopefully, both these two wonderful companion dogs will be on the adoption floor before too long.

Update on Scooby here and here.

Update on Pomelle

Some photos from Pomelle's (now Ellie) new owners:

Snorgasborg

Just in:

Max - always smiling

Liz - sis to Goldie

Goldie - sis to Liz

Dug - two handfuls of cotton candy

Unnamed Pointer - velvety puppy fur

Joe - your best friend

No nose

(Revised 12:31 A.M., January 7)

Pomelle is an owner surrender. Apparently, her "nose is gone". Hmmm. Looks like it's still there to me.


Later, I learn that "nose is gone" refers to the fact that a dog no longer wants to hunt. I guess Pomelle should consider herself lucky that her owner, someone who enjoys animal bloodsports, decided to dump her off rather than kill her off.

Addendum:

Here are 2 links about hunting dogs from opposing viewpoints,

http://www.hsus.org/wildlife_abuse/campaigns/bears/hounding/hound_hunting.html

http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/commentary/wb/147307

Here are some links to videos of hunting dogs in action. You may lose your lunch, especially when you hear the man laughing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2MyfAPQHXY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-yHQRHdrnY

Daily dog: Gus

Daily dog: unnamed English Pointer

Unnamed English Pointer

Daily dog: Baxter, Pointer

Baxter, Pointer pup

Letters

A few weeks ago, Gudrun asked me about adopting an older dog. She's only ever had cats but decided to bring a dog into her household and she knew that it was the older ones that had a harder time finding homes.

I showed her a few candidates at Toronto Animal Services and she went out to other shelters and perused Petfinder but for one reason or another, things hadn't worked out.

Last weekend, a 9 year old female pointer was brought into TAS.

Hi Gudrun.

Just let me know when I start sending too much old dog stuff your way.

There's an old, mid sized pointer cross at the pound. She (I think it's a she) is 8 - 9 year and has a very sweet disposition, great on a leash but she's also not doing so well right now so that may affect her personality. James thinks she may have been hit by a car. She's a bit of a basketcase actually, so that's something you'll want to really think about before you decide on her. She's got an eye infection, a bandaged foot (from the car accident?), possibly some kidney illness and just generally unhealthy. James thinks that with some TLC and vet money, this might all go away. Then again, she might not last a month.

I don't know if you're up for taking a dog home just to watch it possibly get sicker and die because that's the risk here with this old girl. End of life care, in other words. If you're concerned about vet bills, and I would be because of the possibility of kidney infection, I'd say she needs a check-up at which point the vet will give you a bunch of options, some of which will run upwards of hundreds of dollars just for testing, but in this case, the best option would be to just do a blood test then put her on antibiotics for a couple of weeks if necessary and see what happens. So, for something like that, you're looking at about $300. I suspect James may forego making you pay the adoption fees in this case so you'll save there, but don't quote me on that. Of course there may be no infection at all, in which case, no worries.

I'm giving you the worst case scenario because I don't want to mislead you into adopting a dog you can't take care and then feeling bad about it. Of course, she may very well turn out like Rocky and make a full recovery. Either way, she'll appreciate being in your company more than in a kennel. If you decide you're interested, give me a call (or James) because animal services won't be putting her up for general adoption so a special arrangement to see her will have to be made. Later, Fred

Well, I'd like to meet her. I'm not sure if I can deal with such a sick dog but I'd like to help if I can. Do you think I could go meet her today at lunch or around 3:00? Should I call James or do you have time to introduce me to her? Gudrun

I'm not sure if James is in today so I can take you over at 3. Meet at the same place in front of N...? In the meanwhile, here's her link. Fred

Sounds good - see you at 3:00 at the same place. She looks cute and sad. Gudrun

The pointer was already looking better than when I first saw her on the weekend. Her lacerations were healing well; her eyes seemed to have cleared up a bit; and, she wasn't limping as much. In fact, I was mistaken about her not pulling on a leash. Now she was pulling - not much but leash training would be a necessity.

After a walk around the block, Gudrun and I sat down on a bench with the pointer and checked her out a bit more. Fatty lumps and bumps in a few places, dirty ears, bad teeth. The pointer was fine with the poking and prodding. She was a bit distracted by the outside sights, sounds and scents but eventually warmed up to us and came over for a head nuzzle.

Back inside, I told Gudrun that the pointer came in as a stray and so would be classified as lost for 7 days which meant there would still be a few days to think about it.

"And what happens to her after that?" she asked.

I thought about what I should say. I didn't want guilt to be the determining factor in her decision but then I couldn't think of a way to gloss over the truth. So I didn't.

"There is no after," I said. The policy at TAS is to euthanize dogs deemed too old or too sick and this one was both.

Gudrun decided to take the dog. She filled out some forms while I took the pointer back to her kennel.

A few days later:

Hi Gudrun, I talked to James today and he says that he can let you take the old gal home for a couple of days to see how it goes if you'd like. I think she can be released anytime now (although he'll hold her for you for a few days if you're not ready for her yet) so you might give James a call to work out the details. Let me know what you decide.

James just called me, so yes, I guess I'll be fostering her. I'm going to take her home with me after going to the airport to pick up those other dogs. This will give me a chance to get some supplies for having a dog in the house. Gudrun

Sounds good. I'm really glad you'll be taking the pointer home.

Still, I felt uneasy about her decision. Guilt is no way to start a relationship with a dog. Later that evening, I called her and left her a message saying it was never too late to back out.

Got your message from last night - not to worry I still want to take care of Gretel (the old pointer - Julian's idea for a name because James said we needed to fatten her up before she gets fixed). I picked up some things for her last night when I went to get one of the film submissions from Jola's store, the Good Catch, some biscuits and a bone, some biodegradable poop bags. I'll get some other things at lunch from the store by xxxx. Gudrun

I talked to her after helping her with the car seats and she was getting enthusiastic about the pointer. She was trying to decide between calling it Gretel or Granny. She'd gotten a bunch of dog supplies already and that evening was going to pick up a couple of duvets at Valu Village to fold up and use as dog beds.

The following afternoon, I was with Gudrun when she went to pick up Granny Gretel. She told me she had already gotten a couple of duvets and a bunch of dog food, treats, a collar and a leash.

When we arrived at TAS, Granny Gretel was more spirited than ever and the bandage was off her back foot. GG came along for a long car ride as we went to drop someone off. Very well behaved in the car. We stopped off at my place so I could pass along some doggie shampoo and a muzzle (just in case - Gudrun's got cats). I took a couple of photos and then Gudrun and Granny Gretel got back in the car and drove off.