Shelter Journal 6/11/13 (and 6/6)

Sugar has been moved to a double wide kennel and has a new photo up, which is good. I've felt guilty about pushing for her when there are almost 50 pitbulls and pit mixes at this shelter and over 20 chihuahuas. So many awesome dogs deserving of good homes! Adding to my guilt, I spent around 2 hours with Sugar on Tuesday to see if that would help make a difference. But that means I was only able to get her and one other dog out. With Sugar I spent quite a while sitting on the ground. She laid next to me and I pet her, massaging her and scratching those hard to reach spots. We also played, and I took her for a walk. "Walks" to me are really about exploring and letting the dog sniff and have a little adventure. After the walk I put her back in her new kennel and she immediately stressed out. Panting harder, couldn't lay down, wouldn't take treats. I stayed with her and sat on the floor until she'd calmed down a little.

From June 6th

From June 6th

New belly rash! Extra itchy.

 

After leaving her in her kennel I got her a frozen treat and got out Misty [Petfinder link], who is just a couple kennels down from Sug's new kennel. I know her to be a dog always packed full of energy and she hadn't been out in a long time. We got to the interaction yard area and I tossed toys and played with her for a long time. I figured we'd play and I'd have her chase toys for as long as she wanted. Longer than I'd planned but she needed it! She had a great time in the pool. She would put a toy in, paw at it and splash, then take it out and put it on the rim.

Must collect toys!

My post for the 6th didn't include anything other than my concern for Sugar, so here is what I missed posting about! The first dog I got was a young shepherd mix. He's new and was visibly nervous so I took my time. I squatted down and tossed him a few treats, tossing them behind him so he wouldn't feel pressured to move forward to me. He chose to approach on his own, took another treat from my hand, and then rested his head on my leg. I got the leash on and lead him out of his kennel. We went a few kennels down and he panicked when a dog jumped up, barking loudly. He ducked into an empty kennel and went all the way to the back of it (I allowed him to "escape"). I sat at the back with him, which is the front to the public, and let him rest his head on my leg again. He was able to take treats. I scooted about a foot away. He stayed in place. I offered a treat and he took it and then snuggled up to rest his head on me again. And so it went, foot by foot, inching my way to the kennel door. When he seemed better I stood up and tried to lead him out. He backed up quickly and screamed and cried and fought against the leash. Back to square one, back of the kennel. Gave him a moment to calm down then went foot by foot, inching toward the kennel door, staying squatting and scooting along. Getting through the door took some time and smaller scoots but he made it out. Smaller scoots, actually going inch by inch, all the way back to his kennel. Poor guy! I made a note on his card that he is terrified and to just spend time in the kennel with him and not try to take him out.

Photo from SDDAC

Second dog was Sugar, see previous pics above.

Then was Teena [Petfinder link], and she is growing fast! I haven't had her out in about a month. She was great! Pulling very, very hard on leash so she really needs some work on that but she is playful, sweet, knows sit, is learning down still, and is a fantastic lil pup!

Photo from SDDAC

Sunshine [Petfinder link] was next! She was a sweetie, very playful and a bit of a wiggleworm. Tough to have her stand still for a pic.

Photo from SDDAC

Near Sunshine is Baby Sierra [no link], another pitbull. She seemed a little stressed and unsure about me but was fine. Playful, liked to be petted, and lays down in classic pittie style!

Final dog of the day was Ginger [Petfinder link]. Fun as always!! Had a blast chasing toys, me, and rolling around.

She has an interesting extra little fold on her ears!

 

I also notice that on 6/6 Davy is no longer on the list. Really hope he got adopted!!

Shelter Jounral 6/6/13

I haven't posted yet because Sugar has been put on observation for kennel stress, which basically means she's starting to go nuts. I've been busy emailing people and trying to find out what we can do. One can only imagine being in a noisy stressful kennel with limited interaction day after day after day, and she's been a champ so far. Hopefully she can find an exit and be given a second chance to find an adopter!

Shelter Journal 6/4/13

Yesterday (as today is the 5th) was a very hard day for me for many reasons, including learning that Diesel had to be put down. This is going to be pretty short but I do want to post.

I started with Davy [Petfinder link], in need of a happy boy.

Then Miko [Petfinder link]. All it said on his card was STRONG. He was, very. I wasn't getting good vibes from him, which certainly could have been due to my own emotions. Dogs easily pick up on when we're having off days. I stopped pressuring him to interact, got the camera out of his face, and then he really lightened up (as did I).

Photo from SDDAC

Third was Sugar [Petfinder link]. She had fun chasing toys but mostly wanted to be petted. It's been am amazing transformation for her with physical touch. At first the slightest touch sent her into jumping mode, and now she tucks under or between my legs, sits, and loves it. Too much is still overstimulating so I do nice calm, slow, massaging type petting.

 

Then Francesca, a little terrier mix. She has a bit of an underbite. She's well into adulthood and is no young pup but she had a lot of fun chasing and shaking toys. She started coughing a bit so I didn't have her out long and turned in a medical form for suspected kennel cough.

Photo from SDDAC

Next was Coco the pretty pittie [Petfinder link]. She had dried blood on the top of her head at the base of her ears, as well as on her cheeks. I saw no blood in the kennel. I took her out to the yard to see if I could figure out where it was coming from. The tips of both her ears were bleeding. Medical form again!

Photo from SDDAC

Final dog of the day was Bella, a boxer mix [Petfinder link]. She hadn't been out since May 24th. 11 days. Poor girlie was exploding with energy and is also a major jumper. I had to hold her collar putting the leash on and taking it off to avoid being headbutted in the face, and I made note on her card to not lean over her for the same reason. Very energetic but that's expected after so long being cooped up!!

Photo from SDDAC

RIP Diesel

I don't have words to explain my emotions. He was a goober, but he was a good boy. I've said many times he wasn't "our type of dog" and we honestly did not miss his presence, but I always smiled looking back at photos and wanted to smoosh his face. Diesel was so much fun to have around and was always happy.

I received an email tonight from Diesel's owner. She said he got hit by a car on May 2nd. After a couple surgeries his blood turned septic. He had to be put down on May 20th.

 

Shelter Journal 5/30/13

It's becoming habit to post the day after, I get so busy in the afternoons and evenings after the shelter!

I heard wooo-wooo-raa-raaaaa-ing, the unmistakable sound of a husky. He has no name yet. I saw he'd already been out today but his card said he bites at the leash when it's tight. I wanted to see if he really did so got him out. Nope, no biting at all! He "talks" a lot and is very vocal when excited. He didn't have much interest in chasing toys. I did manage to brush him a lot and he fur is really dry and dull and he has a look like he's been fed corn kibble his entire life. Sweet boy though!

Photo from SDDAC

I didn't have him out long when a volunteer asked me to come see the dog she had out as he was very shy. He was a young rottweiler puppy, just come in the day before so no name. I had the volunteer take the husky back and I spent some time with the puppy. He's listed at being 4 months old, but I think he's closer to 5 months. Stray. He had perked up considerably and I think he seemed "shy" because of the stress and loud noises and chaos of the shelter. I taught him to sit, and also worked on down which he learned pretty quickly. Since he was doing fine I put him back; he didn't want to go through the big door so I gave him some time. Forcing puppies to do things is a great way to teach them to react aggressively, so I took my time and went at his pace. Once in his kennel I spent a moment there petting him before stepping out.

Next was Barney [Petfinder link] and his card said he was easily distracted by other dogs and pulled hard. Both those things were very true! In the interact yard I wasn't able to keep his attention very well so I took him for a walk to work on the pulling. He did pretty well for it being the first time in his life anyone has ever not allowed him to get what he wants by pulling! By the end of our walk he was checking in with me and would immediately turn back toward me if the leash went tight. He was a really sweet dog!

 

Photo from SDDAC

Next I got out Latifa [Petfinder link], who I believe is an American Bulldog but is listed as a pitbull. She pulled extremely hard on leash and lunged forward but was really sweet and liked chasing toys. She enjoyed putting her big drooly head in my lap after getting a drink!

Photo from SDDAC

I put Latifa back and got Sugar [Petfinder link]. Sugar was much better in the kennel but was still jumpy. Once out she walked fantastic on leash, as is usual for her now! I had her sit before I opened the gate, then I took her leash off and went and sat on the bench. While watching her sniff around I saw a scrap of toy I hadn't noticed before. I thought "What is that, like a giraffe pattern?" It was so puzzling to me that I hadn't seen it before. It was right next to the fence and almost perfectly alined with the shadow of a fence post. As I stood up I thought "Is that a snake ski- OH that is a SNAKE!" I immediately grabbed Sugar and said "Snake!" not that anybody heard me. I got her leash on. The volunteer I had switched dogs with earier was 2 yards down. "Hey Maggie, is that you down there?" I hollered. "Sure is!" she responded. "There is a snake in here!" I replied. "Is it a rattlesnake?!" so hollered back. "I'm trying to see.." since it was behind the kiddie pool I had a good barrier, and Sugar was on leash. I peered cautiously and sure enough it had that triangle head and a little rattle that was straight up and shaking. I couldn't hear the rattle. "YEAH IT IS!" and Maggie rushed to the office, encouraging me to leave the yard. I told her I didn't want to lose sight of it. I did move to the gate, and once I saw staff coming I stepped out. 4 people were coming, one with tongs and another with a bucket. I pointed out the snake, as it was little and blending in with the shadow. They saw it, the woman with the tongs gently picked it up and it didn't fight, and she placed it in the bucket. We all cheered and clapped, prompting her to take a couple bows. I was complimented profusely on my observation skills. I was glad I saw it before Sugar did and went nose-to-nose with it! I then spent a while playing with Sugar, who was into chasing toys today as equally as she wanted cuddles.

Sugar did so good at not getting bit by a rattlesnake!

I then got out Remy [Petfinder link], who hadn't been out in 2 weeks. She is listed as being on "observation" which can be for a number of reasons and not necessarily a bad thing but can be due to behavior concerns. I saw nothing inappropriate from her, in fact she was just a cuddlebug! All she wanted was belly rubs and affection. Her shelter photo does not do her justice, she has such a sweet face but I wasn't able to capture it because she was like this most of the time:

 

Photo from SDDAC

Last dog of the day was Britney [still no link] the screaming pitbull. She hadn't been out in about a week. Pulled hard and lunged forward on leash, and once in the yard exploded with energy. I gave her plenty of time to run circles and do her own thing. She was curious about a toy on the pool so I encouraged her in. Turns out she loves the water! She had a great time spinning and splashing and doing play bows and biting at the water.

The fence post shadow behind her back legs is where the snake was earlier.

 

 

 

Photo from SDDAC

Oh, and I got Davy out today too! [Petfinder link] I think after Sugar and before Britney? I normal make note but I didn't by his name. He was great! Playful, sweet, fun as always!