A no-kill Shelter dedicated to loving and nurturing the animals in our care until they find new homes - no matter how long it takes.

OSAS 
by: Renee Robins

If you would like to purchase Renee's new book "Parables From The Dog Pound" please click here...

Dizzy; 
Found; 
Book Launch; 
Success; 
Thanksgiving; 
Autumn; 
Shiloh; 
Paisley Cats; 
Squirmy; 
Dakota; 
Dumpster Diving; 
Room; 
Updates; 
Busy, Busy Busy; 
Yippee for Oddly; 
Pet Crow; 
Kaos; 
Sweet Tiger; 
Happy Ending; 
Maggie; 
The Halti Is Here; 

Renee's interview  
Sun Times...>

Archives
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Sep '07 Blog;
Aug '07 Blog;
Jul '07 Blog;
Jun '07 Blog;
May '07 Blog;
Apr '07 Blog;
Mar '07 Blog;
Feb '07 Blog;
Jan '07 Blog;
Dec '06 Blog;
Nov '06 Blog;
Oct '06 Blog;
Sep '06 Blog;
Aug '06 Blog; 
Jul '06 Blog
Jun '06 Blog;
May '06 Blog;
Apr '06 Blog;
Mar '06 Blog;
Feb '06 Blog

email your comments to:
owensoundanimalshelter@inmail24.com

Success Story:
- They made it... read Renee's blog;
- Read Todd's Interview;
- Little dog pulled
from icy water;

We depend on donations from private funding to support our Spay and Neuter Fund.

Keep up-to-date  with our schedule.

The Halti Is Here
If you have ever contacted me about a behaviour problem with your dog I know I advised you to get a gentle leader. If you have ever struggled to walk your dog I guarantee the gentle leader (Halti) will help you.

I walk dogs of all shapes and sizes everyday. It would be impossible for me to do this without a gentle leader (some of these dogs weigh more than I do). It is by far the best tool I have come across to fix so many issues. 

I have taken courses on this and I know that these gentle leaders can fix dog aggression, cat aggression, prey drive, fears and submission, help adjust dogs to new homes and even prevent house soiling.

I am here to help you try these gentle leaders on your dog and I can guarantee a difference within the first half hour. If you need some advice and practical hands-on help, please call me. These head halters cost $25.00 and I will fit them to your animal and do a demonstration. Call me and I can schedule some time for you to come in and check these out - 519-372-1123 or email me at osas@bmts.com.

On a quick note, it is devil's night, please know where your pet is. Outside is hard on pets on a normal day, tonight it gets a bit worse. Hang onto them!

Maggie
The debate was whether a pair of great friends should be split to move them faster or keep them together and hold them longer. 

This was the case with Molly and Maggie who were two strays picked up together and un-reclaimed. They were slated to die and we brought them to the Shelter in the hopes of finding them both homes. 

When they arrived they needed TLC as they were thin, full of parasites and needed to learn some manners. It was uncertain as to whether they were sisters or young mom and daughter, but either way it was very clear that together they were happiest. It broke our heart as weeks turned into months and we had to start weaning them away from each other. The chances of adopting out two big dogs both needing TLC was next to none. 

We considered adopting them separately but discovered that they really only loved each - not others. No one wanted to split them up - us or potential adopters and no one would take them together. 

Although we offered a two for one deal, two would not work in this new home and we needed to be tough. It was only Molly he wanted and Maggie would be left behind. It was with mixed emotions we said our goodbyes, happy to see her go to a loving home, but so sad to leave her friend behind. 

I will be hoping Maggie can go home soon too so her sacrifice will be worth it.

Click to view Maggie's information...>

Happy Ending
A call comes in from Story Book Park Road which is out of my area, but I pay full attention to the call. A cat is found that is shorthaired with a tattoo and is young. The tattoo is hard to read but we help with the cat. I take a description, offer to read the tattoo and give out the appropriate numbers. 

Moments later an email arrives about two cats missing from 6th Avenue East and 10th Street in Owen Sound, my area and miles from the first location. One cat is shorthaired and one medium was long haired, both young, tattooed and missing a few days. I record the information.

Less than an hour later another call comes in from the Story Book Park area that another cat was found with a tattoo and medium haired. I double check my records for the day sure I have missed something. How can two cats be lost and two cats found by different people so far apart with the same descriptions. 

I assumed two people have called about one found cat and the it is a coincidence. I call the second person back and get the description again and confirm the cat is still there. I call back caller number one and take the description again and make sure the cat is still there. Two cats found houses apart and missing from the same home. I'm sure now there is a connection. I am uncertain how they traveled a full 10 minute drive in a short time and wonder if they had a lift.

I make all the necessary calls to reunite the owner and the cats. I am certain they have returned home to some very excited owners! Glad to have pulled it off. If they had not been tattooed I may have never considered them owned cats. Glad someone was looking over them and a happy ending to three stressed people.

Sweet Tiger
I was in a panic when I saw his little face. I saw the clouds in his eyes and my heart sank when I looked at those old boy's teeth. Another Shih Tzu/Lhasa mix, fourteen years of age, blind and almost deaf. I immediately remembered my sweet sweet Precious and I was ill thinking he was another dumped dog. 

I met him last night and when no calls were waiting for me this morning I was heartbroken. I walked him this morning and debated taking his picture to start the "found dog" search and look for his owner. I was saddened to think this could end badly and was worried he would have to spend weeks with me. 

When the door opened at 1 pm, I was greeted by an elderly women who was in tears missing her sweet Tiger. Only a few words into her sentence and I knew this boy was well loved and greatly missed. I do believe I was smiling as I told her we had him and I think perhaps she was a little shocked by my excitement to hand him back to her and the home where he was most love, had spent his life with and could spend the rest of his days in. 

Thankfully a happy ending and I am pretty sure he will be kept on a short leash in the future.

Kaos
With every new arrival an assessment is done. We quickly check for ID, health, temperament and decide as best we can on the type of home each is best for. Pre-owned pets get looked at and this initial assessment is so important for so many reasons. We build a file when they come in, fill it full of notes, i.e., chases the cats or lunges at dogs and we keep this information to help us find the perfect match. 

Yesterday I met a wiggly retriever who was already socialized with all people, pets, neutered, vaccinated and so willing to give. Although a busy guy, if he went to a country home, room to run and some extra attention he would settle just fine. This boy would be homeless only for a short time. 

Then I asked his name - you knew him as Kace but he knew himself as something else. His name since a tiny pup was Kaos, as in chaos. Now if a new owner decided they liked it, well he could revert back, but the fear of adopting out Chaos being more difficult than it needed to be, well he had a quick change. 

My apologies for the name choice, but what sounds like Chaos? We came up with nothing. We had a Hitler and his name became Fletcher, also a Terror and his name became Arrow. Sometimes we have a bunch of buddies and they are changed to Bud or Benny. It makes our life a little easier and their adoption smooth. Luckily dogs are smart and they learn fast. Don't forget those unnamed strays we get - we have to call them something and they learn. 

Fortunately, he stayed only a day and the name did not have to stick. I actually think they said they liked the name. Perhaps Kace is a Kaos once again.

Pet Crow
Anyone missing a crow? There was a call yesterday a strange one, and I must admit my first from the Wismer House in Port Elgin. 

It seemed a friendly crow was helping itself to the cutlery. They shooed it away and called me. I thought nothing of it, but warned them to use caution and to perhaps call the Ministry of Natural Resources as this is their area of expertise.

Today another call and it seems he has traveled up the street and is now shopping at the Salvation Army! There are rumors this bird has been seen sitting on someone's shoulder and he is a pet. 

If you or someone you know has tamed this bird, please go to him. It is impossible for me to catch a bird and I am not quite sure what I would do with him. I hope this bird has not been set free as he clearly views humans as his friends and this is not safe for him. I worry as winter approaches that he will struggle. 

If you tamed this bird, please call me and I will help you find somewhere for him to go. He needs to be warm, fed and sheltered from the weather for winter. If you live in Port Elgin, please call us if you spot him just in chance someone comes looking for him. 

Good luck Mr. Raven hope you get home!

Yippee for Oddly
Finally! You may have noticed Oddly off the site as adopted, then back on, then off again for a day and then back off and then back on. 

Poor Oddly, with each on and off he left and was returned. His first home an elderly lady smothered him in love all sorts of treats and all kinds of various foods and toys. Oddly began to suffer from stomach irritation and we advised her to contact her vet. We assured her it was change of food and stress which sometimes happens, but to double check to be sure. She spoke with a vet and then returned Oddly. We monitored him closely, altered his diet and put him back on only one food and it cleared. We treated him for parasites, just in case and watched closely. 

I could not send him back to someone who would give him up so easily and potentially give him up when he needed her most so we re-listed him. It was difficult to place him with this in his history but people needed to be told and again finally he was placed. The following day they met me right at 1 pm - the dog was sick and they would not adopt a sick dog. Months passed and we re-tested, re-evaluated, and monitored him. We altered his food, offered him treats, and nothing. It was decided odd - Oddly has a sensitive tummy - sensitive to change and a new home perhaps gives him upset. So we tried it all again with this now going against him. 

It was a family member of my Autumn's mom who instantly fell in love, took in all the info and today came back for him.

Here's hoping this switch will be his last as his poor tummy can't do this again - it breaks my heart. 

Hang in there big guy ... soon it will feel like home.

Busy, Busy Busy
Did you catch the show? All three? I managed to squeeze in three shows today by 11:15 am. I was getting pretty exhausted on the topic of "Ellen Degeneres".

This is a subject to be quite honest with you I knew nothing about (I have no time for TV) when Jim asked me to speak on the open-line about the issue Ellen had faced on Tuesday of this past week. I had to do my homework and prepare before today's show and boy I'm glad I did.

For those of you who also didn't catch the show, Ellen had adopted a dog, neutered it, trained it and then couldn't keep it so she rehomed it with her hairdresser and her family. The rescue group who adopted the dog to Ellen had her sign a contract which stated Ellen couldn't rehome that dog and had to give it back to the rescue group. Ellen had not read through the fine print so the rescue group went and took the dog from the hairdresser.

I was not going to slam another rescue group, nor was I prepared to say Ellen was wrong, instead I turned it around and spoke of what was important. To me, what was best for the dog was what was necessary and I hope this has not become a battle of wills and the dog forgotten. I recommended as I do, that when people adopt they ask questions, what's involved, what are the issues with these pets and are they best suited. When questions are asked and time is taken on both sides can an adoption work (policies and procedures are understood).

Adoption is a commitment not to be taken lightly for either party. All rescues are different, but we do fight the same cause. I am not going to say one is right over the other, and I pray that these difficulties, now made public, don't deter people from changing a needy animals life.

Updates
When the papers are filled out, the arrangements complete and they head out the door I must accept that I have made the right decision and the adopters have too. I say goodbye and hope it is forever. 

I never really know if things work out without updates and I assume no news is good news. Some days are stressful, and we need those updates to keep us moving on track. We need to know our struggles are worth the effort and to assume is never good enough. 

Today, I was blessed with not one, not two but three great updates. I had visits from Teeka, Shiloh and Autumn.

Teeka who now eats treats from a fork, rides in the backseat of the car and loves to go to the beach. 

Also, Shiloh who learned to swim at the cottage, has people with him all the time and has such a great and shiny coat. And of course there was Autumn who looked so happy and her mom who couldn't be more pleased with her dog.

Thank you all for such great happy tails. I will keep them in my thoughts to get me through the next little while. 

Thanks for making it all worth it!

Room
The call came in that always brings excitement and at the same time feelings of disbelief. The call of "we have these two great family dogs here, who are out of time can you help". It was a short time ago we saved Doc from that fate and luckily with room available we could get 2 more in.

Today, we acquired Boomer a plump, tricolour, neutered, male Beagle who came wearing his name tag and no home phone number. A sad sight to know he was loved enough to be given a name but not enough information to go back home. I would love them to know how close he came to never being home again without that proper ID. 

His friend we are calling Bubba doesn't even sport a name and in fact his collar is a chain tied with wires and a broken chain attached. Also terribly overweight and with bad leash manners. I am certain this boy didn't even get the pleasures Boomer had like a walk and a name tag. I am pleased to be giving them a new leash on life and a life! 

Perhaps our other Durham rescues, 

Molly

and Maggie

can find a forever home too?

Who tosses kittens into a dumpster and throws them out like trash? Three beautiful babies 10 week old - two black and one gray tabby. The one black was a gorgeous longhaired. Do you know anyone with three kittens less? I am hoping, praying actually, that it is all a big mistake and that somehow accidentally, while on their way home, which they snuck out of for a second, they fell in somehow (over the fence too?) I am also hoping that perhaps those people are searching frantically for them and will call me any minute? Somehow I am pretty certain that I already know this is not the case and that these babes were tossed. 

The empty dumpster had nothing to break their fall either, nor any food to coax them in. How sad. If someone you know, is short three, of this description, please give me a call. Thankfully at least they were not bagged and that someone found them before it was too late.

Dakota
I had the best day. Updates from Squirmy are all good - he is eating and well loved by his new adopted mom. A sigh of relief to start the day off right. 

I arrived at the Shelter to find that the parking lot was filled with adopters. Today a litter of pups, who have been with me since they were two weeks, became available. There were four pups and ten potential adopters. We have a prior protocol which states first come first served. The only way to make it fair, of course we would turn someone away if they were not right. These people were so committed and so already in love that they began turning up at 7:00 am. Thankfully only four potential adopters did as that was all the pups we had available! There are more pups coming so, if you missed this bunch email me and we will get you on the list. 

We had three great cat adoptions and by 4 pm we were all smiling. Then the best part happened. 

Dakota finally, finally, finally has gone to her forever home. They met her Saturday, originally coming to see those pups and instead gave this girl a chance. They had a prior dog who was "just like her" a little crazy, a little stubborn and way too smart. The similarities drew them to her. 

They read the reports and are aware that her future is unknown, but now she has one and I couldn't be happier.

Squirmy
I had two sleepless nights filled with meow meow and woof woof. Sandi had one similar. I have taken turns bottle feeding a squirmy little fella my daughter calls Squirmy. This little fella is very hungry and very much needing a momma. 

A found stray at only three weeks of age this kitten certainly needs TLC. He is so young that he still needs to be stimulated to do his bathroom business - this being noisy and messy. I am hanging onto the hope that the care provided will be enough to get him through. I tried Squirmy with one of our lactating moms but she knew he was not hers and I worried she would not be kind to him. 

Today, a great thing happened, one of our volunteers knew someone with a lactating mom and they agreed to take Squirmy and try him out. This is probably the only time I have been thrilled to hear someone had a mom with kittens at home. 

Here's hoping that mom takes to him and falls in love with him as much as we have. Be well my friend, be strong and grow to be a big Squirmy. Good luck!

Paisley Cats
Two days ago I made arrangements with a nice man from Paisley to take in some cats (strays) he had been feeding.

The lucky guy is leaving for Florida and had few options to place these cats before he leaves - they couldn't fend for themselves outside in the winter. So, option one was to call his animal control in Paisley - they said "sorry we don't take cats". Option two was to leave them to fend for themselves. This option would leave them sick, starved and frozen - especially now that they began to rely on him for food. And, lastly, option three was to have them all euthanized.

He phoned me with his problem certain I couldn't help him. Although I am foolish for thinking about taking on so many cats because the man was not from this area, I know my Friday would have been ruined knowing he was bringing all those cats in to be euthanized. So, I agreed to take them on and had him agree to the release fee. I know those kittens will be better off alive than dead. Tomorrow they will be given that second chance and I will help them find homes. 

I asked the man to take his receipt to his Township and see if they would reimburse him for the release fees. It is time that communities without cat by-laws evaluate these problems. By not taking in those cats it makes me feel that they chose a pretty lame way to get out of this sort of situation. I am sure many others in his predicament would have taken any of the other options and we know that never fixes anything. Thank goodness for this man's kind heart. :)

Shiloh
You may have seen her. She was the one who sat crunched up in the corner, cowering, shaking and peeking out behind her bed.

She may have come a few steps forward for you, her tail firmly tucked, and then retreated back to her spot behind the bed. If you asked about her you may have been turned off when we said "she had a bad encounter with a cat and did not really like other dogs".

Today, she came for a visit, my girl Shiloh. She actually was quite shy and is so totally over that now! This little girl was nervous of men, but now her new best buddy is a man who walks her so much his feet must be raw! 

She met me this afternoon, tail wagging and sitting so proper on his feet - her new pal and her new mom. She was so pleased with herself and she held her head up so high. 

They had a message for those who did not adopt her and I promised I would pass it on. In their words "thank you for not taking this great dog. She is perfect for us. She is wonderful, a great companion and we love her very much". They followed that with "we had a void in our lives for twelve years and this dog has done more than filled it. We are so grateful". They did address some concerns about her dog aggression so I took five minutes switched her walking gear (gentle leader) and fixed that problem immediately.

Certain she has found the most perfect home (he is, by the way, a retired dog handler) and they are so patient with her. I am thrilled.

Seeing her finally out of her shell and as happy as she could be has made me happy too.

Autumn
A few months ago a nameless little kitty came to me and stayed unnamed for some time. I think we called her kitty for a while and then a few names were tossed around but nothing stuck. 

With her big spay day booked we had to call her something and needed to post her as available with a better name than brown tabby cat. Normally their names come easily as their situation dictates - Scarface (for obvious reasons), Splinter (his leg was splinted), Rusty (older and red), Doc (vet clinic) - you see the trend. However, one regular kitty with no story or circumstance really had to have a name. It came to me rather off the top of my head as she had some orange flecks and, well it was the season - I named her Autumn. I had no idea that her name would prove to be so lucky for her. I think those angels may have had a hand in this. 

Today, a women searching to replace her last cat came in looking to adopt a friendly female cat. Autumn sold herself by rubbing up against the bars and then the ladies leg. She played, frolicked, rubbed, purred and you know the decision was nearly made. Then came the "what do you call her" question - Autumn was sold. You see this kitty was replacing the last one and her name had been Summer. How perfect and what a neat twist. 

Thank goodness I came up with a great name and it turned out to be just perfect for kitty. 

You remember Splinter, well he too found a home today and to add to the name twist this splinted cat may have gone home with a doctor! :)

Thanksgiving
The morning started with the debut of my friend Splinter on the Mix. At eight weeks of age he came to the Shelter with his hind leg sliced and cuts on his face. I guess his accident came from a vehicle (fan belt?) as he smelled of oil.

Two weeks were spent tending to his wounds and he healed quickly. Now he is as active and lively as any kitten at this age. He proved this as he tackled the Thanksgiving Day centerpiece on Rogers TV. I watched him as we filmed and thought how thankful I was that he had mended so well. 

The day brought me three more "broken" creatures - two with a fractured pelvis and one emaciated cat. As this is Thanksgiving and all, I am thankful that these three will not suffer alone and be given the help they deserve to recover. Below is a picture of Forest - one of the cats with the broken pelvis.

Thank you for a great book launch. It touched me deeply to have you come out and support something so meaningful and necessary to raise funds. It is only with your support that I can continue to help these animals. 

Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Pictures from Renee's book launch at the Owen Sound Public Library.

Guest speakers:
Gloria Hogan,
Jamie Johnston and 
Drew Ferguson

Renee's saying a few words

Author signing her book

Great turnout

Guest appearance "Will"

Book Launch
"...she watched him fading, that tiny pup. Shrinking in size and spirit, and always tied to that tree. Her visits to the home depressed her, as she heard his cries, and saw the empty bowls. Her offerings of food brought her relief in knowing he would see another day, but his uncertain future terrified her. A gentle suggestion that she find him a home was all she needed to free him from that tree. This pup was not wanted and a waste of time; her taking him was 
a relief on his master... She swaddled him in the blanket, and carried him right to me... His frail and crooked body was malnourished, underdeveloped, and on death's door. She placed him in my care. He weighed almost nothing, and could be held easily in one hand. He had no energy to struggle and could barely lift his head to look at me. I could feel him resisting me, but without the strength to escape, he lay limp like a rag doll...."

"This story and the others will capture your heart and ignite your compassion for the underdog". 

Totally inspiring and inspirational... these are the "Parables From The Dog Pound".

Special guest appearance - you won't be able to figure it out.

Found
Anyone missing a very shaggy large Newfy dog and a dirty Tricolour Walker Hound? Both are males.

Today they were brought to me from the Woolsley area off of Hwy. 17.They were found running in and out of traffic and in serious danger. I do not do the animal control for Georgian Bluffs where these two were found, but their finder had nothing else they could do. 

An urgent page to their animal control turned up nothing, so they drove where they knew we would help. I have contacted that animal control and they will come for them tomorrow - not today as they were in Toronto. I will watch what I say here, but you feel free to read between the lines. 

I am thankful both dogs were well and did not catch a car because the outcome would certainly have been much different with help potentially so far away. 

Here's hoping we find where they belong soon - before the morning comes. They must sit and wait, without any ID to help them.

Dizzy
Today was a big day for me with the arrival of my fantastic new books and a big day for my pal Dizzy. 

Dizzy, the injured turtle who we thought likely would not heal, has healed and has done well. She no longer swims in circle, but has strength now recovering in her limbs. Her back is getting stronger and she can now lift herself entirely to allow her to maneuver forward (although not so well). 

Dizzy and I have been practicing rock time where she gets time to dry out and sit on her rock. A few times last week she managed to plop herself off her rock (OK actually it is a flipped dog bowl, but to her it is a rock) and today something it happened. What normally takes a few pulls and pushes, a few slides and lots of effort took only seconds. I had gently lifted her and backed away, then went to complete a task and headed back into the kitchen and must have startled her for in an instant ... poof she was gone. Off her rock and into the water she dove, just as a turtle should do. I believe her jumping, had me jumping as well, as I think I actually jumped for joy. Dizzy has now remastered her launch. 

I will be thinking of her launch and with mine ahead, I hope to follow as gracefully behind her.

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