So at the beginning of this week, we had three Basset Hounds...Today we have none!
Happy Howling in your new homes! I'm going to miss them.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Basset Overload...
When people think of shelter dogs, they think of mutts, mixed breeds, mongrels, and well...pit bulls. However, NEWS FLASH...Purebreds can be found in shelters too! I present the case of the Bassets. (It sort of sounds like a Sherlock Holmes mystery, but it isn't)
Currently, we have three Basset Hounds. Not three Basset Hound mixes, but three genuine Basset hounds...short legs, long backs, droopy ears, deep bellowing bark/howl. Two are brother and sister, they came in together for their owners lost their home, and the other one's owners were hospitalized.
If you've never met a Basset you are truly missing out. Their personality (or is it canineality, or dogality) is unmatched by any other purebred. They have a flair for the dramatic. When they play, their stub legs gallop underneath them with their ears flopping in the wind. It is quite comical. But when a Basset Hound is done, he or she will let you know. They will just plop themselves on the ground, roll onto their side and let out a howl. Bribery doesn't work easily once a Basset decides she is done walking; kibble just doesn't cut it. Bring on the hot dogs.
These dogs have the uncanny ability to melt your heart. I'm not sure if it is those sad eyes, or big floppy ears, or maybe it is the whole package. I do know that hearing a chorus of Basset howls makes even the grumpiest of visitors smile.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Counter Surfing...
No Dog that comes into the shelter is perfect. Granted we have a point system for dogs. During their behavior evaluations they earn points. Points are a bad thing. Points mean the dog did something during their evaluation that is reason for concern. Such as growling, showing teeth or being very nervous. Therefore, if a dog doesn't receive any points he is considered "perfect." HA!
Let me introduce you to Mitchell.
Mitchell is...well...we don't know. Maybe he has some shepherd in him, maybe some smooth collie, and perhaps even some greyhound. He was tall and lanky. Mitchell is a very happy go lucky boy! He loves everyone! The reason I don't think he is perfect...he thinks he's human. A dog that thinks he is human does not make a very good dog :)
Mitchell came to us from a different branch of our organization. they were having trouble placing him. He was continuously returned for being too much. That branch had originally brought him up from Tennessee because he was going to be euthanized...and we couldn't let a perfect dog be euthanized. So we decided to give him a chance.
Mitchell pulled. You put on the leash and it was GO time! Don't plan on stopping! He was fitted for a Gentle Leader (GL in shelter speak) and that helped...some. In Mitchell's kennel he greeted you on his hind legs, front feet flying in the air as to give you a welcoming hug. Mitchell didn't like the GL so he sat on his hind and used BOTH front paws to guard his face from the limiting device. Once you passed this part of his test, and taking him outside the kennel, he insisted on seeing everything through your perspective. He's stand up to look out the window. Stop at the desk to talk to anyone there, as well as rid the desk from any delectibles left unattended...(or even if they were attended, it didn't stop him. Mitchell was a "Counter Surfer."
A potential adopter called asking about Mitchell. Of course I was very excited because Mitchell was my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE! She asked me to tell her more about him. So happily I obliged. I told her what he looked like, how he was learning his commands...sit, down, stay, come. I told her that he was incredibly smart and that I loved him, and said that he was "perfect," and that I loved him. And then I said...He's a counter surfer. He prefers to be on two legs than the four that he has, but he really is a great dog and just needs someone to give him a little time and patience. I also told her that he's kind of obnoxious, but I loved that about him. Other dogs find him annoying to play with for too long. But he listens well to their signals and just needs a dog with patience or who is just as ridiculous as he is. Oh and I love him.
The nice lady on the end of the phone then says..."Darn it! I was really hoping that I would call and that you would tell me about him, and that he wouldn't sound like the right dog for my family, but now I think I LOVE him..."
She came in that following Sunday to meet Mitchell, and Mitchell left with them that week.
I mean, how can you not fall in love with that beautiful face!
Let me introduce you to Mitchell.
Mitchell is...well...we don't know. Maybe he has some shepherd in him, maybe some smooth collie, and perhaps even some greyhound. He was tall and lanky. Mitchell is a very happy go lucky boy! He loves everyone! The reason I don't think he is perfect...he thinks he's human. A dog that thinks he is human does not make a very good dog :)
Mitchell came to us from a different branch of our organization. they were having trouble placing him. He was continuously returned for being too much. That branch had originally brought him up from Tennessee because he was going to be euthanized...and we couldn't let a perfect dog be euthanized. So we decided to give him a chance.
Mitchell pulled. You put on the leash and it was GO time! Don't plan on stopping! He was fitted for a Gentle Leader (GL in shelter speak) and that helped...some. In Mitchell's kennel he greeted you on his hind legs, front feet flying in the air as to give you a welcoming hug. Mitchell didn't like the GL so he sat on his hind and used BOTH front paws to guard his face from the limiting device. Once you passed this part of his test, and taking him outside the kennel, he insisted on seeing everything through your perspective. He's stand up to look out the window. Stop at the desk to talk to anyone there, as well as rid the desk from any delectibles left unattended...(or even if they were attended, it didn't stop him. Mitchell was a "Counter Surfer."
A potential adopter called asking about Mitchell. Of course I was very excited because Mitchell was my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE! She asked me to tell her more about him. So happily I obliged. I told her what he looked like, how he was learning his commands...sit, down, stay, come. I told her that he was incredibly smart and that I loved him, and said that he was "perfect," and that I loved him. And then I said...He's a counter surfer. He prefers to be on two legs than the four that he has, but he really is a great dog and just needs someone to give him a little time and patience. I also told her that he's kind of obnoxious, but I loved that about him. Other dogs find him annoying to play with for too long. But he listens well to their signals and just needs a dog with patience or who is just as ridiculous as he is. Oh and I love him.
The nice lady on the end of the phone then says..."Darn it! I was really hoping that I would call and that you would tell me about him, and that he wouldn't sound like the right dog for my family, but now I think I LOVE him..."
She came in that following Sunday to meet Mitchell, and Mitchell left with them that week.
I mean, how can you not fall in love with that beautiful face!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
My College Dog...
College was stressful!
Studies show that animals can lower stress, therefore I must attribute my surviving college to a special dog. Her name is Bailey...she lived in the assistant dean's apartment which was a part of my student housing. I love Bailey! I took care of her when her mom had to leave town, and nothing made me happier! We both moved out after my sophomore year, but that didn't stop me from seeing her. She is my college dog. I love Bailey.
Studies show that animals can lower stress, therefore I must attribute my surviving college to a special dog. Her name is Bailey...she lived in the assistant dean's apartment which was a part of my student housing. I love Bailey! I took care of her when her mom had to leave town, and nothing made me happier! We both moved out after my sophomore year, but that didn't stop me from seeing her. She is my college dog. I love Bailey.
Bailey is now an old lady, but she still wags her tail when she sees me. I went back to visit Cornell just a few weeks ago, and of course I stopped to see her where we sat out on the grass and enjoyed the sun.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Pudding Poop...
Pudding poop...JELL-O...Bill Cosby?...Cosby!
Puppy proofing is by no means an easy task. You basically have to get down on your hands and knees and explore your house through the eyes of a dog. What can you knock over? What can you eat? What can you pee on? What can you poop on? and so on... However, there may be an even more daunting task!
You may be thinking "house training". Though difficult, that is also not what I am talking about. The task at hand is even more daunting...I ask, "what is the one thing that every dog needs?"
A name.
When parents (of the human variety) are expecting a child, battles between husband and wife go on and on about what names they like and those they don't. My own mother wanted to name me Victoria. My father did not. THANK YOU DAD! However, the only name they could agree on is the one I have now. I like my name, don't get me wrong, but when I say "Naomi" is the only name they could agree, I don't mean the only girls name. If I were a boy, my name would have been "Naomi." And wouldn't that have been a cruel joke.
When you have a child (I don't actually know from experience), you have nine months to think of a name. Adding a furry family member often happens more quickly, and most people wait and see what their new puppy does to name it. Or if they're like me, they'll just keep the name that the animal came with.
That's right. I cannot take credit for Ike. That would be a result of the staff at the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire. How did they name him? They pointed to a name in a book of German names. Ike, however, was not the first selection. Hitler was...
You would think that working at an animal shelter would make you more suited for naming pets. Numerous owners surrender their pets to the shelter on a monthly basis. Every animal comes in with a name, so I should, technically, have a wide variety of names in my aresenal. Unfortunately, the pet owner population is not as creative as you would think, and more often then not, these animals' names have set them up for failure. As an example, I bring to the table the names, Precious, Princess, and Angel...most animals with these names have spent time on quarantine for biting or scratching someone...
So when a nameless animal comes into the shelter, the staff do their best to give names that have not been used, or at least haven't been in the recent past. Our biggest inspiration, television characters. These work well for litters of kittens, or dynamic duos. "Bonnie and Clyde," "Thelma and Louise," "Ross, Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Chandler, and Joey," "Ted, Marshall, Lily, Robin, and Barney." But when a four week old puppy comes into the shelter motherless and nameless...it doesn't get more difficult than that.
He was so small, but very active and robust. He looked like a little pit bull/boxer mix with the best brindle coloring. Four of us just stared at him throwing names back and forth each other turning their noses up at suggestions. He was coming home with me, so basically I had the final say, afterall I would be the one teaching him his name, calling it from a far. And then it happened....
He pooped...
"It looks like chocolate pudding"
"We should call him pudding!"
"I am not going to yell Come here Pudding"
"It kind of looks like JELL-O"
"NOPE"
"How about Bill Cosby?"
"I like Cosby"
"Cosby fits him"
"Cosby it is"
And that my friends, is how the most adorable puppy got his name. There will be more on Cosby later. In an animal shelter environment, even poop is inspirational.
Puppy proofing is by no means an easy task. You basically have to get down on your hands and knees and explore your house through the eyes of a dog. What can you knock over? What can you eat? What can you pee on? What can you poop on? and so on... However, there may be an even more daunting task!
You may be thinking "house training". Though difficult, that is also not what I am talking about. The task at hand is even more daunting...I ask, "what is the one thing that every dog needs?"
A name.
When parents (of the human variety) are expecting a child, battles between husband and wife go on and on about what names they like and those they don't. My own mother wanted to name me Victoria. My father did not. THANK YOU DAD! However, the only name they could agree on is the one I have now. I like my name, don't get me wrong, but when I say "Naomi" is the only name they could agree, I don't mean the only girls name. If I were a boy, my name would have been "Naomi." And wouldn't that have been a cruel joke.
When you have a child (I don't actually know from experience), you have nine months to think of a name. Adding a furry family member often happens more quickly, and most people wait and see what their new puppy does to name it. Or if they're like me, they'll just keep the name that the animal came with.
That's right. I cannot take credit for Ike. That would be a result of the staff at the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire. How did they name him? They pointed to a name in a book of German names. Ike, however, was not the first selection. Hitler was...
You would think that working at an animal shelter would make you more suited for naming pets. Numerous owners surrender their pets to the shelter on a monthly basis. Every animal comes in with a name, so I should, technically, have a wide variety of names in my aresenal. Unfortunately, the pet owner population is not as creative as you would think, and more often then not, these animals' names have set them up for failure. As an example, I bring to the table the names, Precious, Princess, and Angel...most animals with these names have spent time on quarantine for biting or scratching someone...
So when a nameless animal comes into the shelter, the staff do their best to give names that have not been used, or at least haven't been in the recent past. Our biggest inspiration, television characters. These work well for litters of kittens, or dynamic duos. "Bonnie and Clyde," "Thelma and Louise," "Ross, Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Chandler, and Joey," "Ted, Marshall, Lily, Robin, and Barney." But when a four week old puppy comes into the shelter motherless and nameless...it doesn't get more difficult than that.
He was so small, but very active and robust. He looked like a little pit bull/boxer mix with the best brindle coloring. Four of us just stared at him throwing names back and forth each other turning their noses up at suggestions. He was coming home with me, so basically I had the final say, afterall I would be the one teaching him his name, calling it from a far. And then it happened....
He pooped...
"It looks like chocolate pudding"
"We should call him pudding!"
"I am not going to yell Come here Pudding"
"It kind of looks like JELL-O"
"NOPE"
"How about Bill Cosby?"
"I like Cosby"
"Cosby fits him"
"Cosby it is"
And that my friends, is how the most adorable puppy got his name. There will be more on Cosby later. In an animal shelter environment, even poop is inspirational.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
My Shelter Dog...IKE
Ike, 80 pounds of resource guarding, skunk killing, always shedding, grumpy old manness is the love of my life. He is MY shelter dog. Reportedly, he is a German Shepherd Dog mix. I am willing to believe this, but mixed with what? I'm sure every adoptive parent goes through this struggle...sitting on the couch with his or her childhood dog encyclopedia (mine still sits proudly on my book shelf), reading through every dog breed just to fathom a guess as to what mix their dog really is. It doesn't stop at looks, I am talking about every personality trait possible.
I am nearly 100% positive (as is every adoptive parent) that my dog is German Shepherd, Burmese Mountain Dog (his coat is so soft and fluffy), Rhodesian Ridgeback (he could take down a lion), Siberian Husky (he loves the snow), Pit Bull Terrier (what doesn't have pit bull in it?), Chihuahua (he can have a nasty bite), Golden Retriever (he's great with kids and the elderly), Border Collie (he likes to bite ankles), Basset Hound (he can be very lazy), oh and of course i can't forget...Wolf!
Of course this is a complete exaggeration, well except for maybe the wolf part, that I actually WOULD believe.
I am nearly 100% positive (as is every adoptive parent) that my dog is German Shepherd, Burmese Mountain Dog (his coat is so soft and fluffy), Rhodesian Ridgeback (he could take down a lion), Siberian Husky (he loves the snow), Pit Bull Terrier (what doesn't have pit bull in it?), Chihuahua (he can have a nasty bite), Golden Retriever (he's great with kids and the elderly), Border Collie (he likes to bite ankles), Basset Hound (he can be very lazy), oh and of course i can't forget...Wolf!
Of course this is a complete exaggeration, well except for maybe the wolf part, that I actually WOULD believe.
We love our own dogs, but have no idea the number of dogs in limbo, waiting for someone to love them. So I'm here to help us remember the lost and forgotten, pray for the abused and neglected, and rejoice in the found and reunited. Thousands of dogs are adopted into new homes each year, and each one of those dogs has made an impact on their respective families, just as much as Ike has impacted mine. However, all these individuals are not privy to working in an animal shelter, where not just the one you take home impacts your life, but every dog that enters the shelter does. In my ideal world, they would all come home with me. In actuality, they face the uncertainty of shelter life. As a shelter agent, I can only work my hardest to find homes, safe havens, and peace of mind. I LOVE these dogs. And though at the end of they day they are tucked in their cement blocked kennels with a donated blanket, toy, and bowl of water, not knowing what tomorrow brings, whereas Ike curls up beside my bed safe from harsh criticism, disease and stress, I know they are loved. I love them.
Every dog deserves their day. So I dedicate these writings to my shelter dogs and to Ike. These are my dogs, for each one has captured a little piece of my heart.
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