"Maggie, there's water coming up through the floor in the ladies' bathroom!" That's how it started - the day from hell at the greyhound track that reminded me of this past week.
We had just started weigh-in for the greyhounds, and as paddock judge, I had to field any problems, and this was a problem. I called maintenance, the state racing officials, security and a list of others, including the director of racing and the general manager. To protect the dogs, we sent them back to their respective kennels while the maintenance crew tried to find the source of the seeping grey water. About an hour later, there was still no definite cause, but the water had stopped seeping in, the mess had been cleaned up, and the state veterinarian and director of racing gave their okay to bring the greyhounds back for weigh-in.
The paddock consisted of my office, a laundry room, a holding room for the 96 dogs that would race in that matinee, a "pee room" where the dogs would be identified, specimens collected, and racing blankets put on. There were rest rooms for the male and female leadouts, and a huge room to hold all 96 dogs, their trainers and helpers that we used for weigh-in.
We had no more than weighed in all the dogs and secured them in the holding room when we saw grey water seeping out the bathroom door and onto the paddock floor. More phone calls, and this time the water just kept coming faster than before. It was also starting to seep into the holding room and the pee room - and no one knew why or where.
The race card was cancelled and I was told to have the paddock cleaned for inspection by the state officials by the next morning or face a hefty fine, and the general manager added that my job would also be on the line if it didn't meet muster. The track superintendent, the clerk of scales, the kennel master, and three of my most dependable leadouts helped me clean methodically and thoroughly for the next 9 1/2 hours. Meanwhile, maintenance had called in a super duper sewer rooter. We also requested that the kitchen help and laundry stop washing dishes or doing laundry to give us a chance to find the problem, as the grey water from the grandstand building went through the building we were in before going out the main sewer system.
The problem was a 12 foot long, 18 inch in diameter chunk of grease caused by improper disposal of grease in the kitchen. Thanks to my help, we passed inspection, did not get fined, did not lose my job, and was more conscious of what greasy food could do to my coronary arteries than ever before!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Four Years Later
The weather on March 7, 2010 was much the same as it was four years ago - they day we moved here from Iowa to remodel the old hog confinement into kennels for rescued dogs - sunny morning, then clouds, mist and rain, cold wind, yukky mud.
It took us twice as long as it should have because of a construction area and a nail in a tire on the horse trailer. We had two horses, one of which was in foal, and five dogs - Rounder (see Rounder, part 1, 3/19/09) and Daisy May (see Daisy May's Story, 3/22/09), Abner, Gandy (see Gandy, 5/6/09), and Jessi.
No fences, water wasn't turned on, buildings had housed hogs and quite frankly they stunk. Wind was whipping the torn curtains - almost like a Halloween scary movie.
It's been a challenge, us two old fogeys and all this work. We hauled 10 tons of steel gestation crates out of the buildng we now use for dog kennels. If you had purchased stock in companies that sell bleach, you would have done well.
However, the investment that funds this rescue kennel is not doing very well right now because of the economy. Since we work here, we have been told that its future is up in the air. Whatever happens, happens, but it is surely the most rewarding job I have ever had.
It took us twice as long as it should have because of a construction area and a nail in a tire on the horse trailer. We had two horses, one of which was in foal, and five dogs - Rounder (see Rounder, part 1, 3/19/09) and Daisy May (see Daisy May's Story, 3/22/09), Abner, Gandy (see Gandy, 5/6/09), and Jessi.
No fences, water wasn't turned on, buildings had housed hogs and quite frankly they stunk. Wind was whipping the torn curtains - almost like a Halloween scary movie.
It's been a challenge, us two old fogeys and all this work. We hauled 10 tons of steel gestation crates out of the buildng we now use for dog kennels. If you had purchased stock in companies that sell bleach, you would have done well.
However, the investment that funds this rescue kennel is not doing very well right now because of the economy. Since we work here, we have been told that its future is up in the air. Whatever happens, happens, but it is surely the most rewarding job I have ever had.
Friday, March 5, 2010
We're Patiently Waiting
Dolly Momma looks like a miniature Airedale and was at a local animal control. She had been there for a couple of weeks, and I noticed an "Urgent" tag was added, so we went to see what kind of personality she had. She's a calm, quiet, housebroken young lady of just over a year old.
However, the lady at animal control said that over the weekend she had "blossomed" with what they thought was a pregnancy. One look told us she was correct. My maternity ward was empty, so we loaded her up, along with Pollyann, a mocha colored dachshund/?cocker spaniel mix that is also housebroken and a real sweetheart.
We took them to the vet and Dolly M. is also heartworm positive. The vet said it is probably her second litter, given her age. Between the pregnancy and the positive heartworm, that's probably why she was dumped. She was found as a stray.
It won't be long now - Dolly M. looks like a football - large in the middle and narrow on both ends!
However, the lady at animal control said that over the weekend she had "blossomed" with what they thought was a pregnancy. One look told us she was correct. My maternity ward was empty, so we loaded her up, along with Pollyann, a mocha colored dachshund/?cocker spaniel mix that is also housebroken and a real sweetheart.
We took them to the vet and Dolly M. is also heartworm positive. The vet said it is probably her second litter, given her age. Between the pregnancy and the positive heartworm, that's probably why she was dumped. She was found as a stray.
It won't be long now - Dolly M. looks like a football - large in the middle and narrow on both ends!
They're Everywhere!!!
Puppies, puppies, and more puppies! It isn't even officially spring yet, and there are many litters being dumped at local animal controls and shelters. We have a litter of dachshund/shih tzu (we think) puppies and at 9 weeks, they are healthy, happy, and ready to go to new homes.
We have two litters that were at a local animal control, fostered, and returned. The "G" names litter have two pups in it that resemble black westies - two adorable fuzzy puppies. The other two in that litter are short coated and also cute. We have wormed them and got their bellies full, and they are learning to "follow Grandma".
The "H" names litter are larger pups and will be bigger dogs - a lab mixed with probably aussie. One male is a tri-color and unusually marked. They also are wormed, and with full bellies are learning to follow.
Then we have Dasher, a lab mix pup that was adopted out, but the family is in the process of moving out of state and just didn't feel it was fair to him as they aren't home much. He is neutered, crate trained, and looking for a new home.
Then there's Mickey - my pet name for him is "the Fonz". Mickey was brought to us via an animal control we work with via a group of volunteers who are trying to save animals in a kill shelter in another state. He is obviously a lab, maybe purebred, and has had a rough go. When the volunteer got him, he was covered with lice, so she had him treated and brought him to us. On the day she delivered him, she was notified that, while he wasn't in direct contact or even in the same room, another puppy at the kennel had developed parvo. We put him in quarantine and prayed a lot, and he is just as healthy as can be!!!
All of the puppies are working on crate training and doing very well.
Hopefully with the weather becoming warmer and the snow melting away, people will get out and about and adopt these great babies at the on-site adoption this weekend, or come out to the farm and meet some of the other dogs that are available.
Oh yes, Dolly Momma hasn't had her litter yet.
We have two litters that were at a local animal control, fostered, and returned. The "G" names litter have two pups in it that resemble black westies - two adorable fuzzy puppies. The other two in that litter are short coated and also cute. We have wormed them and got their bellies full, and they are learning to "follow Grandma".
The "H" names litter are larger pups and will be bigger dogs - a lab mixed with probably aussie. One male is a tri-color and unusually marked. They also are wormed, and with full bellies are learning to follow.
Then we have Dasher, a lab mix pup that was adopted out, but the family is in the process of moving out of state and just didn't feel it was fair to him as they aren't home much. He is neutered, crate trained, and looking for a new home.
Then there's Mickey - my pet name for him is "the Fonz". Mickey was brought to us via an animal control we work with via a group of volunteers who are trying to save animals in a kill shelter in another state. He is obviously a lab, maybe purebred, and has had a rough go. When the volunteer got him, he was covered with lice, so she had him treated and brought him to us. On the day she delivered him, she was notified that, while he wasn't in direct contact or even in the same room, another puppy at the kennel had developed parvo. We put him in quarantine and prayed a lot, and he is just as healthy as can be!!!
All of the puppies are working on crate training and doing very well.
Hopefully with the weather becoming warmer and the snow melting away, people will get out and about and adopt these great babies at the on-site adoption this weekend, or come out to the farm and meet some of the other dogs that are available.
Oh yes, Dolly Momma hasn't had her litter yet.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Mad Max & Veggies
Mad Max is his registered name - a purebred Siberian husky with one ice blue eye and one half blue/half brown eye - who just turned 11 years old. Max was purchased by a family as a pup and for eight years lived in a kennel without regular exercise, nor was the kennel regularly cleaned and sometimes the family forgot to feed him. He wasn't neutered, so he had a big desire to find a mate. When they took him out for exercise, they put him on a tie out that was within reach of a fence, and Max would try to dig under the fence. Rather than shorten the tie out, they hot wired the fence and when Max tried to go under it, he got zapped severely. Max won't allow you to touch his neck in the area of a collar. If you do, he will bite.
Of course, no one told us this when they dropped him off. Only that he hates the vet and water. After I got bit, the truth came out. He had bit the vet and only the family's youngest son could walk Max. He also had severe food aggression when we got him.
We have had Max for three years, and I can put flea preventive on him, even run a brush over him, and no longer is he food aggressive with me. We have actually taught him to "sit" on command, and use it as a gauge to see what his mood is. He is very much an alpha and he has turned on me twice when he didn't want to follow instructions. Max will live here till he dies of old age, and we have a routine and a mutual respect for each other. I make sure he gets plenty of exercise, toys to play with, food to eat, and a clean kennel. Max is losing his sight, but he knows when treat time comes along, and he will sit politely and wait till I get to his kennel, and then find the treat with his nose.
I give the dogs a small quantity of wet food every day - usually chicken flavored something every other day, beef on the other three days, and lamb and vegetables on Friday. It keeps dry food from getting purely boring, and since we have quite a few seniors, like Max, it's like feeding a few prunes at a nursing home - keeps everybody regular.
Max doesn't like lamb and veggies - he sorts through and spits out the peas and carrots.
Of course, no one told us this when they dropped him off. Only that he hates the vet and water. After I got bit, the truth came out. He had bit the vet and only the family's youngest son could walk Max. He also had severe food aggression when we got him.
We have had Max for three years, and I can put flea preventive on him, even run a brush over him, and no longer is he food aggressive with me. We have actually taught him to "sit" on command, and use it as a gauge to see what his mood is. He is very much an alpha and he has turned on me twice when he didn't want to follow instructions. Max will live here till he dies of old age, and we have a routine and a mutual respect for each other. I make sure he gets plenty of exercise, toys to play with, food to eat, and a clean kennel. Max is losing his sight, but he knows when treat time comes along, and he will sit politely and wait till I get to his kennel, and then find the treat with his nose.
I give the dogs a small quantity of wet food every day - usually chicken flavored something every other day, beef on the other three days, and lamb and vegetables on Friday. It keeps dry food from getting purely boring, and since we have quite a few seniors, like Max, it's like feeding a few prunes at a nursing home - keeps everybody regular.
Max doesn't like lamb and veggies - he sorts through and spits out the peas and carrots.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Neither Rain Nor Snow
We were fortunate to have a break between snowstorms over the weekend, and because people could finally get around, we were able to adopt out 7 puppies of various ages, sent two older dogs out on sleepovers, and adopted out one female husky. Ahhh, empty space!!!
President's Day brought a phone call from one of the local animal controls asking if we could help --- they have had an influx of puppies, and someone brought 10 six week old pups and dropped them off, to add to the 15 they already had in foster homes. It snowed and the wind blew all day yesterday, 8 inches worth, so we waited till this afternoon to make the trip to pick up the pups. They are cuties, 5 boys, 5 girls, a little long bodied, short legs, some long hair, some short, all adorable and full of puppy energy. Maybe some long hair dachshund??? Who knows.
While we were there, we just had to look over all the dogs, and we found a 3 month old yellow lab; a beagle/cocker spaniel mix female named Lulu that is housebroken, crate trained, and just has a great personality. We also discovered a black lab mix female who sits, shakes, is housebroken, loves to play fetch, loves to ride in the car (she sat in my lap all the way home and was a perfect lady). Her name is Ida, and she is, as the song says, sweet as apple cider. (Hopefully someone reading this will be old enough to remember the song.)
The hard part - leaving behind a young border collie mix that had a wonderful personality, was housebroken, knew sit and stay. Hopefully she will find a home soon. If not, we might open up a space, and if we do, we will have to take another road trip to get her.
Meanwhile, it's going to snow some more, but that won't stop us, just slow us down.
President's Day brought a phone call from one of the local animal controls asking if we could help --- they have had an influx of puppies, and someone brought 10 six week old pups and dropped them off, to add to the 15 they already had in foster homes. It snowed and the wind blew all day yesterday, 8 inches worth, so we waited till this afternoon to make the trip to pick up the pups. They are cuties, 5 boys, 5 girls, a little long bodied, short legs, some long hair, some short, all adorable and full of puppy energy. Maybe some long hair dachshund??? Who knows.
While we were there, we just had to look over all the dogs, and we found a 3 month old yellow lab; a beagle/cocker spaniel mix female named Lulu that is housebroken, crate trained, and just has a great personality. We also discovered a black lab mix female who sits, shakes, is housebroken, loves to play fetch, loves to ride in the car (she sat in my lap all the way home and was a perfect lady). Her name is Ida, and she is, as the song says, sweet as apple cider. (Hopefully someone reading this will be old enough to remember the song.)
The hard part - leaving behind a young border collie mix that had a wonderful personality, was housebroken, knew sit and stay. Hopefully she will find a home soon. If not, we might open up a space, and if we do, we will have to take another road trip to get her.
Meanwhile, it's going to snow some more, but that won't stop us, just slow us down.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Seniors Who Serve
Papa Smurf and Bella Sue, aka Lilly Sue, were given up and dumped by their owners because of their age, health problems, lack of finances, or who knows what reason. See "Our Angels" blog dated 12/24/09, and "Scruffy Shih Tzus & More" dated 9/20/09.
But there was a plan for their lives. Pops and Lilly Sue have found a new job - helping abused children. Children, like dogs, should not be abused, starved, without shelter, without affection.
Next time someone goes to a rescue to adopt, they might want to think about how a senior might fit into their life. Sure, there are possible medical problems and expenses, and the fact that they might not be with us for more than a few months or a few years, but they have so much to give.
But there was a plan for their lives. Pops and Lilly Sue have found a new job - helping abused children. Children, like dogs, should not be abused, starved, without shelter, without affection.
Next time someone goes to a rescue to adopt, they might want to think about how a senior might fit into their life. Sure, there are possible medical problems and expenses, and the fact that they might not be with us for more than a few months or a few years, but they have so much to give.
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