I work at home, as a writer and an editor and am generally on line. One day, a friend sent me an e-mail with a photo of a big blond chow. He looked very dignified and serene. The friend told me that he was in a high kill "shelter" in la and begged me to help him.
Since I already had two rescued dogs and four rescued cats, our small household was at its animal capacity.
But I couldn't get the dog out of my mind and so I e-mailed a friend who lived in LA and asked her if she was interested. To my delight, she said she would take him. So I e-mailed the dog's advocate and told her the good news. She was thrilled and said she would have him pulled from the shelter immediately.
Once the dog was safe, she called and asked where the friend lived. I told her Slidell. "Slidell?" she responded, "where's that?" It's a little bit east of New Orleans, I said. Isn't that where the dog is?"
"Um, Rose," my friend said quietly, the dog is in la." "Yes, I know," I replied, "LA, what's the problem?"
"Rose, la, as in la, California."
As a writer and editor, I had taken her writing too literally and thought la meant Louisiana, not Los Angeles, California.
Obviously, the dog could not be sent back to the shelter, nor could I afford to ship him to LA. So Bert joined our household and I promised my husband that I would adopt him out and he would only be with us for a short time.
Unfortunately, what I took to be Bert's dignity, was actually extreme terror of people. To say he was shy is the understatement of the century. He was so fearful that at best, we caught mere glimpses of him as he did his best to hide from us. It was clear that he would be with us for more than a little while.
It's been 18 months now and Bert has finally responded to our patience and friendship. He is still quite shy but is an integral part of our household and is now a beloved "forever dog".
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Chloe
We had been admiring our rescue president’s great dane and we decided that we wanted to adopt one if the rescue ever got a Dane in the rescue.
Several months past , one day the adoption coordinator called me and said we have to come over to her house. I walked downstairs to find this shy and scared big dog. That was Chloe. John arrived after me and fell in head in heals in love. WE took her home to evaluate her and then adopted her.
Chloe’s story (as I know it) - Chloe was taken to an animal shelter because she did not meet the “standards” of breed by the breeder. She has two VERY stunning blue eyes. NOT a desired trait for breeding or show ring. Chloe was adopted by a single mother and her children. They lived in a small older style mobile trailer home. At 1 year of age Chloe was too big for the house and took too much work for the lady to take care of and she was trying to get rid of her.
Chloe’s life now- Chloe has learned the dog sport of Flyball & completed obedience school. She enjoys going on vacation and staying in a hotel rooms during her trip to Greyhounds reach the beach with her sisters and Big “little” yorkie brother and about 1500 other greyhounds. This picture was taken on the beach at this event.
Jig
On a stormy night on the Oregon Coast I received a call from a woman who's daughter had found a dog on a 'field island'. According to the woman, "She must have been surviving on dirt and worms. I cannot keep her, I can't get close to her, I am disabled, can you help?"
Later that night, I met 'Jig'. She was plastered against the wall, terrified. With the coaxing of my dog Mick, I saw a sparkle in her eye, saying she wanted to play-but would still not come out. I finally looped a leash around her, and dragged her into the car.
Arriving at the vets office, I realized 'Jig' was a mess...at least 20 sores from untreated tick infestation donned her underside and flanks, she was rail thin, and undersocialized. She also had two broken and abcessed teeth. ..and Mick LOVED her.
I found out later, that Jig was a junkyard dog...choke chained to a fencpost 24/7, with a lean-to board as her only protection from the weather. A never-ever' dog. Never been in a house, never been to the vet, never had the love of a family, never been someone’s friend.
Now, Jig is not only Mick's girl, but my loving companion, my agility dog, and my protector while I travel.. She is the best girl in the world...and is now a 'for-ever' dog. Forever in the house, forever in our family, and forever...my friend.
Jammer
So, what does the County shelter do with an unruly dog? Call in the reinforecements! Such was the call I received one Monday morning, "Hi Liz, we have a dog for you!" I answered, "But you're closed today." "Yes, but you can come out anyway--how about NOW?"
An hour later, as I rounded the corner at the shelter, I was met by a VERY loud barking snarling dog. "Whew, that's NOT him, I said to my friend"...but right next door, in unison of the same nasty chorus, was Jammer. "NO WAY!!" I told the shelter manager! She coaxed me into taking him out, and seeing he was quite harmless. Well, kind of. I took him.
3 years and LOTS of training later, the 'unadoptable' Jammer is a Master level agility dog, a friend to my other two dogs, and a snuggle bunny next to me at night. He is loved, and returns the love daily.
Amenities for cats, dogs
By Michael Martinez
Mercury News
Article Launched: 12/16/2007 01:53:13 AM PST
Related Stories
Dec 16:
South Bay hotels that welcome petsThe pampered guestWith so many hotels accepting pets, it's no surprise that travelers are including the family dog - and sometimes cat - on their vacations. Here's a sampling of what some California hotels and B&Bs are offering to entice pet owners (always ask about size restrictions and fees):
• Have a cat? At W Hotels, guests receive cat toys and treats at check-in and can request food, litter boxes, a birthday cake and a "Meow-ow Box" first-aid kit. www.starwoodhotels.com.
• The Cypress Inn in pet-friendly Carmel has doggie blankets, evening turndown service and pet sitting. Dogs can run off-leash on nearby Carmel Beach. www.cypress-inn.com.
• The Viceroy Palm Springs offers a personalized dog dish, freshly baked dog biscuits and, in the summer, four cooling pools for dogs to escape the heat. www.viceroypalmsprings.com.
• The Casa Laguna Inn and Spa in Laguna Beach has a certified canine massage therapist available for relaxation, pain or anxiety-relief massages, at $75 a session. www.casalaguna.com.
• Don't have a pet but wish you did? The Hotel Monaco in San Francisco will lend guests a goldfish during their stay. Dogs get use of a bowl, bottled water, chew toys and Lassie videos to stay entertained. www.monaco-sf.com.
- Michael Martinez, Mercury News
http://www.mercurynews.com
This article is another indication that pets are becoming a greater part of our lives and are influencing our decisions more and more. Even more so, leading edge companies are aware of this and marketing products and services to entice pet owners.
Stop by Lucy's Dog House today for dog collars, dog toys and dog beds
Mercury News
Article Launched: 12/16/2007 01:53:13 AM PST
Related Stories
Dec 16:
South Bay hotels that welcome petsThe pampered guestWith so many hotels accepting pets, it's no surprise that travelers are including the family dog - and sometimes cat - on their vacations. Here's a sampling of what some California hotels and B&Bs are offering to entice pet owners (always ask about size restrictions and fees):
• Have a cat? At W Hotels, guests receive cat toys and treats at check-in and can request food, litter boxes, a birthday cake and a "Meow-ow Box" first-aid kit. www.starwoodhotels.com.
• The Cypress Inn in pet-friendly Carmel has doggie blankets, evening turndown service and pet sitting. Dogs can run off-leash on nearby Carmel Beach. www.cypress-inn.com.
• The Viceroy Palm Springs offers a personalized dog dish, freshly baked dog biscuits and, in the summer, four cooling pools for dogs to escape the heat. www.viceroypalmsprings.com.
• The Casa Laguna Inn and Spa in Laguna Beach has a certified canine massage therapist available for relaxation, pain or anxiety-relief massages, at $75 a session. www.casalaguna.com.
• Don't have a pet but wish you did? The Hotel Monaco in San Francisco will lend guests a goldfish during their stay. Dogs get use of a bowl, bottled water, chew toys and Lassie videos to stay entertained. www.monaco-sf.com.
- Michael Martinez, Mercury News
http://www.mercurynews.com
This article is another indication that pets are becoming a greater part of our lives and are influencing our decisions more and more. Even more so, leading edge companies are aware of this and marketing products and services to entice pet owners.
Stop by Lucy's Dog House today for dog collars, dog toys and dog beds
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Prison program turns problem dogs into pets
Eileen Mitchell
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Last year, Melody was just another typical mongrel from Taiwan: sharp features, pointy ears, curly tail. A fat scar around her muzzle looked as if it had been closed with electrical tape, leading her Taiwan rescuers to believe she had been destined to be somebody's entree.
When the 35-pound mutt arrived at the Marin Humane Society, she was frightened, wary and withdrawn, refusing to leave her crate even for food. Today, Melody is thriving as the beloved pet of Dick and Sandy Drew. Their union came about thanks to Pen Pals of San Quentin, an innovative partnership between the Marin Humane Society and San Quentin State Prison.
The program, funded entirely by the humane society, shows inmate handlers how to teach basic obedience skills and make shelter dogs more adoptable. Since 2005, they have helped at least 86 dogs find homes.
The idea for Pen Pals hit Larry Carson, canine behavior evaluator at the society, after he caught an Animal Planet channel show called "Cell Dogs." The award-winning television series profiled inmates in more than 120 prisons throughout the country who care for and train shelter dogs. Immediately, he envisioned a partnership between the humane society and San Quentin prison, and pitched the idea to his colleagues.
They loved it. So the retired Marin County building contractor traveled to Carson City, Nev., to meet with the Nevada Humane Society and the warden of Nevada State Prison. Since their program, Puppies Up for Parole, was introduced three years ago, prison violence has dropped by 30 percent.
"The warden told me this is the greatest program they've ever had," Carson said. "Prisoners build fences based on ethnicity and geography, but introducing the dogs has lowered those fences and given both inmates and staff an excuse to talk to one another. Because of this animal, they're on common ground."
Using the Nevada program as a prototype, Carson approached San Quentin officials, and they were all for it. Well, most were.
"Some staff didn't think the inmates deserved dogs, plus they had security and health concerns," Carson said. "But after the program was in place and they saw the benefits, their resistance melted. Now most are in favor."
Many prisons conducting similar programs do so in the cell blocks, but this isn't feasible at San Quentin because of its age and lack of space. Instead, Pen Pals is limited to the prison firehouse. Located on the prison grounds but not within the walls, the firehouse is staffed by inmate firefighters who are low-risk, low-security prisoners convicted of nonviolent crimes. They are carefully screened for histories of violence and animal abuse, must have a record of good behavior and have enough time remaining on their sentence to complete at least one full year.
"Humane Society staff and volunteers visit every Tuesday and Thursday," Carson said. "We conduct continuous training classes, follow up on each dog's progress and help with any issues the inmates might be facing. We're in constant contact. It's a real team effort."
Each dog lives with its handler, and canine "sentences" vary from a couple of weeks to six months. Recuperating medical fosters, which constitute 60 percent of Pen Pal dogs, often stay longer because they require close care and monitoring.
About 20 percent are shy dogs that need socialization, and the remaining 20 percent are naughty adolescents in need of basic manners. Aggressive dogs are not considered for the program.
Each inmate keeps a daily log that is monitored by humane society trainers. After the dog leaves San Quentin and is adopted, the new owner gets a copy of the log so he or she knows exactly what the dog experienced during its time in prison. Inmates get a binder with a certificate of completion, photos of their dog, plus paperwork and evaluations. As soon as one dog leaves, most inmates get another one the same day, which makes it easier to say goodbye.
"They take their responsibilities very seriously," Carson said. "That's the most positive thing about the program. They don't feel like they're just wasting their time in prison. Adopters often write to the inmates, through me, saying thanks for the work they put into their new dog."
One such dog was Tigre, a hefty brindle greyhound mix who was 20 pounds overweight and in dire need of training. Carson laughs about photos of the dog on the treadmill. "He was there for a month, lost 15 pounds and returned to MHS with a spring in his step."
Shortly thereafter, retired nurse Pat Flyer adopted Tigre. "The program is terrific. They do a wonderful job," she said. "Tigre was very well trained and listens to everything I say. He's the best dog I've ever had."
The Drews, who adopted Melody, agree wholeheartedly. "They gave us her handler's daily log. He wrote about her with deep care and compassion and expressed the desire to take her back if no one adopted her," Sandy Drew said.
"We have this preconceived notion about inmates, but most of them aren't different from people you meet on the streets," Carson mused. "They just made a mistake or exercised poor judgment. Almost everybody inside is going to be outside. It's our job, through programs like this, to make them the best people possible. Animal shelters and prisons are both in the rehabilitation business: We put out good canine citizens and hopefully they put out good human ones."
Pen Pals of San Quentin
The program teaches specially selected inmates how to train and socialize dogs in preparation for adoption. To learn more about the program, go to www.marinhumanesociety.org
E-mail freelance writer Eileen Mitchell at home@sfchronicle.com. Send your pet concern questions to home@sfchronicle.com with "Ask the Vet" in the guideline, and each month a guest veterinarian will address a different subject. "Ask the Vet" is for informational purposes only. Readers should not act on information seen in this column without seeking professional veterinary advice.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Last year, Melody was just another typical mongrel from Taiwan: sharp features, pointy ears, curly tail. A fat scar around her muzzle looked as if it had been closed with electrical tape, leading her Taiwan rescuers to believe she had been destined to be somebody's entree.
When the 35-pound mutt arrived at the Marin Humane Society, she was frightened, wary and withdrawn, refusing to leave her crate even for food. Today, Melody is thriving as the beloved pet of Dick and Sandy Drew. Their union came about thanks to Pen Pals of San Quentin, an innovative partnership between the Marin Humane Society and San Quentin State Prison.
The program, funded entirely by the humane society, shows inmate handlers how to teach basic obedience skills and make shelter dogs more adoptable. Since 2005, they have helped at least 86 dogs find homes.
The idea for Pen Pals hit Larry Carson, canine behavior evaluator at the society, after he caught an Animal Planet channel show called "Cell Dogs." The award-winning television series profiled inmates in more than 120 prisons throughout the country who care for and train shelter dogs. Immediately, he envisioned a partnership between the humane society and San Quentin prison, and pitched the idea to his colleagues.
They loved it. So the retired Marin County building contractor traveled to Carson City, Nev., to meet with the Nevada Humane Society and the warden of Nevada State Prison. Since their program, Puppies Up for Parole, was introduced three years ago, prison violence has dropped by 30 percent.
"The warden told me this is the greatest program they've ever had," Carson said. "Prisoners build fences based on ethnicity and geography, but introducing the dogs has lowered those fences and given both inmates and staff an excuse to talk to one another. Because of this animal, they're on common ground."
Using the Nevada program as a prototype, Carson approached San Quentin officials, and they were all for it. Well, most were.
"Some staff didn't think the inmates deserved dogs, plus they had security and health concerns," Carson said. "But after the program was in place and they saw the benefits, their resistance melted. Now most are in favor."
Many prisons conducting similar programs do so in the cell blocks, but this isn't feasible at San Quentin because of its age and lack of space. Instead, Pen Pals is limited to the prison firehouse. Located on the prison grounds but not within the walls, the firehouse is staffed by inmate firefighters who are low-risk, low-security prisoners convicted of nonviolent crimes. They are carefully screened for histories of violence and animal abuse, must have a record of good behavior and have enough time remaining on their sentence to complete at least one full year.
"Humane Society staff and volunteers visit every Tuesday and Thursday," Carson said. "We conduct continuous training classes, follow up on each dog's progress and help with any issues the inmates might be facing. We're in constant contact. It's a real team effort."
Each dog lives with its handler, and canine "sentences" vary from a couple of weeks to six months. Recuperating medical fosters, which constitute 60 percent of Pen Pal dogs, often stay longer because they require close care and monitoring.
About 20 percent are shy dogs that need socialization, and the remaining 20 percent are naughty adolescents in need of basic manners. Aggressive dogs are not considered for the program.
Each inmate keeps a daily log that is monitored by humane society trainers. After the dog leaves San Quentin and is adopted, the new owner gets a copy of the log so he or she knows exactly what the dog experienced during its time in prison. Inmates get a binder with a certificate of completion, photos of their dog, plus paperwork and evaluations. As soon as one dog leaves, most inmates get another one the same day, which makes it easier to say goodbye.
"They take their responsibilities very seriously," Carson said. "That's the most positive thing about the program. They don't feel like they're just wasting their time in prison. Adopters often write to the inmates, through me, saying thanks for the work they put into their new dog."
One such dog was Tigre, a hefty brindle greyhound mix who was 20 pounds overweight and in dire need of training. Carson laughs about photos of the dog on the treadmill. "He was there for a month, lost 15 pounds and returned to MHS with a spring in his step."
Shortly thereafter, retired nurse Pat Flyer adopted Tigre. "The program is terrific. They do a wonderful job," she said. "Tigre was very well trained and listens to everything I say. He's the best dog I've ever had."
The Drews, who adopted Melody, agree wholeheartedly. "They gave us her handler's daily log. He wrote about her with deep care and compassion and expressed the desire to take her back if no one adopted her," Sandy Drew said.
"We have this preconceived notion about inmates, but most of them aren't different from people you meet on the streets," Carson mused. "They just made a mistake or exercised poor judgment. Almost everybody inside is going to be outside. It's our job, through programs like this, to make them the best people possible. Animal shelters and prisons are both in the rehabilitation business: We put out good canine citizens and hopefully they put out good human ones."
Pen Pals of San Quentin
The program teaches specially selected inmates how to train and socialize dogs in preparation for adoption. To learn more about the program, go to www.marinhumanesociety.org
E-mail freelance writer Eileen Mitchell at home@sfchronicle.com. Send your pet concern questions to home@sfchronicle.com with "Ask the Vet" in the guideline, and each month a guest veterinarian will address a different subject. "Ask the Vet" is for informational purposes only. Readers should not act on information seen in this column without seeking professional veterinary advice.
Dog sniffs out record offenders
A Durham Police dog has become so successful at sniffing out offenders that he is being sought after by other forces to assist their operations.
Dibley is believed to be the best performing passive drugs dog in the country, having notched up more than 120 arrests in the last 12 months.
The three-year-old golden Labrador now travels as far afield as North Wales with his handler, Pc Alison Dawson
He can detect drugs including cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, cannabis and rohypnol.
Most of Dibley's work is in pubs and clubs, but he has also visits businesses and schools.
Pat on head
Once his keen nose picks up the smallest trace of a drug on a person he sits, looks at them, and refuses to move.
Pc Dawson said: "Dibley is absolutely phenomenal.
"He is food rewarded and won't move until he gets a reward, or a pat on the head.
"I have come across lots of scanning dogs but Dibley is the best I have ever seen. He just wants to work."
She added that although his arrest total during the year is now 122, he has no plans for retirement.
"He still has a lot of working years ahead of him.
"Although he is currently in love with our cat I have got my eye on a mate for him to develop the Dibley 'strain'."
Original artile is from http://news.bbc.co.uk
dog beds, dog collars, dog toys
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
