"We have 5 two week old puppies, and we couldn't find the mom anywhere." Animal control called late last Saturday pleading for help. They had made several calls but had no takers. One of our foster moms went to pick them up. Five boys, no mom, and no one knew how long they had been without food. Someone had taken them home the night before and given them human baby formula with less than satisfactory results. Yes, it filled their tummies, but it caused some pretty substantial diarrhea in already dehydrated babies.
They brought me Esbilac, bottles, nipples, bottle brushes, and newspapers, not to mention a really fine big cardboard box to put them in. So, approximately 30 years after I thought I had finished making formula, changing diapers, and getting up every 4 hours for a feeding, I was back at it.
Three of the boys had pretty much given up the idea of sucking, so we went to the eye dropper and stimulated them to suck on my finger, meanwhile sneaking the formula into them. After about four days, they were sucking like pros, so we switched them to regular baby bottles, the human kind. These are going to be good sized dogs some day!
They are now approximately three weeks old, have doubled in size, are starting to play a little, eat like a high school football team, starting to cut teeth, are already going to the potty on newspaper away from their bed, and they don't know it yet, but they can crawl out of their box if they want to. Today I'll have to move them to a more spacious open plan condo so they can develop their motor skills and can't crawl out when I'm working out in the kennel and can't monitor them.
We don't know what breed they are. We don't really care. They shouldn't have been abandoned without a mommy. As a matter of fact, the same animal control called yesterday with 11 six week old pups that were found abandoned in a ditch.
My little football players have been fed, cleaned up, and are snoozing right next to me. As for me, think I'll enjoy that first cup of morning coffee and then start mixing formula for the day.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Delilah - Long Distance Rescue
Delilah is about a 20 pound black female chi/pug (?) mix that was in a high volume kill shelter in Georgia. One of the employees, also deeply involved in rescue, had taken her home as a foster, but Delilah was shy and worried about people and wasn't improving. She would play and enjoy the company of the other foster dogs, but would not come within a foot of a human. Her foster mom was up to her ears and posted her on Facebook, hoping that she would not have to send her on to the local humane society to keep her alive.
I have a soft spot for the shy, non-aggressive dogs that have little chance of being adopted. Not to mention the fact that Delilah was black, and black dogs are at the bottom of the adoption list. I made a comment that I wished we were closer as I would consider taking her into our rescue. The people at Hazelhurst responded, and soon we were on our way to a transport and rescue.
Our rescue coordinator gave them the information they needed, and we exchanged lengthy phone calls with a couple of people, during which I commented that when I usually find a dog out of state and agree to take it in to our rescue, the dog usually gets adopted before that happens. Not a problem for me - a forever home always trumps a foster!
The day was getting close for transport, expected it on the weekend. I got a call that Delilah was making progress. I am bottle feeding puppies and came to the house late in the day. While waiting on formula to warm up, cranked on the computer and checked email. There was an email notification from Facebook that someone was interested in Delilah and lived in Georgia. I checked it out and figured that I would soon be notified that she had been adopted and would not be heading to Indiana.
About 10 minutes later, I got a call from the foster mom in Georgia saying the she was putting Delilah on a transport later that evening, and wanting to confirm my address. I stopped her and asked if she knew she had someone wanting to adopt locally. She, at that time, was unaware of it. She said she would get back to me. I told her I would always defer to a forever home.
Delillah goes to her new home on Saturday - in Georgia. As part of His plan, it was probably my job to give her more time, not only to keep her from going to the humane society, but to give her time to improve and her new family time to find her.
I have a soft spot for the shy, non-aggressive dogs that have little chance of being adopted. Not to mention the fact that Delilah was black, and black dogs are at the bottom of the adoption list. I made a comment that I wished we were closer as I would consider taking her into our rescue. The people at Hazelhurst responded, and soon we were on our way to a transport and rescue.
Our rescue coordinator gave them the information they needed, and we exchanged lengthy phone calls with a couple of people, during which I commented that when I usually find a dog out of state and agree to take it in to our rescue, the dog usually gets adopted before that happens. Not a problem for me - a forever home always trumps a foster!
The day was getting close for transport, expected it on the weekend. I got a call that Delilah was making progress. I am bottle feeding puppies and came to the house late in the day. While waiting on formula to warm up, cranked on the computer and checked email. There was an email notification from Facebook that someone was interested in Delilah and lived in Georgia. I checked it out and figured that I would soon be notified that she had been adopted and would not be heading to Indiana.
About 10 minutes later, I got a call from the foster mom in Georgia saying the she was putting Delilah on a transport later that evening, and wanting to confirm my address. I stopped her and asked if she knew she had someone wanting to adopt locally. She, at that time, was unaware of it. She said she would get back to me. I told her I would always defer to a forever home.
Delillah goes to her new home on Saturday - in Georgia. As part of His plan, it was probably my job to give her more time, not only to keep her from going to the humane society, but to give her time to improve and her new family time to find her.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Pixie, aka Batwoman
She was in a crate in the intake room at animal control, had been there for nearly three weeks. She had all but given up. She hadn't eaten any food for a couple of days. When we walked by, she didn't budge, nor did she look at us. I was drawn to her for some reason, so I kept walking back and forth near her crate as we looked at the other dogs in the intake room. She finally looked at me, and the sorrow in her eyes told the whole story.
Pixie is a petite, small boned, wirehair mix with huge ears, and when she smiles, which she now does, she resembles a fruit bat. Thus the nickname "Batwoman". She is housebroken, knows sit, and has no aggressive tendencies at all.
We had a family come to meet one of the dogs she is turned out to play with. They liked her personality, but deemed her "so ugly she's cute".
She went to a couple of adoption events, but no one gave her a second look. Yesterd
ay a family came to meet a dog and wanted a kind, friendly, non-aggressive dog that would be good with kids, was housebroken, would sleep with family members, and get along with the other family dogs. One of the childen had the duty of picking the new dog. It would be "his" dog. He had chosen a beagle pup, but the pup had way too much energy for the family, wasn't too good with men, and failed in the house trained department. They returned the beagle.
They looked at several dogs and at Pixie. Everyone in the family liked her, except the young man who was to make the decision. His reason - she's ugly and he would have to walk her in the neighborhood. He had his heart set on a dachshund puppy, which we don't have. I told him quite frankly not to take her if he couldn't find it in his heart to overlook the fact that he thought she was ugly.
The younger boy asked to take Pixie home for the night - a sleepover - to see if there was a chance. They returned her today, but we now know for certain that she is definitely housebroken, slept with various family members, did nothing wrong.
Sometimes we forget that beauty is only skin deep. Pixie is a wonderful little dog, and we will find someone who doesn't mind having a dog that looks like a fruit bat when she smiles.
Pixie is a petite, small boned, wirehair mix with huge ears, and when she smiles, which she now does, she resembles a fruit bat. Thus the nickname "Batwoman". She is housebroken, knows sit, and has no aggressive tendencies at all.
We had a family come to meet one of the dogs she is turned out to play with. They liked her personality, but deemed her "so ugly she's cute".
She went to a couple of adoption events, but no one gave her a second look. Yesterd
ay a family came to meet a dog and wanted a kind, friendly, non-aggressive dog that would be good with kids, was housebroken, would sleep with family members, and get along with the other family dogs. One of the childen had the duty of picking the new dog. It would be "his" dog. He had chosen a beagle pup, but the pup had way too much energy for the family, wasn't too good with men, and failed in the house trained department. They returned the beagle.They looked at several dogs and at Pixie. Everyone in the family liked her, except the young man who was to make the decision. His reason - she's ugly and he would have to walk her in the neighborhood. He had his heart set on a dachshund puppy, which we don't have. I told him quite frankly not to take her if he couldn't find it in his heart to overlook the fact that he thought she was ugly.
The younger boy asked to take Pixie home for the night - a sleepover - to see if there was a chance. They returned her today, but we now know for certain that she is definitely housebroken, slept with various family members, did nothing wrong.
Sometimes we forget that beauty is only skin deep. Pixie is a wonderful little dog, and we will find someone who doesn't mind having a dog that looks like a fruit bat when she smiles.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
One Empty Kennel
About two weeks ago a neighbor stopped by and asked if we could take in a Jack Russell that she found wandering by the four way stop a couple miles away. She had him at her house for nearly three months and "couldn't take him in the house because I already have a dog", so she chained him outside with a dog house. She fed him well, but no flea preventive, no wormer, no shots. We had no available space, so I asked her if she would take him to animal control, as he would have shelter, food, and a chance at adoption, even though he's a senior with some missing teeth. She didn't want to do that - afraid he would be euthanized. I asked her if she could keep him for a while longer, at least till we had an opening. She said she could.
We haven't had much movement in the last couple of weeks, and she didn't check back when she said she would. Then yesterday, we adopted out Cayman. Someone had applied for him, came to meet him, wanted a few extra days to think it over, and in the meantime, a friend of hers came to town and, after seeing his picture and hearing Cayman's story, just knew she had found the dog she was looking for. The friend applied, met, and adopted Cayman.
Just as Cayman and his new mom were leaving the driveway, in pulls the lady who found the Jack Russell. She asked if we could take him as it is now getting cold at night, and he keeps going to the door to go in the house. I told her to go get him. While she was getting him, I moved some dogs and stripped and disinfected a kennel - he has to be in quarantine for two weeks and quarantine has been full.
She brought me an older Jack Russell, needs a good worming, but has been fed, needs a bath and flea preventive, needs dental work, but mostly he needs a nice warm place to live.
I named him Yoda, as he is short, a bit heavy, and old enough to be wise in the ways of the world.
It never fails to amaze me how when a kennel empties out, another dog will find its way into that kennel almost immediately - it's like it is planned.
We haven't had much movement in the last couple of weeks, and she didn't check back when she said she would. Then yesterday, we adopted out Cayman. Someone had applied for him, came to meet him, wanted a few extra days to think it over, and in the meantime, a friend of hers came to town and, after seeing his picture and hearing Cayman's story, just knew she had found the dog she was looking for. The friend applied, met, and adopted Cayman.
Just as Cayman and his new mom were leaving the driveway, in pulls the lady who found the Jack Russell. She asked if we could take him as it is now getting cold at night, and he keeps going to the door to go in the house. I told her to go get him. While she was getting him, I moved some dogs and stripped and disinfected a kennel - he has to be in quarantine for two weeks and quarantine has been full.
She brought me an older Jack Russell, needs a good worming, but has been fed, needs a bath and flea preventive, needs dental work, but mostly he needs a nice warm place to live.
I named him Yoda, as he is short, a bit heavy, and old enough to be wise in the ways of the world.
It never fails to amaze me how when a kennel empties out, another dog will find its way into that kennel almost immediately - it's like it is planned.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Jody, Jonah, Liam, Lara, Sophia - Fall Cleaning
We have two more of the Brittany mix pups - Lara and Liam. The family that initially rescued them and found them homes decided to repossess Liam, a beautiful tan, red, and white. Lara went to a home with several dogs, and she was just "too many" so she was returned. They will join Levi, the only other Brittany pup we have left. Lara is black and white and a bit smaller than the boys. All are crate trained pretty well and have learned to follow. They are getting new collars this week and learning to walk on a leash and "sit".
Jody and Jonah are the two cocker mixes that we took in about 10 days ago. They are probably two of the nicest dogs we have on the place. They are housebroken, quiet, well mannered, good on a leash, ride in the car very well, and just a pleasure to work with. I took them to be groomed on Friday, and the veterinary and grooming staff agreed. It would be wonderful to find someone who wanted them both, but since that isn't likely, we have put them in separate kennels to adjust to being without each other, but let them out in the play yard together for a good amount of time each day. They are doing very well.
Sophia is a newby - a pekingese/pom mix female, already spayed, 7 years old, good with dogs (she lived with a lab), older children. Sophia's owners got divorced. The person who had her couldn't afford to keep her. They told us she isn't reliably housebroken unless there is someone home. Said she doesn't like to be crated and will pee in the house. I have noticed that she is okay in the kennel and if she has an accident, it's in one spot, so will get some puppy pads and see if we can teach her to potty on them only. She's a beautiful, friendly little dog that likes to cuddle. Good on a leash. There has to be someone out there who will want her!
Marty and Goliath are enjoying each other, and Marty is settling down. He is walking better on a leash, and he and Goliath have learned that they both need to sit and relax before going through any door. He has also learned that a back massage is a good deal.
I'm going to pick up the seven puppies, Aussie mix, this week. Today they are six weeks old, and the family is ready to let them go. We will offer to spay the female.
As kennels empty out, I have a "honey do" list - vacuum and paint kennels, get the heating systems (we have backup systems for the backup systems) ready for cold weather, wash windows and door frames, and lots of other things, including installing a new sink in the kennel kitchen. We also have to fix up an entry area for the cat building so the volunteers can get in and out without worrying about kittens in the free roaming area bolting out the door.
We'll just have to see how the week goes!
Jody and Jonah are the two cocker mixes that we took in about 10 days ago. They are probably two of the nicest dogs we have on the place. They are housebroken, quiet, well mannered, good on a leash, ride in the car very well, and just a pleasure to work with. I took them to be groomed on Friday, and the veterinary and grooming staff agreed. It would be wonderful to find someone who wanted them both, but since that isn't likely, we have put them in separate kennels to adjust to being without each other, but let them out in the play yard together for a good amount of time each day. They are doing very well.
Sophia is a newby - a pekingese/pom mix female, already spayed, 7 years old, good with dogs (she lived with a lab), older children. Sophia's owners got divorced. The person who had her couldn't afford to keep her. They told us she isn't reliably housebroken unless there is someone home. Said she doesn't like to be crated and will pee in the house. I have noticed that she is okay in the kennel and if she has an accident, it's in one spot, so will get some puppy pads and see if we can teach her to potty on them only. She's a beautiful, friendly little dog that likes to cuddle. Good on a leash. There has to be someone out there who will want her!
Marty and Goliath are enjoying each other, and Marty is settling down. He is walking better on a leash, and he and Goliath have learned that they both need to sit and relax before going through any door. He has also learned that a back massage is a good deal.
I'm going to pick up the seven puppies, Aussie mix, this week. Today they are six weeks old, and the family is ready to let them go. We will offer to spay the female.
As kennels empty out, I have a "honey do" list - vacuum and paint kennels, get the heating systems (we have backup systems for the backup systems) ready for cold weather, wash windows and door frames, and lots of other things, including installing a new sink in the kennel kitchen. We also have to fix up an entry area for the cat building so the volunteers can get in and out without worrying about kittens in the free roaming area bolting out the door.
We'll just have to see how the week goes!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
More Abandoned
I got an "URGENT" email around 8 pm last night. A friend who rescues and has helped us pull dogs from gas shelters in Ohio and Kentucky was presented with two miniature size cocker spaniels (she thinks) by the neighborhood kids. They are flea infested to the point of bleeding, matted beyond belief - couldn't tell the sex of the dogs without removing mats, and who knows what else at this point.
My friend already has nine dogs, some hers and the rest rescued, and had no place to put them. I called her, and she was going to take them to another friend's place to try to clean them up, give them Capstar, and is bringing them out to our rescue today. They are the buff colored cocker spaniels.
We picked up the two dogs we put on hold at animal control last week. One is a yorkie mix male, we call him Wilson - very nice dog. The other is a puppy, a female dachshund mix, we call her Dixie, with huge ears. She's a real sweetie too!
We know we have a litter of seven Aussie mix puppies coming to us as soon as they cut teeth - the owners are anxious to move them on.
I turned Marty, who has lived in a crate for 7 months of his life, out with Goliath. They play and play and play. Marty is enjoying having room to move and has learned sit and is learning that he shouldn't bolt through a door or gate.
Cayman is learning how to be a dog and actually sniffing the ground. Pixie is helping him, and she is enjoying her freedom as well. Both were much loved house dogs and will make great companions.
Sam and Hope are a team - Sam shows Hope how to relax and enjoy life. Hope has gained weight and looks like a different dog. She is much happier.
If anyone reading this is interested in adoption, go to www.pawshancock.org or petfinder for Greenfield, Indiana
My friend already has nine dogs, some hers and the rest rescued, and had no place to put them. I called her, and she was going to take them to another friend's place to try to clean them up, give them Capstar, and is bringing them out to our rescue today. They are the buff colored cocker spaniels.
We picked up the two dogs we put on hold at animal control last week. One is a yorkie mix male, we call him Wilson - very nice dog. The other is a puppy, a female dachshund mix, we call her Dixie, with huge ears. She's a real sweetie too!
We know we have a litter of seven Aussie mix puppies coming to us as soon as they cut teeth - the owners are anxious to move them on.
I turned Marty, who has lived in a crate for 7 months of his life, out with Goliath. They play and play and play. Marty is enjoying having room to move and has learned sit and is learning that he shouldn't bolt through a door or gate.
Cayman is learning how to be a dog and actually sniffing the ground. Pixie is helping him, and she is enjoying her freedom as well. Both were much loved house dogs and will make great companions.
Sam and Hope are a team - Sam shows Hope how to relax and enjoy life. Hope has gained weight and looks like a different dog. She is much happier.
If anyone reading this is interested in adoption, go to www.pawshancock.org or petfinder for Greenfield, Indiana
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Abandoned
Cayman is a small silver poodle, maybe schnauzer mix. I saw his picture on Petfinder - one of many at a local animal control with an "URGENT" tag on it. Cayman was abandoned, along with three cats, in a house. The animals were alone in the house for several days before someone discovered them. The animal control officer said he had never seen a dog covered with so many fleas, not to mention the cats. They were given Capstar, a flea bath, a good meal, fresh water, and in the case of the cats, a clean litter box. Cayman is a young dog, very friendly and very forgiving. I have the privilege of fostering him, and his flea bites are healing, his raw spots are healing, he's eating very well, and he will make someone a fine companion. We'll post some pictures of Cayman as soon as he gains a bit more weight.
My question is, why would someone leave an animal to die of hunger and thirst rather than take them to an animal control shelter where they are at least going to be fed and given fresh water, not to mention a chance at finding another home?
My question is, why would someone leave an animal to die of hunger and thirst rather than take them to an animal control shelter where they are at least going to be fed and given fresh water, not to mention a chance at finding another home?
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