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by: Renee Robins, ACO Owen Sound Animal Shelter |
May 2012 |
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------------------- Recent Posts ------------------- |
May
31, 2012 _____________________________________________________________________________ |
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From an Unexpected Place With the Storms... Happy Dance Bo Update 5th Annual Mutt Strutt I Need You! Chess Taking Bo to School Tag Sales Holiday Nightmare and Weekenders Lost Animals Boy Bitten Baby Kitten Left At Our Door Bo is up for Adoption Monica Rae Barometric Pressure He Has Left the Building |
He Has Left the Building - Here's something you may not have known about me. Most of the time I am superwoman. I can gather road kill off the City streets, hold your best friend as he struggles for his last breaths, I can tell you your pet has passed, and offer you empathy when you surrender your family member to me when your world has fallen apart. I have also used my body to warm them, my last breath to revive them, my hands have delivered life, and held them when they passed. There are few things that hurt my heart, but sadly this is one of them. The first, of course, is loosing the battle when mother nature and or the undertaker decides it's time, and the second and hardest is saying goodbye. If you have ever adopted from me, you may have noticed I'm very focused on the paperwork. I may have disappeared halfway through the adoption process or have "gone to get the food". If you are privileged enough to have adopted someone who was extra special who was homeless a length of time, or who needed TLC and around the clock care, it is very unlikely I was there to see them through this. Believe me I know all about them, I knew the moment they arrived and all the details of the process, likely I was expecting you. Believe me, I am thrilled for you, and for my pal, I really just hate good-byes. Tuesday we had a wonderful good-bye. It has taken me until today to begin to talk about it, and just maybe tomorrow I will blog all about it. COMMENT(S)
May 29, 2012 Barometric Pressure - I have decided there is a direct link between barometric pressure and dogs running away. I am prepared to take bets that my theory is correct. It has already been proven that changes in air pressure cause an increase in seizures in animals, so this somehow could be connected? My hypothesis is based on days like today, in which my day started at the crack of dawn gathering dogs, and by noon I was up four. Today, when I woke I had a migraine. It stayed until just after noon. Oddly, same time the dogs stopped running. Now, it could have been the early rise and dash without copy, but maybe not.
You see, last time my head was thumping we had a pile of stray dogs. Could be that stray dogs hurt my head?
We have always noticed they run when it rains, and we have always blamed it on the thunder.
But maybe, it's the air pressure? Something to think on, carefully as to not hurt our heads lol.
Anyone know if this has been studied? May 28, 2012 Monica Rae - The biggest thank you to Monica of Monica Rae photography for taking time out of her busy schedule to capture our pets at their best in photographs.
She has captured their personalities, and provided us with heart warming mementoes of our best friends while helping us raise much needed funds.
Her awesome skills can be viewed with those which attended: (pics here)
For those who missed the event, Monica has offered a special sitting fee of 25.00 to persons who book in the next two weeks with proceeds to OSAS. This providing 4 edited pictures per.
As we support those that support our cause please tell others about her wonderful work, pass her site on, and consider booking her for your family portraits, or to attend your functions. I'm sure we will be. http://monicaraephotography.com You may also check her out on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Monica-Rae-Photography/115083431889398 COMMENT(S)
May 25, 2012 Bo is up for Adoption - Today, was another surgery day for my pal Bo. His last, as he has now been altered and ready to go home. I was on pins and needles in anticipation of his big day and was on edge until he began to wake up. Knowing he was a fighter was reassurance but a big part of me was afraid of the what 'ifs' that come with every surgery. I am pleased to say, with tears in my eyes and pride in my heart, my friend has done it. With weeks of constant care, and a whole lot of love, my pal who was once shot and left for dead is now ready to find his forever home. The best of companions Bo will be a wonderful addition to any home.
Bo is an active pup at ten months of age who needs much stimulation to keep him busy. He will do anything for a ball, and comes complete with his own ball to play with. He would excel at flyball, but will enjoy a game of fetch often as an alternative. He is not good with dogs, cats, or horses though, he will learn to accept these in a dog experienced home. I will be quite fussy in my selection of a home for him, as the goal is to find him the best as he deserves one. He needs a home in which he will remain forever. He loves all people despite what they have done to him and holds no grudges. Bo loves children. With my parts crossed one final time for Bo, send vibes one last time he finds his happy home soon. COMMENT(S)
May 24, 2012 Baby Kitten Left At Our Door - They say a picture is worth a thousand words. The story below will then be told in a series of photos below. This is the story of the kitten I will call Van Gogh. Click to enlarge the pictures below...
A sad story, the ending
is not yet told. Still hoping for a happy ending! May 22, 2012 Boy Bitten Grey Bruce Health Unit Looking For Dog In Biting Incident Tuesday, May 22, 2012 5:36 pm The 12-year-old boy was riding his bike on the Saugeen Rail Trail between CAW Road and Izzard Road yesterday around noon when he rode up behind a couple walking two medium-sized, light coloured dogs. One of the dogs bit him. Both looked alike and were not on leash. The health unit wants to verify the vaccination status of the dogs so the boy does not have to get post-exposure rabies treatment. Anyone with information is asked to call the health unit at 519-376-9420. May 21, 2012 Lost Animals - Sadly, it was a long weekend just like any other. Many dogs were lost, many cats lost, many injured wildlife calls, calls about dogs in cars, and two dog bite incidents. Our pager sang day and night, and OSAS worked very hard to keep up. The found dogs and gathered cats failed to sport any ID and unfortunately there have still been 'no calls' from their owners. While we spent our day returning other calls, and sorting records, checking statements, and playing catch-up, it was nice to have two dogs adopted. The day, otherwise, would have been very depressing. We recognize that situations happen in which
people need help, and that is why we are here. To help! The depressing
thought is 'that there have been no calls for the lost. I recognize people may wait until we open, and wait until
Tuesday; but these are the pages we celebrate. As it is, now, nearly Wednesday a page from
those owners will now be less exciting. May 18, 2012 Holiday Nightmare and Weekenders - Do me a favour, kindly call your pets over to you and give them a quick once over for ID. I'm going to hope this is an easy task, as you have purchased your licenses. Failing that, confirm for me your pet is sporting a tattoo, microchip, some other ID tag, or at the very least a collar with your name and or number on it. The long weekend has arrived, and with that comes travelers, changes in schedules, fireworks, company and sometimes forgetful moments. We expect more lost dogs, more lost cats, and troubles with those at home too. The increase in strays, sadly, often results in an increase in injured pets. If your pet is wearing ID you may have saved me a phone call and you a whole lot of headache. You may have potentially also saved your pets life. ID ensures we can get you as soon as possible. In an emergency this is essential. If you have not located a form of
ID on your pet just now, take a moment to realize, how the heck am I going to? Or anyone else for that matter.
Take another moment to get the collar with ID on and we can both celebrate
this weekend's activities a little easier!
May 16, 2012 Tag Sales - Yesterday, we started our door-to-door tag campaign. For those unaware, this is when people come to your home, as a courtesy, to you to get your pet tagged. As the deadline to have this done was March 31st. Technically we could be banging on doors with fines. However, we are way nicer than that. Sadly, for my tag sellers their first day out was a heart breaker. Doors were slammed in their faces, they were threatened, sworn at, and even more sad was the few tags that were in fact sold. They did not go to people's homes to accuse, lay blame, or to be the bad guy. They were not offering fines, or even to threaten with a fine. They were offering people the opportunity to be responsible and to do the right thing. I guess those irresponsible will continue to be just that. The sellers do keep records, and know who they are, and I am certain very soon I
find this out the hard way. If you missed your opportunity, and they have been to your neighbourhood
it's not too late. Tags can still be purchased at the Shelter or City Hall. If they attended your
home and you do not require a tag, for whatever reason, please acknowledge they merely have a job to do, and certainly don't get paid enough for all
this trouble. May 14, 2012 Taking Bo to School - My friend Bo has become a fantastic star. He a spokes pup for OSAS and a great campaigner for the spay neuter-medical fund. He attended schools with me for a career day presentation Thursday to help demonstrate the types of job I have to children of all ages. His story covered most aspects of the job from animal control, to animal care, to pre-op and post op, to first aid, to the education and even the adoption processes. Bo entertained, accepted each hand with bum wiggles, and offered kisses and his belly to all. He proceeded to teach about compassion, empathy, and warmed their hearts and touched each of them. One child expressed an interest in helping animals in need someday, as her heart hurt to know Bo did. I was so proud of her, and him.
Today, following our great success with the presentations, he came with me to TV. If you missed it, it may still be airing. Normally adorable adoptables is used to showcase those ready to go home, but today we did an up and coming adoptable. (How's that for hopeful, yeah!) We spoke of the upcoming picture fundraiser. Bo became a prime example of the reason we need to keep the funds coming. Pets like Bo, sadly, could not be offered a fighting chance with funds not there! He was, of course, a perfect gent, and I believe made it clear the needs were great. Good job buddy! COMMENT(S)
May 10, 2012 Chess - Today, we welcomed Chess to the cat adoption. You have met my buddy Chess once before, early spring, only you won't recognize him. Last time I blogged about him he had a hole in his face. It has been weeks, months, of medication, face scrubbing, cream applying, and lots of TLC. Thankfully as time has gone on he has healed. Click here for the original blog...»
The hard part now over, chess with his happy face is now seeking a new home. We have poked and prodded, squeezed and picked. This boy has never once put up a fuss, and still purrs with every touch.
A wonderful friend he has been to all,
despite what he has endured. I like to think he knew we were helping? I have promised to see him through to the end, and with that comes a plea for anyone looking for a cat to consider taking this one home.
He kept his part of the deal, is well, and is excited to go too! May 9, 2012 I Need You! - Yesterday, I posted the poster for the next Mutt Strutt, as details are now finalized. In the event you did not read it, here come the details: on June 16, at 9:00 am at the Animal Shelter, located at 2125 18th Ave., E.; it happens again. People gather with their "mutts" (and hopefully they're one of them) with pledges in hand to "strutt" their stuff. There you will find wonderful prizes, give aways for all and a BBQ and celebration after. If you have never attended, you are missing a good time, and those that have I am sure are now excited to do it again. Please contact me via email for pledge forms osas@bmts.com, or come down to the Shelter to register. And, finally, today I finalized our next fundraiser - this will be our first "Pet Pics for Pet Snips" the details are: on May 26th, at 11:00am until 2:00pm people will come with their pets to the Bayshore in Owen Sound and a professional photographer, Monica Rae Photography, will be available to capture your pet's happy face for $10.00 dollars for 3 pictures taken. Please mark these dates on your calendar and offer up your support to these wonderful fundraising events. Every penny from these events is placed in our Spay/Neuter, Medical Fund, making it possible to pay vet bills to spay/neuter Shelter animals or help fund any medical costs which the animals will incur. Without your help, our ability to save lives is lessened. Please
come out and support us. Without you we cannot do what we do. Please consider both events.
See you there! May 8, 2012 5th Annual Mutt Strutt - It's time! It's time! Our 5th Annual Mutt Strutt has been arranged, details finalized and the pledge sheets are ready to go out! The date is set for June 16th, with registration at 9 am, at the Owen Sound Animal Shelter. The walk will be followed as always with a charity BBQ, and we hand out some awesome prizes. As the prizes have already started coming in, I can tell you once again, you will not be disappointed!
In the event you have not attended, here is a summary of how it works:
It is a day of great fun with people who love their pooches. It is a day where we give thanks for the help you are giving in saving the lives of the animals who come through our doors. This year it will also be a day to meet the homeless you will help save, and for them to thank you. Hope to see you there. Mark June 16th on your calendar!
To get a pledge form, call or email me and register. May 7, 2012 Bo Update - Take your fingers and make them show you about an inch. This space relatively small in the scheme of things, especially in comparison to the size of about four inches. Feel free to use your fingers to compare. Four inches the approximate size of the hole recently in Bo's side ... this very big when you realize this on the side of a JRT under 20lbs. This hole however, has been shrinking, and we are guessing there is but an inch left to go. It is a long process, but it seems growing skin a slow process. We have succeeded thus far, and we are very happy and remaining positive that things will continue.
Bo continues to exceed our expectations, and continues to be a pleasure to have in our home.
He will not be remaining in our home, (I know you were wondering) and in the near future we will begin our search for his forever home.
This after we grow an inch of skin. Oh and loose a few more with his neuter, still to follow.
Keep the vibes coming for a speedy recovery. We continue to give it our all and so far its working! May 4, 2012 Happy Dance - It worked! Walker has been adopted! I am in receipt of a wonderful email which reads in part "...just wanted to let you know that Walker was adopted today. Thank you very much for sharing such a wonderful dog. We have also huge interest in Bernadette. Please feel free to contact us if you have other dogs you wish us to consider." Hooray! Jump up and down, whoot whoot and a happy dance too! The change of scenery and different clientele proved just what Walker needed to go home, and perhaps Bernadette soon too.
It was hard to pass my friends over, as the unknown so much greater when they pass out of my hands.
I must admit I was hoping for an update, and going with my gut, but still slightly
panicked. Although there are never any guarantees, this my first time on the sending end , as normally I'm on the receiving I was confident, but not positive things would be ok. I am however positive now, and positively pleased!
May 3, 2012 With the Storms... - In 72 hours there have been 5 stray dogs gathered. OK, make that six! As I typed that, Todd gathered another. Whether it is the weather, the spring mating thing, or something in the air, the dogs are roaming. My first call started at 5:30am today and they have continued as it is now 8:00pm. I am home smelling of wet dog and also rather soggy. My vehicle is smelly and I'm tired - long day! The Shelter is filling up too. All of this, however, is not sadly what is getting me down. Of the now six, one has been reclaimed. At the last a new arrivals we can eliminate this one from the equation, as its early yet. This leaves one of five. Four out of the five are now waiting and hoping. Historically, if there are no calls within the first 24 hours from owners it's unlikely there will be a call at all. For the first few, this is now bad news.
With each page I hope it's a frantic owner. Six times I have now been disappointed.
As I wait for the happy news page ... I also await the pager to please give me a little break.
May 1, 2012 Help From an Unexpected Place - Recently the Georgian Triangle Humane Society has completed its dog area its new shelter. This area with a holding capacity of 15 digs. Late last week they inquired as to our needs and offered to assist us with our hard to move dogs. I was half expecting a refusal when I suggested " we have hounds, big hounds" "these big hounds are hard to place, can you help?" It would not have surprised me one bit if they had said no thanks. Nor would the offer to take one or two.
Imagine my surprise, and my excitement when these great folks took all three!!
I love more than anything else that it was a working between two rescues. United in our cause. It has been a personal challenge to see all rescue on the same team. We have kept our door open and offered help to all others in the past. How wonderful to see the favor returned!
As it turns out just in time, three stray dogs in today! Happy Tail... Hello! Marmalade came to live with me about a month ago. I thought that I would let you know that she is doing great and is a fun, affectionate member of the household. She lives with my two male cats Toot and Cookie and my dog Taj. Cheers ~Kim C. |
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