|
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||
| Blog
by: Renee Robins, ACO Owen Sound Animal Shelter |
June 2012 |
||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
------------------- Recent Posts ------------------- |
June
29, 2012 _____________________________________________________________________________ |
||||||||||||
| Let
the Strutt Begin Three Great Hounds Rescues The Pups Have Arrived Update Photography Fundraiser Our Supporters for the Strutt Wire Coated Pointing Griffons Mutt Strutt was a Success Mutt Strutt for Spay/Neuter Fund 33 Celsius Dog Locked in Vehicle Remember Our Van Gogh Cats Outdoors Fireworks |
Fireworks - Happy Canada Day! This is to let you know that the Owen Sound Animal Shelter will be closed to the public Monday in celebration and honour of our great country. We will, however, continue to spend hours feeding, cleaning, medicating and providing TLC when the Shelter is closed, but, we promise we will be on standby the moment the pager sings, and sadly it seems to do so more on holidays. We will, in all likelihood, continue to have animals in need come in, and sadly many of these will be in distress. Truthfully, we often work harder on "off days". The closed facility does, however, mean if you're considering a new addition to your family, you must come see us Saturday. Saturday we will be open 9am-5pm as per usual. If you were planning a visit on your off day, sorry please reschedule. We really do want to see you as our cages are nearly full ... and likely will be fuller by Tuesday. Have a great long weekend! Don't
forget your animals during all the fireworks shows and special
entertainment your neighbours may have. Remember a lot of animals are
truly scared of the loud noises and will run away in any direction but
where the noise is coming from. If you lose your animal, please contact
us. June
27, 2012 Cats Outdoors - I will apologize, in advance, for the pictures you are about to see. I do not apologize for posting them as I believe there is a lesson to be learned and an example given. I will not ask for your prayers as my friend has passed. There are times when it becomes more humane to say goodbye and this, I sincerely believe was one of those times. I will, however, request that you keep this boy in your thoughts (these images may hurt for a while), but I am posting for you to spread the words I am about to preach. I hope with all my heart, this is something I will never see again and it never happens again.
My friend was found as a stray, clearly unwell, emaciated, found lethargic and crying in pain. It was apparent that this cat had a problem. We found a wound above the tail, but his long hair made it a challenge to see the extent of the damage. He was unhappy with handling, and only under sedation could we clean and shave him to unveil what was happening. A wound on his leg, it appears, attracted flies that laid eggs and as he was a stray and nobody noticed, it was left untreated and the wound became filled with parasites which began to consume him alive. Hundreds feasted on his legs, tail and abdomen. Hundreds more entered his body and ate their way into him. It was impossible to rid him of them and make him whole again. A decision was made to release him from the pain he certainly endured. Please, please, please, if you must allow your pets to go out, please remember nature can be terribly cruel. His death was entirely preventable. His suffering could have been avoided. In his memory, I hope with all my heart that this image helps to prevent others from suffering as he did. COMMENT(S)
June
25, 2012 Remember Our Van Gogh - Remember my friend Van Gogh He was a 3 1/2 week old–ish , unweaned and barely old enough to be away from mom and dumped on our doorstep. He not only needing care and mothering was in dire need of help, especially as he came to us with a damaged ear. He was in urgent need and was also at great risk to be in a place filled with other cats, potentially with germs, and a place of high stress. The odds for him, although better than on the street, were not by any means good. I worried about him from the moment I set eyes on him.
Thankfully, I have a tremendous team, and one of my staff,
Heather, volunteered to take him home. She became his foster mom, fed him and wiped his bum around the clock, and gave meds to treat his infection.
I am pleased to say one month later this boy, now known as Chester is alive, well, and wonderful.
(There is also a good chance he has also found a new home shhhh!) June
21, 2012 Dog Locked in Vehicle - The temperature was over 33c... if you see a dog locked in the car, phone the police immediately. The temperature of a closed car in the sun is enough to cook a dog alive. Date:
Thursday Jun. 21, 2012 6:08 PM ET A
man and woman, believed to be in their 20s, returned to their car Thursday
afternoon after a dog that was left sitting in the vehicle during a heat
wave escaped and ran onto the busy Gardiner Expressway. The
trio did not speak to media, but picked up a note left on their dashboard
by police before driving away. Their
arrival marked the end of an afternoon incident for Parker, a Mastiff-mix,
who made a daring run through traffic along Toronto's downtown Gardiner
Expressway before stopping to rest in the shade of a stopped vehicle. The
dog was spotted running along the Gardiner's eastbound lanes, near its
Yonge Street offramp, at about 1 p.m., as vehicles slowed to pass the
animal.
The
dog's escape happened shortly after Toronto police were called to the
Loblaw grocery store parking lot at Jarvis Street and Queens Quay, after
they were alerted to a dog left inside a parked car that had B.C. licence
plates. "He
was panting heavily," said police Const. Matt Buss. "He was
agitated, the closer we got to the car, but once we managed to gain some
trust with him, we opened the door and we got the leash on him." The
officers started to give the dog some water, but the animal pulled out of
the leash and ran. The dog made its way up a ramp onto the Gardiner
Expressway. Toronto
police said the dog was exhausted after being trapped inside the
overheated parked car and it stopped to rest in the shadow of a van that
had stopped on the Gardiner. Animals
left inside parked cars on hot days are at in danger of overheating,
police have warned. A dog died after being left in a car parked outside
the Vaughan Mills Mall earlier this month. Toronto
police said they have responded to 152 reports of dogs left in parked cars
this week. After
waiting nearly three hours for the dog's owners to return to their parked
car, the officers left a message, saying that the dog had been taken to
Animal Services. Animal
Services reported the dog to be in good condition. The
owners are expected to face charges when they pick up their dog. June
20, 2012 33 Celsius - Today, the temperature soared. Most of the day the gauge in the vehicle read 33 but at times that rose to 36. In areas with no wind or shade it felt like potentially 38 or 39. In many ways my job got easier, you see few dogs run in the heat, they tend to just sleep. Cats crawl into hiding, wildlife disappears until things cool and for the most part the pager rests too.
There were, however, many calls about pets in distress and sadly the incidents of bites will be on the rise too.
A distressed pet is also cranky! Speaking of cranky, that is where the job has become more challenging. Those we are speaking with are hot and
bothered as well. I'm not sure if I should be hoping for a cool front or
not! Anything beats 100 degrees Fahrenheit!
June
19, 2012 Mutt Strutt for Spay/Neuter Fund - The totals are in, with monies sorted and sent to the Spay/Neuter, Medical Fund Account. Receipts to follow ASAP! Sadly, I believe the attendance numbers were down, but depite this, and in lieu of dedicated participants we raised over two thousand dollars! This money will help potentially over fifty and maybe even a hundred homeless pets! Please take the time to count them out over the months to follow, see their faces, and meet each you have helped go home. Animals like Bo and Frosty who surely would have died and who now live in loving homes. Animals like Kita who needed her tail removed recently to be saved following an accident in which it was crushed.
And those we will meet soon who will need veterinary care to get a second chance.
It is wonderful to make a difference, so glad we can do it longer. June
18, 2012 Mutt Strutt was a Success - Every now and again I loose faith in humanity. Truthfully, it often feels more like every now and less like than. The reality is that I often deal with difficult people who lie, people without compassion, and people who care very little about anything but themselves. There are those who hurt each other, hurt animals, and/or neglect to do what is right. On the other side, I do see the best of people, and each time I do, I try to hold to the moment tightly to wash out all the others. When I say it is only with the support I can do what I do; I mean this whole heartedly. I would burn out and likely find a hole to crawl into. On Saturday we held our 5th Annual Mutt Strutt and I was given the opportunity to raise funds for the battle we fight, and more importantly given the chance to remember I do not fight it alone. Compassionate and caring people who have decided to help make a difference came together to work together for the Spay/Neuter, Medical Fund. The best part of all this is we can continue to do what we do - thanks to you!
Thank you to all those
who came out with their pledge sheets and the volunteers who gave of their
time for this important cause. And, thanks once again, to Wiggins
Accounting & Financial Services for providing your assistance in
keeping track of the funds. June
15, 2012 Wire Coated Pointing Griffons - Last week I posted four very different and unique dogs named Gilligan, Huck, Finn and Punky. These four were found together (go ahead read between the lines here) all as young purebred Wire Coated Pointing Griffons. I hoped as a dog often sought and seldom acquired at an animal shelter they would be rehomed fast. Sadly, with their unknown history and with their being four this took more time than I had hoped. Punky went home earlier this week but her brothers have sat waiting. They with the kindness of hearts, and most gentle souls have been in waiting. Great with dogs, good on a leash and willing to please would fit easily in any home. However, as they have come in as found people are often looking the other way. If only they came in the proper way :( On a happier note, Gilligan was showcased on the
Mix Zoo today, and represented himself wonderfully, and potentially his brothers too.
Better yet, was his adoption which happened soon after HOORAY! I do hope homes for his brothers
too. Perhaps if you need a Mutt to Strutt, you could come and walk them? Fall in love? Take them home!
Parts crossed. June
14, 2012 Our Supporters
for the Strutt - Please support our fantastic sponsors, who have given great prizes to make our Mutt Strutt a success.
They have our gratitude; please give them your business ... Windsong Horse and Carriage- www.windsongcarriage.com
See you Saturday... June
13, 2012 The Mutt Strutt is Coming - With only three days to go until the next Strutt, the excitement is growing! The great prizes are rolling in, be sure to check them out below! And the goody bags are now goodier!
As I have no idea how many will attend, or how the pledges are going, I am now growing concerned for the success. History has proven four years in a row, now, that these concerns are for nothing, but this won't make them go away. Luckily, my panic keeps me busy and getting it all done. This fundraiser is our biggest of the year bringing in the most donations in the past. As these are essential in our operations which keeps us operating and literally, the pressure is on. Every penny helps, and we appreciate everyone who participates, and all who pledge them. This year we will once again feed those
who attend, and celebrate the support. Once again, there will be prizes for everyone, and goodies for all
Mutts who Strutt. For the first time Monica Rae photography will be on hand for those seeking pet pics, a great new addition to our day!
Hoping to see all of you there!
June
11, 2012 Photography Fundraiser - The totals are in, and I'm thrilled! Jollie the child photographer has had wonderful success with her fundraising debut. This message is from her mom today:
For those interested in seeing Jollies work, or her talented mom, please check out the following: www.melissaranniephotography.com Way to go Jollie! You have helped us save over 20 pets! Please keep an eye on the site in the weeks to come to see those you have helped personally.
Thank you also for reminding me that there is hope for our future generations, as you sure have impressed me with your compassion. June 8, 2012 The Pups Have Arrived - [ Update - All pups have been adopted! Hooray! ... ] The puppies are here! There was a puppy deal this morning, in which puppies were shuffled from one ride to the other, a switch-a-roo of sorts, involving a passing of pups to send on their way. As I am not one to do the picking, I took those that were selected for me (I can't say no to the others lol) and we were off. ( picture one)
I am not sure how the others traveled, but I know the three I had really were not happy with the ride. Upset tummies left me quite the mess.
“ I love my job” - By noon the mess had cleared, the pups bathed, vaccinated, dewormed and the jeep cleaned (thank goodness for that especially). (picture 3 and then picture 4)
I hope now for speedy adoptions, and that the hard part is over for both them and
me ... they are just waiting for their forever. June 7, 2012 Rescues - I absolutely love when rescues pull together and work as a team to save lives. Rescues are often “a business” and each often view the other as competition. To some it is fantastic when that can be put aside and a difference can be made. There is politics in everything, and always a bottom line, but I love it when that is forgotten. A message was sent from Rescue about 6 Lab mix pups in urgent need of rescue. These pups could be gathered, however, this rescue only had spots for 3. It would have been tragic of these pups couldn't have been saved. It is a sad reality that this was a possibility. Thankfully, the call went out for help, more thankful was the space that we had at the Shelter and I will sleep well tonight knowing that soon they will all be OK. (There is little sleep when the alternative is to say no). Thank you Adopt-A-Pet for making a difference, and allowing us to help you.
Two days in a row I could blog about us working together ... that is awesome! June 6, 2012 The Great Hounds - It has been weeks since the relocation of three Hounds that I know and loved as Bernadette, Vern and Walker went to another rescue. The speedy adoption of Bernadette and Walker affirmed for me it was the right decision as they sat homeless for months with me. Sadly, as time went on and no news on Vern, I was beginning to grow concerned. The thoughts of him being relocated merely to sit homeless elsewhere were hurting my heart. The thoughts of bringing him back and uprooting him again just to have him struggle to adjust here and sit with no potential adoptor hurt worse. With these In my mind I was in turmoil and unsure as to what to do about it. I trusted my gut, and hoped it was right leaving him and I waited. There was a part of me that wondered if perhaps they had just forgotten to update, but feared asking would confirm he was still waiting of his forever home. However, today, I received the update I had been waiting for, and even better is that it was good news too!! Please see below:
This means one less for me to worry about!!
Hooray!!
June 4, 2012 Let the Strutt Begin - The prizes are rolling in! Hooray! Mutt Strutt preparations are well underway!
It's not too late to register, please email to sign up, or come see us.
If the cause is not good enough, maybe you can consider it for one of these?
|
||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
2000-2012 © Owen Sound Animal Shelter. All rights reserved. |
|||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||
