Oreo's Tired....

Home from a short walk and the mighty Oreo looks like she has done a marathon. I noticed today the first real sideways lean as she tottered up the hill, the flowers of youth are fading. Her boundless enthusiasm for life; and her love of the romp are strong, but we are approaching the time of her becoming housebound. Generous friends and neighbors invite her over and she loves to go and lay in their garden, a few rolls of the ball and she dozes off, when she awakens I bring her home. I don't want to think about losing her and yet we know that death is a part of the life cycle, but never, ever " now " .....when the buds are pink and white and the earth is coming alive. This girl who nurtured so many orphan puppies, taught them the ways of life, it seems 9 is quite young...especially for a girl who has led the good life. So in our own way we all totter on, putting one foot after the other... we could learn from our animals how to live in the moment, thus living a full life everyday. I only know Oreo has been part of a teaching chain, that I have followed for 50 years. My love affair with the German Shepherd dog is, indeed, that long.... so for today we go to the canyon, and a neighbors for tea. and then a nap. I'll worry about tommorrow, tommorrow; I learned that from Oreo.....
Pictured is Oreo, the Girlydog,the Confidant, the Princess , and "The Pain.."

Oreo Talks To Tom of the SPCA..Revised....

There are always things flying about in the air, & change is in the wind. Oreo does her best to go right to the source and check things out. She much prefers to talk to you, rather than about you..

After Volunteer left the animal volunteer service because of shelter to shelter issues, we had wondered if it was the new " nature of the beast" to transfer from No Kill to No Kill. Tom assured us that was not the case. He gave an NK to NK number for the year which was quite low.The SPCA took a total of 30 dogs from NHS in 2008. The major portion of the dogs (25 ) were in the first part of 2008, the latter part of the year totaled 5.

Tom could see where that would appear dubious if one didn't know all the details, but said there were extenuating circumstances.

There were some dogs slated for euthanasia at NHS and the SPCA gave them an extended chance. That blends with their mission statement of taking " at risk" animals. Tom also stated there have been a couple of public surrenders when he and staff felt the animal would be in danger if they did not. That' certainly the humane approach we hope to achieve in our community. If the person bringing in the animal is determined to get rid of it, you must keep an open mind. There is a high rate of abuse inflicted on animals rejected from shelters, as though it were the animals fault. SPCA primarily pulls from the pound and will take out of area surrenders. He continues to be candid on issues of return rate and criteria used in his shelter. That is a good thing.

They found homes for 27 or 29 dogs at the adoption fair and that makes this blog happy. Tom credits staff with the sucessful placements, due in large part to the skill of the interviewer. He was unaware of any Charter dictating policy, but acknowledges the possibility of a " verbal agreement" with the City of Reno. He feels they are close to their original intent however; the program has evolved into a slightly broader base.

Pictured is Oreo dictating to her data entry clerk

May I Have Your Attention Please !!

Both the Obama family and the Bo dog have a new home, can we simply go forward and let them enjoy it? Even Wayne's blog, which is usually one of Oreo's favorites, got stupid. It is none of our business where anybody gets their family pet. None, Nada.....There is a major difference between supporting a shelter animals right to life and taking away the right to choose who you share your home with. This righteous indignation is a real turn off to many who had been open minded before. Taking a shelter animal into your home should be a consideration, and I think many people view it as that, an option, not an obligation. Our family went to all the shelters in our area for several weeks before going to a breeder. There were no puppies and having the resident dog limited our choices. There must be a responsibily to the dog in the home. We have gone a little overboard on the " rightist regime" and lost sight of the mission, which was to help the animals. The cross breed in the shelter does not have more value or entitlement than the dog coming from a breeder, they are both dogs... and the people who take them need to be allowed to make informed, inteligent decisions that work with their lifestyle. So please, butt out if you are the animal lover you seem to be Wayne, you are to big a fish to mess with such small ideas. Our failure to be realistic in our adoption expectations is the reason for overcrowding in shelters right now. There is not a home for every dog, not close, and the fosters are filling up. I blame the current fanaticism for a tremendous amount of suffering.
Here in Washoe County, we have the lunatics taking over the asylum, if only they could figure out how to turn the key. God knows, upper County management has certainly given it to them. In spite of an interlocal agreement which says local governments must be notified of changes in County AC code, they have a draft waiting in the wings... nobody has contacted the other cities. I don't think they are reading the agreement over there. The only person who could find her butt with both hands is gone.
King County Washington gave him the boot, Austin Texas sent him packing, Houston doesn't want to deal with him, even Florida with all the retired poodle lovers selected NACA as their consultant. The only gullible fools seem to be here, Washoe County, Nevada. Two cities repealed all of their animal codes and agreed not to do any enforcement on animal issues, we didn't know we were dealing with an unstable entity at the time. Help !!
Burley Dog is very serious about this stuff....

Oreo Talks To Tom of the SPCA..Revised....

There are always things flying about in the air, & change is in the wind. Oreo does her best to go right to the source and check things out. She much prefers to talk to you, rather than about you..

After Volunteer left the animal volunteer service because of shelter to shelter issues, we had wondered if it was the new " nature of the beast" to transfer from No Kill to No Kill. Tom assured us that was not the case. He gave an NK to NK number for the year which was quite low.The SPCA took a total of 30 dogs from NHS in 2008. The major portion of the dogs (25 ) were in the first part of 2008, the latter part of the year totaled 5.

Tom could see where that would appear dubious if one didn't know all the details, but said there were extenuating circumstances.

There were some dogs slated for euthanasia at NHS and the SPCA gave them an extended chance. That blends with their mission statement of taking " at risk" animals. Tom also stated there have been a couple of public surrenders when he and staff felt the animal would be in danger if they did not. That' certainly the humane approach we hope to achieve in our community. If the person bringing in the animal is determined to get rid of it, you must keep an open mind. There is a high rate of abuse inflicted on animals rejected from shelters, as though it were the animals fault. SPCA primarily pulls from the pound and will take out of area surrenders. He continues to be candid on issues of return rate and criteria used in his shelter. That is a good thing.

They found homes for 27 or 29 dogs at the adoption fair and that makes this blog happy. Tom credits staff with the sucessful placements, due in large part to the skill of the interviewer. He was unaware of any Charter dictating policy, but acknowledges the possibility of a " verbal agreement" with the City of Reno. He feels they are close to their original intent however; the program has evolved into a slightly broader base.

Pictured is Oreo dictating to her data entry clerk