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| Blog
by: Renee Robins, ACO, Owen Sound Animal Shelter |
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----------------------- Recent Posts ----------------------- |
Dec
31,
2010 _____________________________________________________________________________ |
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| U
Turn; Christmas Update; Vote; Weather Report from the Front; Rabbits; Excess Weight; Winter has Arrived!; White Sox; White Sox is Adopted; It's in The Bag; Christmas Schedule; Merry Christmas; Christmas at the Shelter; Christmas Chaos; Happy New Year;
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Happy New Year - It is the last day of 2010, and as I type this I am filled with an incredible feeling of appreciation, gratitude, and an overwhelming feeling of pride. The year started with sadness, distrust, anger, hurt, and many uncertainties. I was unsure as to what the year would hold and was unsure the Owen Sound Animal Shelter would even continue. With all my heart I wanted to see us continue, to expand, to grow and to continue to do what we do best, and that is save lives. To make a difference, to do all that we could to make lives better for pets, and their people is all I had hoped for the year and forever. In only 12 months, from that date, we have not only continued on, but have surpassed all expectations. We have obtained new contracts, expanded the areas we now cover, have altered even more than ever, and have placed hundreds in homes. (I had hoped to have totals for alters and adoptions by this blog, however ... seems this may be in a blog to come.) I can say with certainty, we have had the best year ever for adoptions, and have saved even more than years past. We have had renovations done at the facility, to improve and upgrade, and we continue to make the Shelter here a home and as comfortable as possible for those that wait.
The first part of Daisy's life story was very unpleasant. She was tied to a tree with a chain, and fed only every few days to sustain her. Given limited attention, and little personal contact she lead a terrible life. She had litters of puppies. When her last litter froze to death she was surrendered to me. And last, but never least ... Bruno Many who were on death's door were saved and found loving homes, even when we were sure they would not make it. They like us, survived despite the odds, to do better than ever. I am humbled by the support
received for the Owen Sound Animal Shelter, and cannot thank you enough. It is only with your support we can do what we do, and with my whole heart I thank you today.
Because of your support, we can be here again tomorrow finding forever
homes for many who have lost theirs. Happy New Year and all the best in
2011.
Dec
29,
2010 Christmas Chaos - It feels like forever for me since I had updated the site to post pictures, or adoptions or really anything except puppy adoptions. Really it has not been so long has it? Today, a new pooch I've known a little while was added, as his neuter was completed and I suspect tomorrow will result in a few more additions as they have now moved to adoptable too. I do hope their time on the available page is short-lived and that they are posted as adopted super soon. It is way more fun for me to post them as adopted after all vs. available. There were a few additions to these pages too :) Please keep your eye on the website if you're looking for a pet, as the pages change regularly. This is good news for me and my homeless friends. With the Christmas chaos behind
us ... it is time to see some who have been posted a little while find
their forever home! Dec
28,
2010 Christmas at the Shelter - There was a snowman toy for Nikki and jingle bell for Wikki a new bed for Mabel and a Scratcher for Sad Eyes. Sunny loves her new mouse! It was jingle and squeaks, meow and purr by lunchtime Christmas day and a short time after there was barking and crunching as each dog enjoyed their new chews.
This proved to be a little messy by boxing day, unfortunately, but watching street cats enjoy a day with catnip, or dogs once hungry chew on a big bone all their own made it all worth while.
Christmas for me for the last 11 years has been about making sure each has been well spoiled despite their time without a family, and once again I left satisfied that each felt extra special. This makes a better day for us all.
I am hopeful that next
Christmas will be even better for each, as I hope to find all a loving forever home. If only
Santa could bring those we would be all set. (And, I would get a day off!
ha ha ha) Dec
23,
2010 Merry Christmas - As the big day is upon us, we are filled with warm thoughts of the season. We celebrate our successes and take pride in all the good we have done. With each Christmas message, donation of food, blankets or litter I am thankful. As the updates and happy tails arrive my heart is happy for all that you have done. Your support is humbling, and your compassion makes the job I do better. Without you Owen Sound Animal Shelter is a sad place at Christmas time. Instead, we are full of hope for what is to come, excited to see what lays ahead and are pleased to know you are here to help us along the way. It has been a year of struggles and challenges, and for each of you I am thankful. Tis the season of compassion and because of all of you we still have it. As we wind up for the
Christmas giving (you know they all make Santa's good list) I am already reminding them they have been given the greatest gift, the gift of life. For that they owe you too!
Dec
21,
2010 Christmas Schedule- If you are looking to adopt a pet for the holidays, please ensure you are adopting that pet for life. Consider the next 15 or more years. We will not open for you to return your pet, nor will we open for you to trade it for another. All monies will be kept on the return of a Christmas pet. However, if you have been looking, have considered all and know the commitment you are now facing, and now is the right time for you, please, check our scheduled hours. During this time we will be happy to assist you.
In the event of a missing pet, or an emergency we will still be available to take your calls. Dec
20,
2010 It's in The Bag - Tis the season for giving, a time for caring, a time to love and show compassion. It's a time we celebrate and a time to give thanks. However, it seems somebody used this as a time to take advantage, or to be less compassionate at the very least to three kittens. Three kittens placed in a plastic bag and left at the church :( I am sure this was not the sort of donation the church was hoping for any more than it was for us. I suppose their being alive and well is worth being happy for, and that their finders knew who to call, and were kind to them.
I suppose
it's worth celebrating that it was not any colder, and that they were found before they became any hungrier.
I am thankful they are well despite what was handed to them. I am thankful they will have a
Merry Christmas even if it's behind bars, it beats a home where someone would bag them. Dec
16,
2010 White Sox is Adopted - Awww man even harder than bringing her back to the Shelter, even harder than seeing her behind bars and watching her face light up each time she saw me, even harder than her spay was saying goodbye today. I have been there, done that with so many I have loved you'd think I'd get use to it? But, sadly no. I was not there when she left, and those who know me well, know this is typical - I avoid it. Having said my goodbyes this morning it was easier. I trust she is in good hands and as always my parts will remain crossed until that update comes. The best part is seeing them go home even if it does mean loosing them. Good
luck white sox, gone are your days of foraging for food and competing with
many others, gone are your days of feeding puppies, I hope for you now the
best of days, I know you deserve it. Dec
15,
2010 White Sox - We were back in operation today, quite literally as today was another surgery day. On the list was eight cats and one dog whom I lovingly call White Sox.
White Sox the first on the list, and the one most anticipated, as she was my foster dog. She the momma of those 12 babes and she the dog I loved as my own for almost as many weeks. I struggled with her return, have struggled in finding her an acceptable home (as mostly I wanted to keep her) and today struggled with her spay. I did not tell the doc I worried for her as one nervous person was enough. Of course all went well, with the exception of a bit more blood, but it was still nerve racking. With White Sox's spay now complete she is ready to go home. It will be with excitement I will see her go, and with a bit of sadness. I sure hope they keep in touch as it will make things easier.
White Sox, like many loved before her - thousands really, will always have a place in my heart.
Dec
14,
2010 Winter has Arrived! - It has become a winter wonderland in a very short time, what with the snow that has been dumped on all of us for the last few days. Roads are closed, the weather is not something any of us want to be out in and the City and communities are at a stand still while we wait for it to clear. The Shelter has been operating with less hours, as realistically there is no adoption worth dying over and the public does not have to get to us immediately. Although, it's sad to have no adoptions, it is better to get some in a few days as the people are OK to make them, rather than the alternative. Be safe! I need to make sure that everyone knows, all of my furry friends are well. All are fed, warm, and dry, all have been cared for as they always are each day, and that we have it all under control. It is perhaps one of those times in which I celebrate these creatures being with me.
I celebrate that they are not outside in the weather, not cold and not hungry.
I watch the horrible weather outside and feel the cold, and I am thankful those with me are all
OK. I worry about those in need who are not with me and are forced to live
on the cold streets. While we brace for the snow to clear and for the sun to come
out again, keep those on the streets in your thoughts. Dec
10,
2010 Excess Weight - Tonight I am laughing, laughing at myself, this blog comes to you so you can get a kick out of it too. A call came in to gather a stray dog from the 6th St hill. This dog I should add is on the hill. I park quickly, in the line of traffic and jump to gather her. This very large fat lab, I am going to guess 90 lbs, is quickly leashed and jumping and bouncing and walking to the vehicle. I open the back, while stopping traffic, and she refuses to enter. Now standing on the road, I ask again, and she won't budge. Knowing that I can lift her, however, not very delicately I am pretty certain it's going to be less than professional so as an alternative, I offer her the front seat. This she has no problem with and in no time at all she is in and we are on our way. I must, now, mention this means me driving with one hand on the wheel, one hand on the dog who is trying as hard as she can to get into the back seat. Then it happened ... bing bing bing bing ... the vehicle is now making a funny noise. I pull over, and put it in park, turn it off, cursing! I turn it on, all is OK, and I drive on ... bing bing bing bing. Again, I stop, turn it off, and wait, turn it on, and do it again. All is OK, driving again, and bing bing bing ... frustrated I check the gages and notice the seat belt lights are on. Ah ha, so I check my belt, that's not it, still driving, one hand on the dog I am checking the belt again, open it, close it ... bing bing bing. As I approach the last corner to the shelter, it occurs to me - duh ... it's the dog!! The dog, on the passenger seat, weighs as much as a human!! The seat thinks someone should buckle up.
OOOPS. What a hoot! Next time, the dog will wear a seat belt ;p Dec 8,
2010 Rabbits - Hooray for the rabbit adoptions!!! After weeks of housing them and messaging everyone I could think of our three ladies have gone home. We do well with adoptions with rabbits, in comparison to other shelters
- quite well in fact, however, after nearly a dozen rabbits in this year it seems we
had used up our resources. (Here's hoping we don't have any in for a while till the resources come again) We have been under construction the last week.
Floors are being redone. This is a big inconvenience for us, but may have helped out these bunnies.
They had been kept in the cat room and spent the last few weeks on the desk as the room was unavailable.
They were showcased in a different light and this sure worked out for them.
Hooray! Wonder if I should sit Finn on the desk? Dec 7,
2010 Weather Report from the Front - Today the Owen Sound Animal Shelter attended Hanover, Saugeen Shores, Saugeen reserve, and Cape Crocker. The radio warning of bad weather and slippery roads were frequent reminders updated every half hour. While listening I contemplated suggesting that people call us for the road conditions as we knew exactly how they were today - I had traveled all of them. Three cats gathered, two dogs chased, two persons warned and then I returned to the Shelter quite cold and awfully tired of driving. It's a shame, I thought, that as the storm rolls in and the weather gets bad we are fast to think on keeping ourselves safe (this I have no complaints with, please be careful out there) but sadly many forget about keeping their pets safe. Not only is it way to cold outside, the dangers increase for them too, cars can't break easily,
people can't see them, the risk of poisoning increases, the dangers associated with warming increase too (cats climbing under cars for example).
I suppose this is me making my annual announcement. 'Winters here, be
careful with your pets too!' Dec 6,
2010 Vote - Our Shelter friend Harley wants to remind everyone to vote for the Shelter at the animalrescuesite.com...
_______________________________________________________________________________________ Dec 2,
2010 Christmas Update - Christmas is in the air! Saturday we spent the day with Santa, thanks to Pet Valu. Many old friends attended, and some new.
All loved pets got a chance to meet the big guy and tell him how good they have been. Special thanks to Pet Valu for hosting the event once again, and thanks to the supporters once again for making it worthwhile.
Over $300.00 dollars was raised to keep us operating. Thank you to Santa! Thank you to Teri, and Di for being the best elves! Thank you to jenny for taking the great pics can't wait to see them finished.
With the snow and the Santa day behind us, we now prepare for the big day. Here is where I say the Christmas socks are back! Stuffed stockings can be purchased now, until we run out at $3.oo each. Treats for your good four-legged family members, that help us treat the homeless, is a wonderful way to get into the Christmas spirit! We are also accepting donations as gifts to persons from you. They will get a letter acknowledging your gift, and of course you get a tax receipt for donations over $15.00. For a
small donation, you can use Paypal, we will also be putting together a
rolling Christmas listing as we have in the past. Get those names ready
and we will post your Christmas shout-outs to your loved ones. Dec 1,
2010 U Turn - We were nearing the end of another successful surgery day, when the call came in. With two cat spays left to do, it seemed it would be no big deal to drive to Hanover for a found dog. The call as it was, a dog found at Zellers was taken to the home of a caring finder, who agreed to hold it until I arrived. Although I am not the best night time driver, nor the best winter driver, I opted to go, knowing Todd likely the best surgery assistant in the event there was something funny to happen (which chances are usually happens when he's away). I left the shelter shortly after 3:30 pm assuming my return would be approx 5:30 pm with dog in hand. Someday I will learn not to assume. By the corners in Rockford it started to snow, and ten minutes later I was in a blizzard, and driving in four wheel, luckily I had my GPS (affectionately known as the talking box) to guide and direct me as visibility was poor. We traveled along, me driving near blindly, and were making pretty good time considering. Then it happened, her voice changed from "right turn in three kilometers" to suddenly, "make a legal U turn". Odd I thought as I had not heard her tell me to turn to miss something, however, when clear I reversed it. I drove again, a few kilometers, and it happened again " make a legal U turn". IT was snowing heavily, it was now dark, it was possible I missed seeing the road I was to turn, however, I was pretty certain I had not heard her tell me to take it. So again I reversed. Again came the message " make a legal U turn". After doing doughnuts for what felt like forever ( I reversed about four times) I pulled over, and called the person with the dog. It seems there road was new, and it crossed over the lake and well the GPS could not find it. So with directions in hand, I was off, to wherever there was. I drove over a lake. I drove over another lake and suddenly her voice came back "you have arrived" go figure. The travel which should have been an hour, was now two. A well groomed, and well mannered pup gathered in no time, we were loaded and hoping to make better time on the return trip as at least now I knew I had to cross the water. As I started the ignition, a woman from inside the home stopped me." wait, we found the owner!" As I began to speak the words " please let me speak with them, and can I get there information I was interrupted with the message "...I told them you were bringing her home" and a paper was handed to me with an address on it. Although I was not impressed my goal was to get this pup home safe and sound the other details I would figure out later, and I was off. With new address in the talking box, I was off. I drove again in the dark and in the snow storm, seeing little until I heard those magic words " You have arrived".
As I peered at the home in the dark, which had no lights on, I could not see the
address, so I walked to the door and rang the bell, and as it turns out it was the wrong house. So I tried again, again the wrong house.
Back in the vehicle, I began to drive up and down the road, now with head out the window peering for a matching house number, nothing. I did this I am afraid to say for over 20 minutes. Luckily I had the owners home
telephone number - I thought.. So pulling over, I called it, to find the number was not in service.
In a predicament, I called the finder back, who told me she was having a bad day (here is where I say, this is now a three hour call)
she looks up number in phone book, and address. Turns out, she had written down wrong address, and wrong phone number. A two hour call, became a four hour call, and the worst I must say was the last 15 minutes. After all of the circles, the headaches, and then bad travel I ended up behind a tractor. A very slow moving 5 km an hour tractor who rode up the center of the road, again in the dark, in the snow. It was the longest 15 minutes ever. I am thrilled to be home,
typing this blog now and sure hoping that the pager is done for the night, now dog less, likely money less for that call, tired and frozen. Was a lesson learned??
yes ... next time send Todd! |
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