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| Blog
by: Renee Robins, ACO, Owen Sound Animal Shelter |
December 2011 |
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------------------- Recent Posts ------------------- |
Dec
24, 2011 _____________________________________________________________________________ |
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Manx Named Jack Dog Stolen in Collingwood Only One Dog? Elmo Here Come the Puppies CAA to the Rescue Warm Weather Two Safe Chaos Christmas Pet Safety Tips Thank You to the Zoo Merry Christmas |
Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas to our fantastic supporters, adopters, volunteers and helpers! With hundreds of animals saved (perhaps thousands), given food, shelter, medical care, comfort, compassion and placed in loving and caring homes, I am giving thanks this holiday. It is only with the help and support from you that we can do what we can do. And, my gift to each of you is my thanks. Please take a moment to consider the damaged and broken - those who are left or lost on the streets. Consider the fate they face. Now, kindly think of them living the lives of loved pets, with all they need, healthy and happy. This happy thought, keeps me doing what I do. It drives my team, and it is the gift we receive with every adoption. There is no greater gift then knowing lives have been altered, and changed for the better. This gift I share with you.
Thank you for helping me do what I do. All the best of the season to you
and your family.
Dec 22,
2011 Thank You to the Zoo - Tomorrow on the Mix Morning Zoo, we will host the last Zoo of 2011. As I celebrate another fantastic year, I wish a special merry Christmas to the all guests of prior shows. In the event you missed any of the shows, here is the list of guests, in no particular order :) Merry Christmas to:
Thank you to the Mix
Morning Zoo, because of you, we do what we do better!
Dec 21,
2011 Christmas
Pet Safety Tips - Here is a blog I ran across with some good tips on Christmas safety for
your pets. Remember that Christmas is a stressful time for both you and
your pet and some things are made more stressful if you aren't aware of
them. Click
here to read the blog...»
Dec 20,
2011 Chaos - We are all now in the midst of Christmas chaos. Our schedules are all scattered as are our brains, as we make lists, plan, prep and run to fit it all in. As we struggle to reach our Christmas goals, sadly our pets don't always make our priority, or our pets happiness. This is not going to be a blog about those who have called me in the last few weeks to surrender their pets as: a) they were going to Florida, b) can't have the pet in the house with company, or c) can't afford the pet and Christmas. That just ruins my "merry"! It will not be about those who asked to trade a dog for cat, or those who forgot they put the dog outside. Instead, it is a reminder that a distressed human often causes a distressed pet. A distressed pet often ends up homeless. This blog instead
is perhaps a reminder to take a five minute break and walk the dog which
can eliminate two stresses, as the chaos will slip away and cancel out a problem
or two!
Dec 16,
2011 Two Safe - There has been a dark cloud over my head all week. There is a sadness that I have been carrying. Last week, two pound facilities contacted me and both had dogs where their time was up. One had held them weeks waiting for space with me. The dogs so close to death, and me with a little room had agreed to take them. The others were told very soon I hoped to help. Other rescues were on it and I was sure the dog would find sanctuary. On Monday, I heard the sad news, that the time was up and the dog had been killed. I recognize that I can't help them all, I realize this is not my fault or my call, but that sadness is still there especially when I remember the loving eyes and kind face (yes, they sent pictures). As I struggle to focus on those we have helped, the two
new dogs which have been called Talulah and Betty Davis would have met the same fate,
and are now alive and well. Both these dogs are wonderful and will find homes fast.
I'm hoping luck will keep others safe until they can also be freed.
Dec 15,
2011 Warm Weather - Dec 15 and it's 14 degrees. Who would have thought that would happen. I personally am thrilled, as I usually drive great distances daily, trek in pursuit of creatures in waist deep snow often, who scrapes half frozen cats off the sides of the roads and tends to frostbitten dogs. It makes my day easier to not have cold and snow. It makes the heartache smaller and when I retire for the night I'm not entirely frozen from my travels. I am, however, concerned. Today, I spotted two raccoons and a fox. All three very confused. The cats at the shelter not yet altered are now all in heat and it seems mother nature has my friends thinking spring is in the air. If they are breeding ... does this mean February babies? YIKES! I'm pleased for the warm weather, but only for me. I am concerned for those who normally
sleep for the winter. I hope as always that my worry is for nothing, and the warm weather is perhaps an early gift from the stars.
Dec 14,
2011 CAA to the Rescue - There was an early morning switcheroo where I exited my vehicle and a cat jumped in. Normally, as the dog-cat catcher, this feat would be exciting as my job would be a whole lot easier, but sadly instead it made things so much more complicated. When the door shut the noise startled the cat. A startled cat panics, a panicked cat darts to the windows, climbing, arms flailing - flailing arms, jumping cat in panic steps on the door lock button and voila the doors lock.
What happened next was an upheaval of my entire day of plans - I was thankful for CAA, but not too thankful as these things take up so much needed time out of my very busy day. So, CAA to the rescue and the Rascal was free and I was too. As I thanked the CAA
attendant, he assured me that although this was his first cat call he had, it was only his first locked vehicle of the day.
Apparently, this is a regular occurrence as our pooches normally are the culprit.
It seems someone should invent an anti-pet stepping on your lock and locking
the doors device? Or maybe this is yet another reason to leave your pets home?
Dec 12,
2011 Here Come the Puppies - This could have been Friday's blog, but with hesitation, fears of jinxing it I waited. I am a little more confident in saying as the weekend has now passed all of our long timers have gone home. Whoot whoot! Sadly, poor Bubba a beagle basset mix from another location who ran out of time ended up with us as a saved boy, but not with a home for way too long. Gary, similar in circumstance, as he too was from another location and his time was up - also ironically a beagle basset mix. I guess the market for hounds with no history is not good. Few inquired about either of them or gave them even a second glance. I must admit neither were particularly becoming, but both sported a heart of gold. Once again, I am thankful we don't have time limits, or discriminate based on breed or age as these two have now moved on to forever homes (parts crossed) as we gave them the time to find it. Although, I will worry for weeks still with the uncertainty of whether they have found forever (those first few weeks are tough). I am pleased non-the-less that they have been given a chance. Apparently, they moved home just in time, as no sooner did they go were their cages filled with
others ... puppies anyone? While, I hope their second chances come a whole lot faster I am glad they are with me.
Thankfully those adoptions permitted that to happen.
Dec 8,
2011 Elmo - Today, we had a visit from Elmo! He who came to us mostly naked, after having chewed himself raw, flea infested and with terrible allergies, smelling much like tacos (if your dog has allergies you know what I'm talking about). He was itchy, uncomfortable, and so terribly sad. He sat and sulked for days, and then weeks. It did not take a tremendous amount of vet care to make him well, but sadly he was still quite pitiful. He was well mannered, and knowledgeable of many tricks surely had been a beloved pet, but to see him you would never believe it.
He was by far the dog you would expect to see homeless by stereotype. I remember being super excited when she inquired about him, as finally someone had looked beyond his surface. I remember his adoption and praying he would not return, for fear he would again slip into depression. Funny looking hard to place, funny looking and not talking to the world near impossible.
Thank goodness those prayers were answered! He is in his loving home, spoiled, eating good food, vetted, and man oh man he is gorgeous!
I nearly didn't recognize him.
He is as I suspected super in the home, well behaved, and was an easy addition.
His good looks now match his charm. I'm tickled. (Tickle me Elmo, lol)
Dec 7,
2011 Only One Dog? - Thanks to some wonderful adoptions (yeah Bubba, yeah Gary) our dog adoption page has a lone dog on the page. Before you jump up and down in celebration (although great adoptions are worth celebrating) this does not mean the dog room is empty. Sadly we are not out of dogs, and if you stay tuned new arrivals will be posted soon. Victory, Patience, Brittany and two others are waiting. They are so close to being ready - but, not yet. There are two others also in a reclaiming period and wait for their owners to come ... or will seek new homes soon. There is another in testing. What this means unfortunately is that there are those behind bars waiting for their second chance and waiting to make their debut. This also means, if you are considering a dog, and don't see something you are looking for, contact me. There is a chance it's waiting. The ideal scenario would be for them to be snatched up the moment they are ready to go. They have, after all, been waiting long enough. Until such day I retire, as we run out of homeless pets (that would be nice) you may send me what you are looking for, and I can help you find it. There is a good chance it is behind cage doors in our Shelter. This aside, Hoover is posted
and sure would like to be adopted and in his new forever home for
Christmas. He has been seeking his second chance a while now. Let me tell
you more about Hoover ... he is a Beagle mix who loves everyone. He is
good with dogs, but chases cats in play. He is neutered, vaccinated, 4-5
years of age and loves everyone. He knows his name, how to come, sit,
stay, sit pretty, and can dance for treats. He is house trained [has never
had a mess] and crate trained. Just a good boy! If you are looking for an
absolute doll, Hoover is your man!
Dec 5,
2011 Dog Stolen in Collingwood - Monday, December 5, 2011
Homemade dog cookies
- $5.00 each.
Special thanks to McKenna and Josie from St. Josephs, in Port Elgin, for all their support.
Dec 2,
2011 A Manx Named Jack - Ten years ago, give or take a few, a black and white male Manx named Jack was surrendered to the Shelter. This cat with a half tail stayed with us a short while and was adopted to a loving home. His owner cherished him until the day he died. This a few months ago.
After finding his home was not near the same without having Jack in it, this kind man choose to seek out another. Imagine his surprise to find another black and white Manx named Jack. Before you think this is a common
occurrence - in all my years of rescue and placing hundred, even thousands of homeless
cats - there have been only two that I can recall. And before you think
it's rigged, I didn't name either cat, I do not recall this man, nor did I
know of his poor cat's fate. It was all coincidence! Or, perhaps, as he has put
it 'a little too ironic'. Whatever the reason, I'm OK with it ... and Jack
2nd has now gone to his forever home.
The Christmas stockings are out - we have dog and cat treats for Christmas for only $3.00 each - get them while supplies last! Don't forget we have the 2012 calendar also available as Christmas gifts at just $10.00 each. |
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2000-2011 © Owen Sound Animal Shelter. All rights reserved. |
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