Monday, November 30, 2009

Lost a good friend this weekend

I had planned some great posts for yesterday and today, but I couldn't bring myself to write them. One of our good friends lost their dog suddenly this weekend. It was very hard. No one really knows what happened. She was doing well that morning, then her body began to shut down. She died on Saturday November 28, 2009 at 11:40 pm.



She was his Chosen One. She was a favourite with the neighbourhood kids and a wonderful dog. She has shared her home with many different foster dogs throughout her short 5 years and welcomed each one in with her doggie-waggle. The picture to the left is her at one of the dog Christmas parties in a picture perfect sit/stay.



We will miss you, Emma.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Featured Rescue - Barney the Bichon Frise

Today's featured rescue is Barney the Bichon Frise. He is 3 years old and located in Mentor, OH.


Barney has a fair amount of energy (what Bichon doesn't?) and needs daily exercise to keep him happy (again, what dog doesn't?). From the sounds of it, Barney will need a bit of work, but I'm sure he will turn out to be a great addition to the right home.

Friday, November 27, 2009

News Reel - Charges at THS

Well this is about time. I'm sorry but the Toronto Humane Society has been doing some awful things and getting away with it for far too long. I won't get into a rant ... though you know I have TONS to say! Its. Just. Wrong. I did blog about the investigation when it began so if you want to read the original news stories published by the Globe and Mail, feel free to check it out.



For the full article, please click the following link. Otherwise, I have copied and pasted some interesting bits and pieces from it below.






The Toronto Humane Society's president and chief veterinarian are facing criminal charges of animal cruelty for running a dysfunctional shelter where animals were allegedly denied food and water and left to die suffering in their cages.



"These are animals who are just left to die in their cages," Christopher Avery said during the raid. "They're found dozens at a time, dead in [a] cage, every morning in this building. Dying from cancer, suffocating based on phlegm, these are animals who are starving to death, literally."



If convicted ... all face a maximum of five years in prison and tens of thousands of dollars in fines. They also face animal cruelty charges under the Ontario SPCA Act, as do all the volunteer members of the charity's board of directors.



The following suspects have been charged in connection with the investigation:
- Tim Trow - cruelty to animals (2), obstruction of a peace officer (3)
- Dr. Steve Sheridan - cruelty to animals
- Gary McCracken, general manager - cruelty animals (2), obstruction of a peace officer (3)
- Andy Bechtel - cruelty animals (2), obstruction of a peace officer (3)
- Romeo Bernadino - cruelty animals (2), obstruction of a peace officer (3)
In addition, the above plus the THS's board of directors will face five charges of animal cruelty under the Ontario SPCA Act.



The shelter will be closed to the public until the inspection is concluded, likely in a few days.


Some other good articles covering this topic are:

Humane society president denies charges
Humane Society busted for cruelty

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Featured Rescue Followups October

For those of my readers in the US ... Happy Thanksgiving! I hope your Turkey Day is great, your meal moist, your company pleasant and your long weekend wonderful!!





In the meantime, here are the Featured Rescue Followups for October. We have a fair amount of Featured Rescues that have found forever homes. Whenever a listing is removed I assume the dog has been adopted. I understand this is not always the case. There are many more still waiting for their next homes. If you are looking to get a new dog, I encourage you to adopt! There are dogs of all shapes, sizes, personalities and activity levels out there. It's just a matter of finding the right one for you.




Rafe and Redman the Rhodesian Ridgebacks
Status: NOT Adopted
Featured on January 12, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry
These guys have been waiting a long time to find their forever homes. Not every home is suitable for a Ridgeback and rescues have to be careful who they place them with.




FiFi the Great Pyrenees
Status: Not Adopted
Featured on April 26, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.





Codi the Welsh Corgi
Status: Not Adopted
Featured on May 10, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry



Eubie the Border Collie
Status: Not Adopted
Featured on May 13, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry




Jack A Roo the Australian Cattle Dog/Blue Heeler
Status: Not Adopted
Featured on May 30, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.
Jack A Roo is going to need the perfect home to come along. He is deaf. Note that deaf dogs can make excellent members of the family, but it takes a special sort of person who is willing to do the training required. Look at the focus!




Lady the Greyhound
Status: Not Adopted.
Featured on August 28, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.
Lady has become a Canine Blood Donor as of November 2009.





Zeta the Belgian Malinois
Status: Adopted
Featured on September 4, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.
Zeta's profile has been updated on petfinder





Lucinda the Boxer
Status: Listing Removed - Assumed Adopted
Featured on September 16, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.



Sherman the Bassett Hound
Status: Not Adopted
Featured on September 22, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.



Dakota the Chow
Status: Listing Removed - Assumed Adopted
Featured on October 7, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.



Blade the Doberman Pinscher
Status: Listing Removed - Assumed Adopted
Featured on October 13, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.
This looks like such a nice old guy I hope he got a great, comfortable retirement home.



Junie B the Pit Bull Terrier
Status: Not Adopted
Featured on October 16, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.
This gal is a parvo survivor. Check out her page to read about her.



Roxy the Redbone Coonhound
Status: Not Adopted.
Featured on October 28, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry
Roxy was hit by a car and had to have one of her front legs amputated but don't let that fool you! Three legged dogs can be just as active as four legged dogs once they regain their balance.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Featured Rescue - Ms. Angela Sweethe the Chihuahua

There are 9,989 Chihuahua dogs listed for adoption on Petfinder.com. That's a lot of dogs! They range from all ages - puppies to seniors. The personalities of the dogs listed are just as varied as their ages.
This gal is named Ms. Angela Sweethe. I wonder if they adopt more dogs out by naming them in this fashion? If anyone ever finds a study done on dog names and how it affects rates of adoptions ... I would LOVE to read it!!
Anyway, this little lady is 8 years old and already blind in one eye. Check out her ad on Petfinder ... I love how they have done her write up and told you that she is not housebroken and has separation anxiety issues without making them sound like a big deal. Very cool writeup Waggytail Rescue!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Dogs Deserve Freedom - The Shelter Pet Project

"According to The Humane Society of the United States and Maddie’s Fund, of the eight million pets that enter animal shelters and rescue groups every year, approximately three million of these healthy and treatable pets are euthanized due to a lack of adoption."



Good Grief. It's heartbreaking when you see the actual number of animals that go in and out of shelters and rescue groups each year ... 8 million animals enter; 3 million healthy ones euthanized. That is a hell of a lot of animals. Could you imagine what those numbers would be like if people started to spay/neuter their pets??



When you look at numbers like that it is very easy to shrug it off with a "well I can't fix it" attitude. Take that attitude and toss it out the door. While you may not be able to help those millions of animals today, you can make a difference.



The next time you are out at the grocery store and see one of those rescues peddling for coin, drop in a dollar. If each person in your community donated one dollar can you imagine how many pets they could help? Ontario's population alone is an estimated 13,014,000 (as of Apr 1, 2009) ... if each of those people donated one dollar ... well, that's a lot of money!






The next time you are looking for a new pet go to your local shelter. If you are looking for a specific breed, go to a breed rescue. Many breed rescues have puppies/kittens as well as adults and seniors.



If you can't adopt, go spend an hour of your time volunteering at your local shelter. (WARNING ... Don't get into the politics!!) Clean cat boxes, scoop out dog runs or take a dog for a long walk. To those animals you have just made a difference.



Talk to your friends, neighbours and co-workers about adopting from a shelter or rescue. Explain to them that there are some really great dogs/cats out there just waiting for a home. Many people think that the dogs/cats at the shelter have behavioural problems, but most are simply nice animals down on their luck.



And for goodness'sake ... please Spay and Neuter your pets people! I will begin regularly posting low-cost Spay/Neuter Clinics on my other blog, Drowning In Cats, so you may be able to find an alternative in your area.



Check out The Shelter Pet Project website and help make a difference. Together we can change the world ... Together we can.


Monday, November 23, 2009

News Reel - Coyote fears grow

Ok - so I'm way behind in reading the news. I don't often find time to check out the papers but today I made some. I have come to the conclusion that sometimes you just have to make the time because it's never going to fall in your lap. There will never be enough time to do everything so pick the things you do want to do and do them! Anyway, here's the article I stumbled upon this morning. It is a topic I have been reading about all year and I thought I would mention it here since it fits.






This has been a pretty big issue in Ontario papers this year. Basically the gist of it is that Coyotes have been spotted more frequently than ever before. There was an article in the paper a few months ago that listed the amount of money farmers have been paid so far this year in compensation for Coyote kills. Said amount has tripled in the last five years. See below for that info.






We are seeing an increase of Coyote numbers where I live too. Just on Friday I drove by a rural elementary school. Beside the school they are doing construction and putting in a new subdivision. I don't know where all the workers were (it was lunch time so probably they went to town for a bite), but not one of them was about. There was however, a large Coyote hanging around in the construction site near the treed area between the elementary school and the backhoe. Lovely, eh? Never used to see them during the day but they are everywhere around here now.



I have lived on a farm in rural Ontario for many years. Before this year I have never been concerned with going out after dark; in fact I never thought twice about it. We have outdoor barn lights that are on solar energy and run all night long as well as night time radios, interior lights on timers, etc. running in the barn to keep predators at bay. Historically, the Coyotes generally stay away from our place and turn away to run if they see people. Unfortunately, our precautions are not working as well and these predators have come within a few meters of me and my dogs at night. We often spot them farther out during the day time and they usually stay pretty far then. I expect that soon enough they will come closer. Let them get hungry enough and they will come.



By the way ... in case you were wondering ... It's an extremely uncomfortable feeling to be hunted and I don't wish it upon anyone. You can tell they are thinking about it with the way they stalk around.



At this point, every time I walk outside with the dogs after dark I have something with me to fend off the Coyotes - baseball bat, big stick, flash lights. So far I haven't needed them *knock on wood* but that doesn't mean that I haven't started target practice with the .22. I don't want to shoot anything but if it comes to a choice between me and my dogs or a pack of Coyotes ... well, I'm sure you can bet which I will pick. I wonder how long it will be before I have to start taking it along with me during the day time as well?



Around here, there have always been instances where the Coyotes call out to the local farm dogs. When the dog goes out to investigate, the pack moves in for the kill. At this rate of increased sightings I can expect in the near future that we will be increasing our numbers of guardian animals. Even though we have never lost a dog to a Coyote attack, I certainly won't be letting my guys outside without supervision.



Day or night.



I don't recommend you let your guys out alone either; regardless whether you are in rural or urban areas. The Coyotes don't care if you are in a "safe" subdivision or on a farm. They are everywhere; hopping fences and grabbing pets/livestock. Keep your pets safe and make these important decisions for them. They are your responsibility and depend on you.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Post Exchange - Happy Tails Books Update

As you know by my previous post about Happy Tails Books, this is a publishing project that was designed partially as a fundraiser for dog rescues. Kyla reports that with a little boost over the holidays they are aiming to donate $4000 to the 34 rescue groups who contributed to the success of the books.


I think this is a pretty neat idea, so I said I would post their PSA. See below.



Are you still in need of the perfect holiday gift for dog-loving friends?

How about giving a book filled with unforgettable stories about rescued dogs? “Lost Souls: Found!” is a wonderful series published by Happy Tails Books which illustrates the love and joy rescued dogs bring to their new homes. Breed-specific “Lost Souls: Found!” books are currently available for Boston Terriers, Dachshunds, Pit Bulls, Golden Retrievers, and Labrador Retrievers. Your purchase will help support dog rescue – Happy Tails is committed to donating a significant portion of profits back to dog rescue organizations. Preview a book or pick up your copy today at http://happytailsbooks.com/buy.htm.



Ever wonder what life is like for canine Hollywood stars?



“Hollywood Barks!” is your backstage pass to the life, times, and training of Hollywood dogs! The book describes a brief history of dogs in Hollywood and then dives into the memoirs of Kathryn Segura, a renowned Hollywood Studio Wrangler (the person behind the camera who serves as the "dog director"). It includes stories about dogs on the sets of movies like Air Buddies, Indecent Proposal, and There's Something About Mary, and highlights the fact that many dogs used in movies, television, and commercial are rescues! Each chapter also includes a studio training tip readers can practice with their own dogs. A significant portion of profits is donated back to the South Los Angeles Shelter, which is in desperate need of assistance. Purchase a copy or read some excerpts at http://happytailsbooks.com/hollywood.htm.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Featured Rescue - Sam the Schnauzer

Today's Featured Rescue is inspired by my posts from the last two days.



His name is Sam.




Sam is an adult dog who hasn't had the easiest go yet, but the rescue where he is being kept is trying their best to find him a comfortable home. Sam, or Sammy as he has come to be known in rescue, will need a bit of training and some behavioural work from the sounds of it, but don't let that deter you. He is reportedly gentle, quiet, doesn't destroy furniture, is housetrained and gets along well with other dogs and cats. The adoptive home will need to work with him on loud noises, touching, and quick movements.



http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14229599

Thursday, November 19, 2009

His Name is Sam ... Part 2

And now ... the conclusion you have all been waiting for to His Name Is Sam!




-----------------------------------------------------------------------




"His Name Is Sam"
Part 2



I read the sign on the door. "Euthanasia Area." "Do you want to see one?" he asked. Before I could decline, he interjected, "You really should. You can't tell the whole story unless you experience the end." I reluctantly agreed. "Good." He said, "I already cleared it and Peggy is expecting you." He knocked firmly on the door.



A middle-aged woman in a white lab coat opened it immediately. "Here's the girl I was telling you about," Ron explained. Peggy looked me over. "Well, I'll leave you here with Peggy and meet you in the reception area in about fifteen minutes. I'll have the puppy ready." With that Ron departed, leaving me standing in front of the stern-looking Peggy. Peggy motioned me in.



As I walked into the room, I gave an audible gasp. The room was small and spartan. There were a couple of cages on the wall and a cabinet with syringes and vials of a clear liquid. In the middle of the room was an examining table with a rubber mat on top. There were two doors other than the one I had entered. Both were closed. One said to incinerator room, and the other had no sign, but I could hear various animals' noises coming from behind the closed door. In the back of the room, near the door that was marked incinerator were the objects that caused my distress: two wheelbarrows, filled with the bodies of dead kittens and puppies. I stared in horror. Nothing had prepared me for this. I felt my legs grow weak and my breathing become rapid and shallow. I wanted to run from that room, screaming. Peggy seemed not to notice my state of shock. She started talking about the euthanasia process, but I wasn't hearing her. I could not tear my gaze away from the wheelbarrows and those dozens of pathetic little bodies.



Finally, Peggy seemed to notice that I was not paying attention to her. "Are you listening?" she asked irritably. "I'm only going to go through this once." I tore my gaze from the back of the room and looked at her. I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing would come out, so I nodded. She told me that behind the unmarked door were the animals that were scheduled for euthanasia that day. She picked up a chart that was hanging from the wall. "One fifty-three is next," she said as she looked at the chart. "I'll go get him." She laid down the chart on the examining table and started for the unmarked door. Before she got to the door she stopped and turned around. "You aren't going to get hysterical, are you?" she asked, "Because that will only upset the animals." I shook my head. I had not said a word since I walked into that room. I still felt unsure if I would be able to without breaking down into tears. As Peggy opened the unmarked door I peered into the room beyond. It was a small room, but the walls were lined and stacked with cages. It looked like they were all occupied. Peggy opened the door of one of the lower cages and removed the occupant. From what I could see it looked like a medium-sized dog. She attached a leash and ushered the dog into the room in which I stood.



As Peggy brought the dog into the room I could see that the dog was no more than a puppy, maybe five or six months old. The pup looked to be a cross between a Lab and a German shepherd. He was mostly black, with a small amount of tan above his eyes and on his feet. He was very excited and bouncing up and down, trying to sniff everything in this new environment. Peggy lifted the pup onto the table. She had a card in her hand, which she laid on the table next to me. I read the card. It said that number one fifty-three was a mixed Shepherd, six months old. He was surrendered two days ago by a family. Reason of surrender was given as "jumps on children." At the bottom was a note that said "Name: Sam."



Peggy was quick and efficient, from lots of practice, I guessed. She lay one fifty-three down on his side and tied a rubber tourniquet around his front leg. She turned to fill the syringe from the vial of clear liquid.



All this time I was standing at the head of the table. I could see the moment that one fifty-three went from a curious puppy to a terrified puppy. He did not like being held down and he started to struggle. It was then that I finally found my voice. I bent over the struggling puppy and whispered, "Sam. Your name is Sam." At the sound of his name Sam quit struggling. He wagged his tail tentatively and his soft pink tongue darted out and licked my hand. And that is how he spent his last moment. I watched his eyes fade from hopefulness to nothingness. It was over very quickly. I had never even seen Peggy give the lethal shot. The tears could not be contained any longer. I kept my head down so as not to embarrass myself in front of the stoic Peggy. My tears fell onto the still body on the table. "Now you know," Peggy said softly. Then she turned away. "Ron will be waiting for you."



I left the room. Although it seemed like it had been hours, only fifteen minutes had gone by since Ron had left me at the door. I made my way back to the reception area. True to his word, Ron had the puppy all ready to go. After giving me some instructions about what to feed the puppy, he handed the carrying cage over to me and wished me good luck on my speech. That night I went home and spent many hours playing with the orphan puppy. I went to bed that night but I could not sleep. After a while I got up and looked at my speech notes with their numbers and statistics. Without a second thought, I tore them up and threw them away. I went back to bed. Sometime during the night I finally fell asleep.



The next morning I arrived at my Speech class with Puppy Doe. When my turn came, I held the puppy in my arms, I took a deep breath, and I told the class about the life and death of Sam. When I finished my speech I became aware that I was crying. I apologized to the class and took my seat. After class the teacher handed out a critique with our grades. I got an "A." His comments said "Very moving and persuasive."



Two days later, on the last day of class, one of my classmates came up to me. She was an older lady that I had never spoken to in class. She stopped me on our way out of the classroom. "I want you to know that I adopted the puppy you brought to class," she said.



"His name is Sam."



by Chris Benton
"Please Spay or Neuter your pet. "

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

His Name is Sam ... Part 1

I ran across this and thought it holds a VERY important message. I found it while I was parusing through a forum. I have decided to publish it in two parts though because it is so long and I have to edit it as I go (I only have so much time!). It was posted in the forum in two parts and I will keep to that format here. I hope you take the time to read both.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------



"His Name is Sam"



After I was discharged from the Navy, Jim and I moved back to Detroit to use our GI bill benefits to get some schooling. Jim was going for a degree in Electronics and I, after much debating, decided to get mine in Computer Science.



One of the classes that was a requirement was Speech. Like many people, I had no fondness for getting up in front of people for any reason, let alone to be the center of attention as I stuttered my way through some unfamiliar subject. But I couldn't get out of the requirement, and so I found myself in my last semester before graduation with Speech as one of my classes. On the first day of class our professor explained to us that he was going to leave the subject matter of our talks up to us, but he was going to provide the motivation of the speech. We would be responsible for six speeches, each with a different motivation. For instance our first speech's purpose was to inform. He advised us to pick subjects that we were interested in and knowledgeable about. I decided to center my six speeches around animals, especially dogs.



For my first speech to inform, I talked about the equestrian art of dressage. For my speech to demonstrate, I brought my German Shepherd, Bodger, to class and demonstrated obedience commands. Finally the semester was almost over and I had but one more speech to give. This speech was to take the place of a written final exam and was to count for fifty per cent of our grade. The speeches motivation was to persuade.



After agonizing over a subject matter, and keeping with my animal theme, I decided on the topic of spaying and neutering pets. My goal was to try to persuade my classmates to neuter their pets. So I started researching the topic. There was plenty of material, articles that told of the millions of dogs and cats that were euthanized every year, of supposedly beloved pets that were turned in to various animal control facilities for the lamest of reasons, or worse, dropped off far from home, bewildered and scared. Death was usually a blessing.



The final speech was looming closer, but I felt well prepared. My notes were full of facts and statistics that I felt sure would motivate even the most naive of pet owners to succumb to my plea.



A couple of days before our speeches were due, I had the bright idea of going to the local branch of the Humane Society and borrowing a puppy to use as a sort of a visual aid. I called the Humane Society and explained what I wanted. They were very happy to accommodate me. I made arrangements to pick up a puppy the day before my speech.



The day before my speech, I went to pick up the puppy. I was feeling very confident. I could quote all the statistics and numbers without ever looking at my notes. The puppy, I felt, would add the final emotional touch.



When I arrived at the Humane Society I was met by a young guy named Ron. He explained that he was the public relations person for the Humane Society. He was very excited about my speech and asked if I would like a tour of the facilities before I picked up the puppy. I enthusiastically agreed. We started out in the reception area, which was the general public's initial encounter with the Humane Society.



The lobby was full, mostly with people dropping off various animals that they no longer wanted. Ron explained to me that this branch of the Humane Society took in about fifty animals a day and adopted out only about twenty.



As we stood there I heard snatches of conversation: "I can't keep him, he digs holes in my garden." "They are such cute puppies, I know you will have no trouble finding homes for them." "She is wild, I can't control her." I heard one of Humane Society's volunteer explain to the lady with the litter of puppies that the Society was filled with puppies and that these puppies, being black, would immediately be put to sleep.Black puppies, she explained, had little chance of being adopted. The woman who brought the puppies in just shrugged, "I can't help it," she whined. "They are getting too big. I don't have room for them." We left the reception area.



Ron led me into the staging area where all the incoming animals were evaluated for adoptability. Over half never even made it to the adoption center. There were just too many. Not only were people bringing in their own animals, but strays were also dropped off. By law the Humane Society had to hold a stray for three days. If the animal was not claimed by then, it was euthanized, since there was no background information on the animal. There were already too many animals that had a known history eagerly provided by their soon to be ex-owners. As we went through the different areas, I felt more and more depressed. No amount of statistics, could take the place of seeing the reality of what this throwaway attitude did to the living, breathing animal. It was overwhelming. Finally Ron stopped in front of a closed door. "That's it," he said, "except for this."


to be continued ...

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Ontario Private Bill to Repeal BSL

I read this on the Dog Legislation Council of Canada (DLCC) website. Turn's out an MPP is putting forth a private bill to repeal the breed part out of the Dog Owner's Liability Act (DOLA). I do not agree with BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) and have blogged about both sides of the argument in the past. I feel that there are better ways to manage a DOLA and keep the general public safe however I do understand the need to prevent dog bites/attacks.



Below I have copied and pasted the alert from the DLCC's page. They are asking everyone who can to go to Queens Park on November 18th to show your support. I will be there. Will you?



-------------------------------------------------------------------------



Private Members Bill to Repeal the ONTARIO BAN



Cheri DiNovo (MPP for Parkdale) has joined a GROWING LIST of other politicians that support REPEALING DOLA.



Cheri is going to put forth a Private Member's Bill forward to repeal the Breed Specific part of the Dog Owner's Liability Act between 10am and 11:30 am in front of Queens Park on November 18th. As a responsible dog owner herself, Cheri understands that this law must be repealed so that more effective measures (which are not breed specific) can be put into place.



Advocates for responsible dog ownership are making their demands known. We will no longer allow laws that make dog owners criminals or at best second class citizens simply because of how their dog 'looks'.



COME TOGETHER. We need bodies at this event. Clayton Ruby along with many other advocates for responsible dog ownership will be there and so will the media. Let's show them that dog owners are barking mad about this travesty.



We are asking that ALL dog owners join together in solidarity and support Ms.Di Novo in her efforts.



WHEN AND WHERE?

Queens Park
at 9:30 am
November 18, 2009



If you cannot be there, please forward your support to repeal the ban to:

C. Smith smithcc@ndp.on.ca
Charles Smith Executive Assistant
Cheri DiNovo MPP
Parkdale High Park
Tel: (416) 325-0244
Fax: (416) 325-0305
http://www.cheridinovo.ca/



Dogs Deserve Freedom IN: If you have a blog or website, please cross-post this information with a backlink to the DLCC webpage to spread the word regardless whether or not you can be there or are in Ontario!



Remember ... "Having heard all of this, you may choose to look the other way ... but you can never say again that you did not know." William Wilberforce 1759-1833

Monday, November 16, 2009

Guess the Breed #13

Well, this is a good week for 13, eh?? Friday the 13th ... Guess The Breed #13 ... just keeps going and going. Like bunnies.



I tried to find a picture with 13 in it, but I think there are only 9 here ... right? Did I miss any?







Anyway ... what do you think this one is? Ready? Set? GO!



As always, remember the rules ...

1. No bashing other peoples' opinions.
2. Post your opinion!
3. Have fun!



Regarding Guess The Breed #12 ... NORWOOD UNLEASHED guessed first with Shiba Inu. Norwood has two blogs that he contributes to; norwood unleashed! and THE HORVATH BLOG

Friday, November 13, 2009

Friday the 13th ... yet another excuse

Every day people blame either me or their computers for things. Such is the life of a computer technician. I've had people scream at me. Yell at me. Threaten me. Follow me to my truck. I accept this. It's my day job. Much of the time they could fix the problems themselves if they just sat down and tried. But most don't want to try. It's easier just to have someone else do it for them. It's also easier to tell their boss that they can't get the report done because I'm working on their computer and preventing them from doing their work. RIGHT. Because the one hour I'm at your computer could TOTALLY make or break that 14 hour report you had to get done. Some have even told their boss that I deleted the report from their computer. That one's always fun.










What does this have to do with dogs? Well, because today is Friday the 13th and people blame Friday the 13th the same way they blame computers (and computer technicians) for their problems. Personally, I enjoy when the 13th day falls on Fridays because I love to sit and watch people squirm. Call it a quirk. Call it sadistic. Call it whatever you want. It's a bit mean. I know. What can I say? I can't help it. People get themselves SO worked up! It makes me laugh. Generally these are the same people who haven't ever got anything nice to say when I walk in the door other than "Finally! This thing hasn't worked all year. Why can't you just give me a new one?"









I was speaking with a lady in the office this morning about her Chocolate Labrador Retriever. Apparently she was getting ready to eat her breakfast this morning but put it down on the table to help her child zip up his jacket. When she turned around the dog had eaten her muffin. She blamed this on it being Friday 13th ... the son who was right beside her and said the dog eats things all the time. So what was it really? Was it because she wanted something to gripe about? Was it because she doesn't notice when this happens on other days? Was the son exaggerating? I would say it is a bit of all these things mixed together. Generally the truth lies somewhere in the middle.








Enter eerie music ... *Doom Doom Doom Doom*








While I didn't tell her what I thought (she really didn't want to know and I really didn't want to get fired), I was thinking something along the lines of this ...



Stop blaming things like days of the week for your animals' mismanagement. Spend some time and train your dog. You would be surprised at the outcome if you accept that the fault is your lack of guidance and actually work to remedy some of those behaviours - NOT Friday the 13th.








Who knows, maybe if you work to remedy this with your dog the next time Friday the 13th comes around you won't lose your muffin?



*then what would she have to complain about?*

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Featured Rescue - Alley the Labrador Retriever

It's been a while since I posted a Labrador as a Featured Rescue so I thought I'd have one today. There are 20,532 Labradors currently looking for new homes in North America. HOLY JUMPIN'! That number does not include the dogs in municipal pounds that get euthanized after a few days. It is only the ones listed in rescues by those interested in posting on Petfinder.




This is Alley. She is 10 months old and is currently being listed by All Breed Canine Rescue out of London, Ontario. They report her as a sweet and happy puppy who thinks everyone is her friend but she is also timid. The ad doesn't say why she is in rescue. It doesn't really matter; her last owners didn't keep her. End of story. Now she's ready to start a new story with someone else.



I encourage everyone to research the breed of the dog they plan to bring into their lives. Make sure the animal fits into your lifestyle (or alter your lifestyle to accomodate a dog you have). I see this far too often. It's not fair to get a puppy, then get rid of it when it passes the "cute" stage and becomes a gangly, unruly, excitable adolescent.



I knew someone who did this to five dogs. They got a free or cheap puppy when it was cute. Let it do whatever it wanted, then got rid of it when it hit 8 months old. One of the puppies they taught to grip on a person's arm (playfighting). They encouraged the dog to growl at other people/dogs. That dog they were forced to get rid of early (at 6 months) because it bit a neighbour in their condo building. The landlord said it was either them or the dog. Did I mention that they had two children? One was 4 years old and the other was an infant under 1 year.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Best of CL - Evolution of a Pet AD

There are so many great posts lately on CL! Check out the below post. Very interesting ... I love it!! A great reminder to read through the fine print.



Evolution of a pet adDate: 2009-07-31, 3:16PM CDT



Week 1: Ad #1
Purebread Yorkie puppies for sale 6 weeks old 3 girls @ $450 2 boys @ $400!! Parents on site! Hurry these won't last!!!



Week 2: Ad #2
Purebred Yorkie puppies for rehoming - eating solid food - rehoming fee applies 2 girls 2 boys!! Parents on site. These are going fast!!!



Week 3: Ad #3
Please don't flag this ad - I'm not a breeder. Purebred Yorkie puppies for adoption - 8 weeks old - email about rehoming fee. 2 girls 1 boy.



Week 4: Ad #4
YOU IDIOTS ON THE CL POLICE NEED TO GET A LIFE. I AM NOT A BREEDER. IF THESE PUPPIES END UP IN THE POUND ITS YOUR FAULT. Purebred Yorkie puppies for adoption - 9 weeks old - email about rehoming fee. 1 girl 1 boy.



Week 6: Ads # 5 and 6 (posted a day apart)
Purebred Yorkie puppy for adoption - 10 weeks old - female. I have to rehome because of allergies. Rehoming fee does apply. To a good home only. Yorkie puppy for rehoming - 10 weeks old - male. I have to rehome because I'm moving. I hate to see this one go - rehoming fee applies to ensure a good home.



Week 7: Ad #7
Pure Heart Rescue: 11 week old owner surrender purebred male Yorkie puppy. He is UTD on his shots and neutered. A vet reference and a home visit is required. Re-homing fee: $100.

Monday, November 9, 2009

News Reel - Police dog attack on child

This news article is a bit old ... I had originally read it when it was first published and had bookmarked it on my computer with all the good intentions of posting it to my blog. Then I forgot. Yep. That's right. I forgot. It happens. I try to remember everything, but sometimes my brain gets too full and things fall out. I'm posting it now. That means that this one didn't fall out -it was simply put into a filing cabinet in the dark back corner of my head.



The news article is titled Police dog attack on child inspires lawsuit. It was posted on October 15, 2009. Please take a few minutes to read the article. It is slow to load - I don't know why. Just give it a few minutes - go grab a coffee/tea/bathroom-break and then read the article.



This was a well trained police dog who attacked an autistic child; a neighbour. So, why did I post this article? Easy answer for that ...



I want to remind everyone that no matter how well trained our dogs are, they are still dogs. They have instinctual reactions to situations. You can teach them how to react to these situations, but life will always change and give you new ones. It will present new training opportunities and just as we learn new things every day of our lives, so do our dogs.



What we as owners need to do is identify these potential training opportunities and use them to further the eduation of our canine companions.



This was an unfortunate incident. A terrible thing. I hope the young girl can learn to trust dogs and police cars again, but it will likely be a long time before that day. I wish the parents all the luck I can send.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Asshat Rant - Parks, Leashes and Night Walks

OK. It's been a while since I published a Rant. That's not because I haven't had much to say but mostly because I've just been too busy to formulate my frustrations into comprehensive and meaningful words. Mostly I had something revolving around my head that goes like this:





"ARGH! Dumbass. Asshat. Dog. Owners. Rehome. Baggies. Pick it up! Hypocrit. Toys. Walk. EXERCISE! Tired Dog. Good Dog. Pulling. Dragging. Jumping. Marking. Barking. Biting. Aggression. Rehome. Euthanasia. Dumbass. Asshat. ARGH!"



*HEADDESK, HEADDESK, HEADDESK*



Which obviously doesn't make any sense at all to someone living outside of my brain. Well, maybe it makes sense if you fill in the blanks but it doesn't do anything other than to give me a place to vent. It is important for me to make it clear WHY I need to vent ... otherwise I'm just another crazy rescue person who hates human beings. (Regardless of how true that is, I don't need to perpetuate this) I don't want to be put into that stereotype-group.



So, what do I have to talk about today? OH SO MUCH --- but where to start!? First, a little note to set the stage ...



Here I am at the park under a pavilion working my new dog (who is fearful of all things new - humans/dogs/cars/noises/etc. and blindly runs) through a series of obstacles and developing some basic obedience. The parking area and this pavilion that I'm under are the only areas that are not dark. The park itself is quite large with much grassy areas and a few trees. The back of the park is a treed ravine. To clarify ... this is NOT a dog park. This is a people park. One section is an Arboretum with flower beds, etc. It's supposed to be a break from the city.



So, now you know where I was when the following happened ... Please note that I think it's great that these people brought their dogs out and about; however I do not think it appropriate that their dogs be off leash in this sort of an environment.



A small JRT mix came bounding up and stopped 25 ft away to bark at us. At this point my dog is absolutely PANICKING and trying to blindly run in every direction at once to get away from the crazed JRT. The owners come up at a slow mosey calling their dog over and over but not really caring that he is barking at us. If I didn't understand the words they were saying, I might have thought they were barking at us in tandem with their dog!! In fact, the owners didn't bother to leash their dog at all, but instead called out asking what breed my dog was. Rather than getting pissy, I used this as a training opportunity for my dog. I ended up talking with them and watched their dog do this to four other dogs that arrived (only one was leashed). Each time their dog barked at another dog, mine would freak out. The JRT owners thought this was funny.



This sort of thing happens. I accept that. It is something we need to train our dogs to be prepared for. I don't have an issue with this. What I DO have an issue with is the following:



- Some people are afraid of dogs. Respect this. Not everyone thinks your poopsie poo is the cutest thing ever. Not everyone wants to pet him/her. And most people don't want your dog barking at them.



- The owners don't know that my dog isn't dog aggressive. Having their dog off leash in an area that is supposed to be ON leash is very dangerous. Not only are there other dogs that may start a fight (especially if that dog's habit is to run up and bark at other dogs) but we were in a dark parking lot and the dog may be hit by a car.



- They obviously don't have a dog that responds to their call - he ignored them. These people called their dog over 25 times (I stopped counting at 25; there were more, but I was tired and wasn't about to get into it). That means they really shouldn't have the dog off leash if he won't come when they call.



- What if he found a skunk, raccoon or porcupine? I've seen all three in this park at night. If he doesn't come when he's called ... it may not be a pleasant ride home and may result in a trip to the vet or emergency clinic.



- What if the dog poos? Since it is so dark and the dog is nowhere in sight, they can't see if he poos. That means they don't pick up its poo. Great. This is supposed to be a nice park where you can take your kids for a picnic ... "No Johnny, it's not a Tootsie Roll. Put it down and come eat your sandwich." EEEWWWW





Did I miss any reasons why dogs should be leashed in areas that are not designated as OFF leash? Probably. Feel free to add them in the comments section!
This is why Non-Dog-Owners don't like people taking their dogs all over the place. This is why dogs are banned from parks, beaches, schools and other locations which would otherwise offer wonderful training opportunities. I wish dog owners would stop putting the blame on people who don't like dogs making these rules and step up to take the responsibility. If we blame others than we don't have to better ourselves ... asshats.



To the JRT owners (and the 3 other owners I watched get out of their vehicle to let their dogs run around off leash after dark) ... YOU ARE THE PROBLEM. Stop making it worse for the rest of us!!



Asshats.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Guess the Breed #12

I like this picture but I have no idea why. I think it is because of the stance ... I'm not really sure why I like it. Whatever the reason, I thought it would be a good one to use for today's Guess The Breed.



There are 3 of these dogs living in my area, which is how I became familiar with the breed. Can you guess rightly?



Ready? Set? GO!



Please remember the golden rules ...


1. No bashing other peoples' opinions. (Friendly banter only.)
2. Post your opinion!
3. Have fun!



As followup for Guess the Breed # 11, giantspeckledchihuahua guessed rightly with "The Bavarian Mountain Hound, known in his native country as Bayerischer Gebirgsschweisshund". giantspeckledchihuahua writes a blog called ummm... which is a dog related blog. Check it out if you have time!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

CL Post - Imperfect Pet Owner Seeks Perfect Adopter

I found this on the Best of CraigsList page and thought I'd share. Yes, it's a bit negative ... but getting rid of a pet really shouldn't be a joyous occasion ... at least, I don't think it should be. This isn't really written in the tone that I normally write, but hey ... I didn't write it. I thought it was an interesting take on the pet re-homing subject. Please take a few minutes to read it.



Imperfect Pet Owner Seeks Perfect AdopterDate: 2009-09-11, 7:36PM PDT



I wanted a pet, so I got one. But I am tired of taking care of it, and paying for it. I might even be moving, in which case I would have to pay a pet deposit or spend an extra 30 seconds planning how to take along my pet. Maybe I decided to have a baby or get a boyfriend (or girlfriend). Anyhow, I don't want my pet anymore. Oh wait, that sounds every bit as selfish as I am. I mean, I can't keep my pet. Yeah, that's it. Oh allergies- YES, I suddenly got allergies. No one will question that.



Now about my pet. I've had it since it was a kitten (or pup, or egg if reptilian) and now it's middle aged, the age NO ONE wants to adopt, but didn't you see- I need someone to take care of it.



Anyhow, since this process will be very upsetting for my formerly precious pet (and because I may feel an inkling of guilt) I want the adopter to give it a home where there are no other pets, so it doesn't have to share your affections (even though I've been ignoring it for months). Now let me tell you how sweet, lovable, and darling he/she is. Also, allow me to fail to mention that he/she has a urination issue when scared, or he/she eat sofas, etc.



Oh, and I think you should pay a fee to show you're capable of buying cat food. And plus I spent money on it 8 years ago and heck I can get a few boxes of diapers for the baby with that cash.



Besides, everyone knows that you can tell a person who's taking your pet to be a test lab subject by whether or not they'll shell out $50. If my pet is purebred, I will likely try to charge you hundreds. Because I spend hundreds and this is a very valuable pet. I just don't want it anymore. But YOU should want it enough to help me recoup my original purchase price.



Now, I hope you'll take it right to the vet, because he/she is behind on shots. And was never spayed/neutered. And make sure it gets premium food and all the things it deserves, but I am too selfish to even continue to care for it. And remember, this is a commitment- you better not take it and then change your mind ever because only I can do that. Now that I dumped him/her on you, he/she is too traumatized to ever face that again.



Last of all, I will now close by telling you that I need this person who takes over my responsibility to come along quickly, because otherwise I *may* have to take him/her to the pound. I probably won't, but that threat is sure to scare someone into hurrying up and taking over my responsibility.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

October top droppers

To share some appreciation to my Entrecard regulars, I have been trying to remember to do a blog entry each month that lists my top droppers. Below are my top droppers for October from Entrecard.


BetterSpines
Funky Town Disco Music
CAP News
AsTheCrackerheadCrumbles
BeadedTail
Best travel pictures in the world
Traders' Hub
Sader's Pet Pix
So far, so good
The One Minute Guide

Monday, November 2, 2009

Featured Rescue Followups September

Today is a day for updates! I haven't been around for a while to do any blog posts, Entrecard drops or Adgitize clicks ... been busy with life. This weekend was my last big commitment (4 days) and I am now able to focus.


Here are the Featured Rescue Followups for September - which I realized that I didn't post back in October. While some have been adopted, many more are waiting for their forever home.

Rafe and Redman the Rhodesian Ridgebacks
Status: NOT Adopted
Featured on January 12, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry
Rodesian Ridgebacks are difficult to place in homes. I hope they find that right someone soon ...

FiFi the Great Pyrenees
Status: Not Adopted
Featured on April 26, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.
The picture they have used to post her is horrible. I don't think that picture is even the same dog as I had originally put up in April ...


Codi the Welsh Corgi
Status: Not Adopted
Featured on May 10, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry
No new news on this guy's Petfinder Page.

Eubie the Border Collie
Status: Not Adopted
Featured on May 13, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry
Still no luck ...


Jack A Roo the Australian Cattle Dog/Blue Heeler
Status: Not Adopted
Featured on May 30, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.
Jack A Roo is going to need the perfect home to come along. He is deaf. Note that deaf dogs can make excellent members of the family, but it takes a special sort of person who is willing to do the training required. Look at the focus!


Winston the Boston Terrier
Status: Listing Removed - Assumed Adopted
Featured on June 17, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.

Sam the Chow
Status: Listing Removed - Assumed Adopted
Featured on June 25, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.


Scooter the Dachshund
Status: Listing Removed - Assumed Adopted
Featured on July 5, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.

Parker the German Shorthaired Pointer
Status: Adopted
Featured on July 18, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.


Neeko the American Eskimo Dog
Status: Adoption Pending
Featured on August 14, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.

Lady the Greyhound
Status: Not Adopted.
Featured on August 28, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.
Lady has new pictures on Petfinder! Check them out!

Zeta the Belgian Malinois
Status: Not Adopted
Featured on September 4, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.
Zeta's profile has been updated on petfinder


Lucinda the Boxer
Status: Not Adopted
Featured on September 16, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.

Sherman the Bassett Hound
Status: Not Adopted
Featured on September 22, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.


Prissy the Black Labrador Retriever
Status: Adopted
Featured on Sepember 28, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.