Holidays For The Shelter Pets, Lets Get Real

I rescued a human today. Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn't want her to know that I hadn't been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them. As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone's life. She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well. Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes. It was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one. I rescued a human today.

Mastiff Dad, I wanted to thank you for reminding us all, there are decent people who do at least look at the shelters. I found the promotional picture Oreo had done of Sam that she gave you that day at the park. Oreo loved introducing people and pets and the world is a sadder place becase she quit. The last anybody heard, a former volunteer said was Sam remained in foster forever. As I type this, on the AC side there are two beautiful male GSD's, very dark pigment which is a sign of good health usually, it would be nice if a rescue group could take them before they go through multiple placements. You often see the dogs on Craigs list and then at the shelter. so very sad. Of course frequently dogs look fine in the kennel but when you get them out they are sick. There was a beautiful male GSD back in Sam's time that was full of cancer, the lady was walking him up and down the hall crying when she brought him back. Who would dump a sick dog at a shelter? Sam while animal aggressive was healthy and very trainable. You would have given her a fine home, look at the Mastiff boys.

From My Friend Michael....He Got Oreo Started...

When God had finished with creation, he took a long look at man and shook his head. He called to man, and said, "I realize that you will have many challenges. I will find a companion to help you."Man expressed his thanks, and walked away.God looked at the many creatures he had created, weighing the strengths of each. Finally, he called to dog. Dog came bounding over, wagging his tail.Pointing at man, God said to dog, "These creatures may not be up to their role in my plan. Can you help them? It will be very difficult at times, but I think - with your help - they may become remarkable."Dog looked at man, who was busily collecting materials to wall himself away from the rest of creation. Dog turned back to God, licked his hand, and trotted over to man.They've been trying to help us dismantle that wall ever since.

This is a good morning, a time of some clarity and backing away from the forest......sometimes to get a good look at the tree's characteristics one has to see them as separate from the group. As I sipped my coffee this morn, it came to me, 96% of our shelters are still managed by sane people. It is easy to lose site of that when the village idiots are screaming in your ear. Always for me the " village idiot" is a reference to the mindless followers of rhetoric, without question or thought to the validity or consequences.......I suppose we all build walls, I am now aware that I do .. How can we go about educating those who don't see things our way ? Perhaps we can't, maybe it would be wise and kind to let them stay simple minded and let ourselves be free to tend to business. Sure would be easier on the spirit. We know the plan for NK is full of holes and the smartest thing we can do is simply bring the truth to our shelters of why it doesn't work, don't engage the problem; work on the solution. Simple things like the math and animals dying will eventually get the attention of even the most wide eyed politician.

We will continue the good fight here at Oreo's and the records request will come to us in time, but the truth will be longer until we get the veterinary community on board. So long as local vets co- sign the bullshit, things will stay the same. One correspondent took her newly adopted dog to her vet and was told that a bloody stool was normal for a shelter animal, that ringworm was normal, that skin disease was normal. These are not normal and we need to quit pretending they are. The shelter that flies the no kill banner needs to get some long term care in place. When our partner adoption agency puts innocent animals up for adoption that we would shut a pet store down for, that's a problem....

The Sacramento gang....

Back To Serious Stuff..

We've been hanging out on You Tube taking a break. Went crawling over some other blogs today, the ones in areas most under fire to go No Kill are the best ones to read. It's almost like being from outer space and calmly watching a whole town or region lose their mind. I have never seen such a little bully as Mr. Winograd. I thought at the start he might be a misguided zealtot, harmless, if annoying. Having now lived with his "plan" and his people one can see , this is not benign. This causes tremendous discomfort to the animals left in their charge, and the institutional hoarding is legal . There are no real numbers put out, everything is blended with other shelters. There is no limit on how many times an animal can be placed with different families, only to fail again and again. I will be glad to get this wrapped up and get back to the days when NHS was a place that was respected. I read a nice blog from Canada and it reminded me of how I feel when I see an injustice. Outrage, absolute outrage.