A Person for Every Dog (Reply)

(Picture Left: "Demon Dog," Bernie. He just needed to find the person meant for him.)

Shellie Writes: Anyone who is in shelter or rescue can sympathize with your frustration. Our shelter took in two purebred pups this week--a 5 month old German Shepherd surrendered due to divorce; and a 4 month old Chocolate Lab given up for "moving". Luckily, such pups are fairly easily placed in our semi-rural area and should find adoptive homes quickly.On a happier note "Dash", whose story you shared a couple weeks ago, has been adopted for a third time; this time to a home which seems to have much promise for him. He was adopted this time by a middle-aged couple and their two teenagers; they live on a small farmette with a few cattle and several goats, which should give this happy boy a "job" to do. And their 15-year-old daughter is a junior handler with the local kennel club and also has begun some agility training with their other dog. So Dash's future is looking much brighter this time around. We all have our fingers crossed that the third time will be the charm for him.

Reply: Thank you for sharing the update for Dash. That is good news and it sounds like this pooch has finally found the people meant for him!

I do believe there is a right person for every dog. -- Even so-called, "demon dogs" or dogs from hell.

Case in point:

Last year, I rescued a small and adorable Tibetan Spaniel mix named Bernie from the pound where the dog was facing euthanasia due to questionable behavior.

Bernie was an older dog who was dumped by a family with the excuse, "no time for." I sent Bernie to one of my very best foster homes, but I soon learned that what I thought would be an "easy dog" was anything but......

Over the years, Carrie (the foster) has taken in around 50 dogs for foster. She and her family have taken in Pitbulls, German Shepherds and many, Chows and mixes.

I thought this small, older and (at least with me) very sweet pooch would be a piece of cake for Carrie, her husband and two daughters.

But, after having Bernie for about a week, Carrie informed me that he was, in fact, the most difficult dog she had ever fostered.

Bernie was not good with the family's cats. And he turned into an "attack dog" any time visitors came. He bit at least two family friends and Carrie's Mother in law.

Things were not looking good.

But, the final straw came after Carrie had Bernie for about a month and he bit one of her kids.

I was forced to put Bernie into a boarding kennel.

Although Bernie was always good with me when I walked him, he was not so friendly with the kennel staffers who had to feed and care for him on a daily basis. After Bernie attempted to bite two handlers, I was informed that I would have to remove him from the kennel.

I was then out of options and places to send Bernie.

I was looking at having to send Bernie back to Animal Control and almost certain death.

But, then I received a call from a woman willing to help save a life by fostering a dog.

"Darlene" was very experienced with dogs, had a home in New Jersey and had a good heart.

I told her honestly that our most desperate case for needed foster was Bernie and I explained why.

Seeming to like a challenge, Darlene agreed to meet with Bernie that afternoon.

Although initially a little nervous when meeting Darlene, to my relief, Bernie did not attempt to bite her.

To my amazement, Darlene agreed to take Bernie. I told Darlene truthfully, that, due to his bite history, Bernie would be a very difficult, if not impossible adoption. He needed intense "work" on his behavior. But, Darlene was not deterred. Having recently lost her senior spaniel to terminal illness, Darlene was open to the possibility of adoption of Bernie.

The first few weeks with Bernie were not easy for Darlene.

Bernie bit her boyfriend, as well as he attacked the boyfriend's Lab mix dog.

Bernie also acted as "guard" or attack dog any time Darlene took him for rides in her car. No one could approach the car or get in with her.

But, as temperamental and difficult as Bernie may have been, he totally adored Darlene and was entirely devoted to her.

She in turn loved Bernie, treating him as her "baby" and even dressing the little dog up in clothes and hats.

Last Christmas, Darlene sent me the above "Christmas Card" which I immediately printed up and showed to the people at the boarding kennel, as well as Carrie.

No one of course could believe that the adorable, happy and sweet little dog in the Christmas greeting was the same "demon" animal who aimed to take the fingers off of almost every stranger he met, as well as some people Bernie actually knew.

A few weeks ago, Darlene called to tell me of Bernie's progress over the year.

Yes, he is still very "protective" of Darlene and his home, but Bernie at least accepts Darlene's boyfriend as well as the other dog. Darlene described Bernie as the "love of my life!" and told me how much the little dog loves being dressed up.

"I have to send you pictures sometime of Bernie in his little motorcycle outfit and sunglasses! He looks soooooo adorable!"

As said, there is a person for every dog.

The question is, can we find these people before "time" for the animals runs out? -- PCA

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"It's Not the Animals; Its the People"

The frustration and disparity of the summer is so far, carrying into the fall with the same last minute cancellations, flake outs and dump calls.

One dump call last night was particularly exasperating:

The woman who lives on the posh Upper East Side of Manhattan told me she needed to "put up for adoption" her six-month-old Bichon puppy (bought from a pet shop). She wanted to know where our "shelter" was where she could immediately drop off the puppy.

When I told her we were a small rescue group that did not have a shelter, the woman became very agitated. "But, North Shore Animal League gave me your number and said you could take my dog!"

I tried communicating with this woman to determine what the particular problem was and why she needed to give up her six-month-old, small breed dog. Hopefully, it was a problem that could be solved with some training or understanding of dog behavior.

But, the woman was more interested in trying to convince me what a "loving dog owner" she was and how this particular dog was a "problem."

"I am a singer and a voice coach. When my students come for lessons and I put the dog in a crate, she barks incessantly. I can't have this! Previously, I had a wonderful dog for 15 years and even gave her shots everyday for Diabetes!"

"Well, surely you understand, Ma'am that a fairly new puppy is not going to behave in the same manner as a dog you had 15 years who presumably was used to your lifestyle and career responsibilities." I told the woman. "The puppy probably feels shut out or even abandoned when you put her in the crate to go and teach your students. Did you seek the help of a trainer?"

"Yes! I consulted a trainer and the trainer told me the dog needs to be in a yard with a family. She needs a country home!"

"Ma'am, I can't imagine any trainer telling you such a thing! This is a small, apartment-type dog we are discussing who is most likely suffering a curable sense of separation anxiety......"

But, before I could complete the sentence, the woman rudely hung up on me.

I didn't obviously have what the woman was seeking: A quick, easy "no kill shelter" to immediately drop off her (now inconvenient) store-bought puppy.

In fact, the only time we in rescue hear from pompass, impatient, "used to getting what I want with the snap of a finger!" people like these are when they are seeking to unload their pet shop or breeder-bought pets.

It was quite obvious the woman never consulted any reputable trainer. She just assumed that everyone in shelter or rescue work is a naive fool who believe anything and everything we are told -- or are too intimidated by people like her to question anything.

I simply shook my head when the woman hung up and took my dogs to Central Park for a pleasant evening walk.

Music playing through the headphones made the woman's loud, demanding and obnoxious voice finally go away.

But, if yesterday ended in a mildly annoying way, that was nothing compared to the way it began:

A few days ago, a lovely-sounding young woman called with an offer to foster a dog.

"Tricia" grew up with dogs, was currently living with her boyfriend in a Manhattan apartment and seemed eager to help a dog by fostering and potentially adopting.

Tricia's one stipulation was that the dog should be on the smaller side, such as 30 lbs or under.

Tricia sounded warm and perfect as a potential foster for Chuchi, our Pomeranian mix (dumped when former owners got a new puppy) currently boarding at an Upper East Side kennel.

I told Tricia all about Chuchi and the young woman was very receptive and sympathetic to the little dog's plight and circumstances of abandonment.

"I understand how important it is to go slowly with dogs," Tricia softly told me. "I work with children from disadvantaged homes."

The latter information particularly impressed me, as in many ways, dogs and children are so similar. Dogs generally have the intelligence and mental capacity of a 5-year-old child.

We set up a tentative appointment for Tricia and her boyfriend to meet Chuchi yesterday afternoon.

"Let's talk Saturday morning to confirm," I told Tricia last Wednesday and she agreed.

(The reason I advised same day confirmation is due to the fact that so many people forget, flake out or change their minds if an appointment is made for foster or adoption viewing days in advance. Nothing is more frustrating in rescue work than to go to a boarding facility, shelter or foster home to show a dog and then to be stood up without so much as a phone call.)

It was almost noon yesterday and I still had not heard from Tricia.

I called her cell phone and got voice mail. I left a message about confirming the appointment to meet Chuchi.

A short time later, I had to walk my own dogs. When returning back to the apartment, there was a message on my answering machine from Tricia:

"We're not going to see Chuchi today. My boyfriend is not into these kinds of dogs," the cool message announced. "Perhaps we can look at other dogs."

I found it hard to believe this was the same person I had spoken with just a few days before who seemed so open and receptive -- even eager to meet Chuchi and foster her. Nevertheless, not wanting to give into cynicism and frustration, I again called Tricia and once again got her voice mail:

"Chuchi is a lovely dog and fits what you said you were seeking to adopt. However, we do have other larger dogs who need foster. Please call back and hopefully we can work something out."

Tricia never returned that message.

Yesterday afternoon I went to the Dog Spa and met with a woman and her 12-year-old son who volunteered to help with walking dogs for adoption.

"Susan" (not her real name) is a Psychologist by profession and she had called earlier in the week to tell me her son loves animals and wants to do what he can to help dogs in need of homes.

The family already has a (breeder-purchased) Golden Retriever at home and a couple of rescued cats.

We took Chuchi for a long walk in Carl Shurtz Park.

It did not take long for Chuchi to seemingly bond with the 12-year-old boy, placing her front paws on the child's lap and even licking his face while sitting on a bench in the park. She even jumped on the bench and cheerfully sat next to the young boy.

While "Jason" petted and interacted with Chuchi, I spoke with his Mom and told her of the frustrations in finding good homes for abandoned animals.

"Internet advertising used to be fantastic years ago," I told Susan. "But these days, one imagines with so many thousands of animals advertised, its a great deal harder -- almost impossible."

"Its probably a lot like 'Match.com," Susan replied. "You know, they see one and say, 'That's cute!' but then see another and think, 'that's cuter!'"

Indeed.

Nevertheless, I couldn't help feeling when finally returning home yesterday that "Tricia" and her ditzy boyfriend rejected and lost out on a really sweet and wonderful dog. Chuchi is a little sweetheart -- as the people who met and helped to walk her yesterday confirmed; one of them a 12-year-old child.

I was tempted last night to call Tricia's voice mail back and leave a strong message about the loving and gentle dog she and her boyfriend rejected without even meeting and about all the other dogs and cats who die for ruthless, flaky and heartless "games" like these.

But, I didn't.

Instead, I walked my own two dogs and my foster dog, Tommy to Central Park with old rock and roll songs pumping through my ears.

One needs to find their escapes in this kind of work -- or else leave scathing, "crazy" messages on other people's voice mails -- or get cancer (from pent up and unexpressed rage.)

As said to Susan yesterday: "Its not the animals who represent the frustration and despair in rescue and adoption work; its the people." -- PCA

Unconfident Pomeranian (New York City)

(Picture Left: Chuchi -- seeking reassurance while on a walk yesterday.)

Yesterday, I went to walk Chuchi, our latest rescue who is currently languishing in a boarding facility.

Seemingly lost and confused, Chuchi, initially backed off from me when I first approached her. But, after a few seconds and a few soft words, I was able to slip the leash over Chuchi and take her for a walk in the park.

Although walking with the same confident "strut" of Pomeranians, Chuchi is anything but confident.

On the contrary, Chuchi is unsure of herself and a bit flinchy in her new and strange surroundings.

Her lack of confidence is most apparent when meeting other dogs. Though not aggressive, Chuchi just stands, tail between legs as if expecting to be attacked or banished.

She is a rather sad and lost little dog.

And I guess that is to be expected, considering the circumstances of her seemingly ruthless abandonment to the pound:

The older, long-time pet pushed out for the newcomer.

Perhaps Chuchi is not too unlike the long-time, devoted wife pushed to the side for something younger and more exciting. -- Although in Chuchi's case, her former owners also wanted her dead.

I sat, for a while, on a park bench with Chuchi yesterday just to give her a chance to relax. I talked to her, petted her and gently massaged around the sides and undersides of her neck. She seemed to enjoy that and for the moment, gently relaxed.

When noting a smile finally come to her face, I took pictures of Chuchi.

There is little doubt that Chuchi is a good, loving and devoted dog.

But, for the moment, she is simply a lost and confused little canine. -- Too timid and unsure of herself to even take a tinkel on a walk.

An "unconfident" Pomeranian. -- Something I would normally think, impossible to exist.

People should only know the transforming affects of their cruelty and abandonment of pets.

Right down to the total negation of those traits normally associated with a particular breed.

Who, after all has ever heard of an "Unconfident Pomeranian?" -- PCA

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Summer's End? (New York City)

(Picture Left: "Chuchi" -- mystery dog.)

This is, calendar wise, the last weekend of the summer, though summer really seemed (to me) to end on Labor Day with the closing of the outdoor pools.

I had been hopeful and anticipatory that summer's end would represent an upsurge in new animal rescues and adoptions.

So far, "upsurge" would not describe the last couple of weeks.

Though fortunate to get one successful cat adoption and several new dog fosters (and rescues), the number of adoption inquiries still remains scant and mostly non-committal and all of our dogs in boarding still linger.

Later this afternoon, I plan to go to the dog spa (one of the places where we board dogs) and walk Joy (who was recently returned from foster) and "Chuchi," a new Pomeranian mix we just rescued from the Brooklyn AC&C where she was in threat of going on the Euth list.

I haven't met Chuchi yet -- and was not eager to take still another dog to put into boarding.

Despite asking the shelter for more "time" to advertise Chuchi and attempt to find either a foster or adopter for her, neither the extra time nor advertising resulted in any kind of home.

It is amazing and shocking that a small, healthy, friendly and adorable dog like this would not garner public inquiry and interest once advertised -- but it is reality.

The few inquiries we got on Chuchi apparently could not read. Though clear in the writeup that Chuchi needed to be an "only pet" those who called on her had other dogs.

Sometimes I wonder if I speak and write English?

Chuchi was turned into Animal Control as an "Owner Request Euthanasia."

Apparently, Chuchi's former owners acquired another dog who, (according to them) "Chuchi attacked."

One wonders how and why a resident dog not happy with a new pet addition to the home would suddenly be dumped in the pound with a request for death? Most dogs and cats are not thrilled when a new animal is brought to the home and quite often will react with initial aggression in order to establish "pack order." Usually with time, the animals work out a relationship.

In those few cases where a second pet acquisition doesn't work, it is usually the newly adopted (or purchased) pet who is returned or brought to a shelter.

According to the Behavior Test conducted on Chuchi in the shelter, she seemed OK around other dogs.

So yes, Chuchi right now is a bit of a mystery with the background information on her both questionable and scant.

Unfortunately, for most "Owner Surrendered" animals turned into city shelters the information (and history) provided by former owners is sketchy, incomplete and often not very helpful in trying to get a true picture of the cat or dog.

This is why most animal shelters these days rely so heavily on so-called, "Behavior Tests" which themselves are questionable and often in contradiction to what the former owners say about the dogs.

In the end, there are no crystal balls or accurate predictors of how any animal is going to do in a rescue situation, boarding, a foster home or an adoptive home.

Nor, is there any guarantee that any rescued animal actually finds a "forever home."

We just have to take our chances, try to get to know the animals and hope for the best.

Oh, and hope that the distractions and seeming indifference and cruelties of summer finally end -- though one would never sense that by the huge numbers of cats and "summer kittens" still flooding into and dying in our city animal shelters. -- PCA

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Boks Returning to AC&C? (New York City)

(Picture left: One of thousands of dogs ending up on shelter Euth list every year.)

The contract for the current Director of the Animal Care and Control shelters has not been renewed.

That means that the city and shelter system is once again, seeking a new Director to take over the helm.

Over the years, there has been a slew of shelter Directors, most of whom were well over their heads in trying to run an under-funded, inadequate shelter system that deals with tens of thousands of animals a year on a shoe-string budget from the city.

As noted previously, New York City lacks full services shelters in both the boroughs of Queen and the Bronx. The so-called "shelter" in Manhattan was never built as an animal shelter in the first place and over the years has undergone almost constant "renovations" in order to make it into something that it was never designed to be: a make-shift animal shelter.

All of the "renovations" result in various parts of the "shelter" being closed for long periods of time, thereby necessitating the euthanization of thousands of cats and dogs for "lack of cage space." Those animals not killed for lack of space are killed for the illnesses (mostly Upper Respiratory Infections) they acquire by being housed in an overly-crowded and disease-ridden environment.

Simply changing shelter directors will not, of course solve these problems.

But, recently, there has been some rumor that former Director, Ed Boks is interested in possibly returning to New York and once again, taking over the helm at AC&C.

I hope that the rumor is true.

And I also hope that the AC&C and the city hire Boks back.

Of all the Directors the AC&C has had, Boks was the most experienced, qualified, caring and accomplished.

What's more, he was the most honest.

While seemingly a "perennial optimist," Boks was never so naive to not realize the huge obstacles that stood in the way of New York City becoming "no kill" anytime soon.

When interviewed by reporters, Boks spoke of the "ideals" of no kill, but also to the many barriers and challenges that New York City faced in achievement of that goal. "No kill" was simply not going to happen by wishful thinking or slick PR campaigns. It required the commitment, financial resources and efforts of thousands of people in the city from city officials, to pet owners, to volunteers, to landlords to those in law enforcement.

Boks was very concerned about things like morale among shelter workers, as well as how animals were named, described and promoted.

He was very open to suggestions and responsive to criticisms.

I am not sure of the precise reasons Boks's contract was not renewed with the city and he subsequently left New York to work at Los Angeles Animal Control over the past few years.

Rumors were then that Boks wanted more funding for various projects that the city was unwilling to fork over.

Certainly, any director taking over the helm now should lobby hard for a decent and REAL animal shelter to be built in Manhattan (even if the city doesn't create the necessary shelters in Queens or the Bronx).

Currently, the second floor of the Manhattan shelter is still "closed for renovations" after more than a year, while plans are in place to close and work on the first floor, (if in fact the second floor ever gets done.) This would obviously result in more wasted time, more wasted money and many more thousands of animals dying for "lack of space" and/or "illness."

This is unacceptable.

It is way past time to finally pull the plug on this warehouse in "life support" and finally, build a real animal shelter worthy of the 8 million people and 5 million pets in New York City.

For all the money that has been wasted in trying to "put lipstick on this pig" the city most likely could have built three new (and real) animal shelters to properly service the animals in ALL the boroughs.

What a case of "throwing good money after bad" or "penny wise and pound foolish."

What, in short, a boondoggle! -- PCA

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"Wait and See...." (New York City)

( A very scared kitty when abandoned in the lobby of the shelter, the day after Christmas of last year, "Nick" quickly ending up on the Euth list. But, I pulled him then, only for the practical reason that he was already neutered. Almost a year later, has this loving and social kitty finally found a forever home? Hopefully, yes -- but we have to "wait and see....")

Miracles of miracles, we had a cat adoption yesterday!

The cat, named "Nick" by his foster person because he was abandoned in the lobby of the Manhattan Animal Care and Control shelter the day after Christmas of last year had been doing very well in foster care all this time. So well, we are quite sure that Nick probably thought he had found his forever home.

Nick had been previously adopted about five months ago -- but he was quickly returned a few days later for "hissing" at the woman's other cat.

Nick gets along very well with other cats. His foster person has another cat with whom Nick became great buddies with. But, the previous adopter apparently didn't believe in giving animals time to work out their relationship.

This time, Nick was adopted by a very nice family from Manhattan's Upper West Side. They met Nick when invited to a dinner party thrown by Nick's foster person. Nick was very friendly to the husband, wife and two adolescent sons. They have a 10-year-old spayed, female cat at home.

I should wish that more of our foster people would throw dinner parties in their homes. That might be the only way cats can find good people to adopt them these days.

Elizabeth (Nick's foster person) has already agreed to foster "Betty Boop" the sweet, tuxedo cat rescued this past week (along with her Pomeranian buddy, Tommy).

Betty has been pretty stressed in my home due to the other animals here. However, in the past 24 hours or so, she has settled down somewhat, is eating well and loves being petted.

But, at least one of my cats (Hillary) is bullying towards newcomers and any animals that might be afraid of her. "Puppy Boy" (AKA "Chance") my Pomeranian isn't so welcoming of fosters either. While generally tolerant of Tommy, the new foster Pomeranian, Chance has also attacked Tommy a few times (mostly to establish status position) and has shown some jealousy.

It is a bit of a challenge to give proper attention and sense of security to new foster animals, while at the same time being careful not to neglect one's own pets in these areas.-- Its a delicate balancing act.

I will be happy if and when Elizabeth can take Betty Boop. Elizabeth has a bigger place than I do and only one other cat. Elizabeth's personal cat, Loverboy, (adopted from me several years ago) is wonderful towards foster cats in terms of being welcoming and helping new animals to feel safe and secure. We joke that Loverboy is, in fact, like the "Mother Teresa" of cats!

We are not making any moves however, until reasonably sure that the adoption yesterday has in fact, worked out.

It used to be that anytime one of Elizabeth's foster cats was adopted, I would rush a new rescued kitty to her home less than an hour later!

But, now due to the substantial increases in "returns" over the past year or two (of both, cats and dogs) we can't feel quite so confident anymore with just the signing of an adoption contract.

No, now the watchword is "wait and see" rather than "who can we save now?"

Another sad change over the past few years.

One that doesn't bode well for the millions of cats and dogs vying -- and literally dying -- for lack of foster and adoptive homes to go to.

All this, while we sadly and warily have to "wait and see...." -- PCA

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Damned if we Do and Damned if we Don't. (Reply)

(Picture Left: Joy -- Little girl lost.)

In a message dated 9/12/2009 5:07:37 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, Amby111 Writes: By the way, how is the older chow mix, Joy, doing?

Reply: I went to the boarding facility yesterday to take Joy for a long walk.

We went to Carl Shurtz park and walked for almost an hour. We sat on a park bench for a while and watched the East River relentlessly flow.

I petted and tried to talk to Joy but she seemed distracted and anxious; always gazing off in the far distance as if desperately searching for something....

I couldn't figure out if Joy longed to return to her former junkyard (or, whatever hellhole she originally came from) or missed the foster person who had Joy a few weeks and then suddenly returned her.

At no time during the lengthy walk, did Joy pee or poop. That usually indicates an insecure dog who is not comfortable with his/her circumstances or the environment.

Joy's foster person had indicated initial housebreaking problems. But, during the last week or so in the foster home, Joy began to eliminate outside. It appeared then that we might be getting over the hump. Joy seemed to be gaining her self-confidence and sense of "place" in the environment and neighborhood.

But, now it seems Joy has retreated back to her original timidity and/or insecurity. -- Something I was afraid would happen upon her abrupt return from foster to a boarding facility.

It's as though Joy was "thrown back in the hole" so to speak.

I do in fact, think of long term dog boarding as a perennial "black hole."

It seems once going into boarding, rescued dogs rarely come out.

The public and even most of those working or volunteering in the animal rescue community tend to think of dogs in boarding as "safe."

They are thus easy to forget.

And yes, while dogs in boarding may be "safe" from the fatal needle at the pound, is life mostly in a cage any "life" at all for a dog -- or for that matter, any animal or human?

I tend mostly to think not.

Boarding is OK for short term emergencies. But, it is not OK as any kind of long term "solution" or strategy.

Boarding dogs long term can cost small rescue organizations thousands of dollars a month (depending on how many dogs) and worse, costs the dogs their sense of security, confidence and even identity.

This past week, I was able (with the help of foster volunteers) to rescue a total of five new animals from the pound: Tommy, the Pomeranian dog, Betty Boop, Tommy's companion cat, two pit bulls and one Lab/Chow mix.

With the exception of Tommy, all the other animals had been "pulled" from the death list.

But, all seven dogs in boarding still remain. Almost all of the dogs have now been in boarding a very long time (with the exception of Joy who went into boarding this past week).

All seven dogs have been "returned" from either foster or adoption situations.

I sometimes wonder what would happen if instead of sending dogs to boarding kennels when adopters or fosters return the animals, we sent the dogs back to Animal Control?

Ah, but then we could not call ourselves "no kill" could we?

Perhaps we couldn't even call ourselves "rescue" in the true sense of the word.

Then again, can we truly call ourselves "rescue" now when sending animals to perennial "black holes" of long term boarding?

I have vowed to myself not to rescue any death list dogs from the pound to send to dog boarding.

I don't like the idea of animals in boarding being perceived as "safe" and thus forgotton and dismissed by those in the public and animal community.

But, what to do when adopters or fosters suddenly throw animals back at us?

I haven't figured out an answer to that one yet.

It seems we're damned if we do and we're damned if we don't (send the dogs to boarding facilities).

I just know that when looking into Joy's lost face yesterday, I failed to see anything really "safe" about long term animal boarding.

I guess it all depends on what one's definition of "safe" is.

I just know that "safety," security and joy are not the one and the same things. -- PCA


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