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Falmouth Enterprise web site.
By Pamela Alden Kokmeyer
Friday, January 27, 2012
The world may see gold as precious metal but we at Friends of Falmouth Dogs see dog tags as precious metal—especially when it means that dog has a home and family. And perhaps more important even than a license are identification tags, with microchipping an excellent backup system (which is why we microchip every dog that goes through our adoption program.)
Case in point: over a recent weekend, we had three strays at the shelter and another family arrived looking for their dog, which had bolted from the yard. None of the dogs had tags or were microchipped. Two of the three dogs remained at the shelter for several days; one was picked up that afternoon; and the dog that had bolted from its home, well, it never came through the shelter. We remind dog owners that keeping an ID tag on your dog at all times will help reunite you with your pet more quickly, saving you plenty of worry and saving your pet extreme stress. (One of the strays just sat in his kennel and howled inconsolably.) If your pet has a tag with your phone number, chances are that if someone finds your dog after the shelter is closed, that person can contact you directly. And remember, a rabies tag may not be enough if the dog is found after your vet's office closes.
Scout is still away at school, so to speak. The trainer confirms that this young boxer is exhibiting typical puppy behavior but was never given boundaries or guidance, and he needs to learn self-control when excited. What's cute when a dog is 3 months old is not at all cute or acceptable when the dog is 13 months old. But Scout is getting the tools he needs in the way of training to learn how to fit into a family that will continue his training. We're hoping he will return to us soon, a freshly minted candidate for his own home.
Tina....This 5-year-old American bully-mix in foster care continues to expect that a home will come her way. She's gentle and loves to cuddle. Oh, wait, we already told you that. She has excellent leash manners. Uh oh, we told you that, too. Housetrained? Yep. Loves people? Ditto. Here's a thought: why don't you make arrangements to see her. Don't take our word for it; see for yourself.
Eva is a 3-month-old pit bull cross who is a "tiny little sweet pea" and as cute as can be. Eva is being fostered locally. She loves to play with other dogs and has met a cat, with whom she did well. She already knows sit, paw, and other paw. Think of a puppy as a clean slate, ready and eager to learn from you. This is a great opportunity to really have a hand in shaping a dog's future. More information and photos of her are on Adopt-a Bull Rescue's Facebook page.
Have you noticed by her absence that Sweetie now has her presents? Her foster family, indeed, her "forever" family, made it official this week. When we put out a call for a foster home, this family stepped up to the plate when they heard of the need. Sweetie repaid their kindness and generosity with happiness and devotion. We know that this new little family will share all that's fine and good.
As soon as a special dog is placed, another comes to our attention in acute need of a foster home. His name is Maverick. He is a 3-year-old male Siberian husky. Abandoned at a boarding kennel, he was turned over to a local rescue group, which discovered he has heartworm. He needs to start treatment soon, which will be covered by the rescue group, but treatment cannot start until he is in a foster home, where he can be kept quiet. His prognosis is excellent if treatment begins shortly. He has been terribly stressed by a lack of exercise and attention, but the rescue experts are evaluating his needs and, so far, their reports are very optimistic. He has been temperament tested and shows no signs of aggression. He is friendly and takes treats gently. The only caution is he hates cats, which could well translate into other small animals, too. The rescue group, MUSH, has plenty of information on this poor guy. They can be reached at help@mushdogs.org.
Have we told you that we love visitors at the shelter? We love to show off our dogs and our grounds. And the dogs love to see new people. We are open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 AM to noon; Sundays from 1 to 3 PM; and Monday and Thursday afternoons from 3 to 5 PM.
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By Pamela Alden Kokmeyer
Friday, January 20, 2012
With all due respect to Martha Stewart, matching a dog with a family is way more complicated—and infinitely more important—than matching towels to a shower curtain. A cornerstone of our adoption policy is to find the right match between family and pet, and for that reason, we do our best to assess an animal realistically and pass on a candid evaluation to potential adopters.
Because we are passionate about finding homes for the dogs in our care, you might think we would be tempted to ignore known behavior issues if those issues are inconvenient and might make adoption more difficult; that by extolling the good while minimizing the less than desirable traits, it will be easier to find a home for a homeless dog. But we know that serves no good purpose for either potential owners or the dogs, and can even backfire.
If we determine that a dog may not be housebroken, we tell you that. When we see that a dog is exceptionally shy or fearful and needs time to trust, we tell you that, too. A dog that has dominance issues or is a barker or a digger—we tell you what we've seen and help navigate ways through the behaviors. Some dogs may do better as an only dog; some may benefit from the companionship of other dogs. These are critical aspects of a dog's temperament. Some dogs are familiar with, and love the energy of, children. Others are too nervous around little ones. Some dogs need a strong leader. Some need a particularly gentle hand.
Having said that, we can also say that we know that most of the behaviors we see can be changed or at least managed. What we ask is that a family make the commitment to accept the good, the bad, and the in-between. Perfect dogs are seldom born that way. Many volunteers have themselves owned dogs that came with "issues." Making them into exceptional animals is a process that takes time, training, patience and love, and more time, training, patience and love. But the results are worth it. We know this firsthand and we hear this from countless people who have adopted dogs from us, many of whom later tell us, "This is the best dog I've ever known!"
Waiting for their chance to prove how wonderful they are Scout, Sweetie and Tina.
Scout is a young boxer. He is handsome and energetic but had a rough start in life with little guidance and training. He seems to have learned that if he is loud enough and jumps high enough, he will get the attention he so craves. He is spending the next couple of weeks in "canine boarding school," where the trainer is working with him every day, and that includes lots of cardio-pounding exercise to use up his adolescent energy, as well as leash training and socialization. Scout is a perfect example of a diamond in the rough. We are looking for someone experienced with the breed and experienced with basic training techniques who will commit to continuing with his training program.
Sweetie honored us with her presence on two recent days and luxuriated in the attention. This mature rottweiler-Lab cross is looking very good; although she is still portly, we're sure some of that is muscle. Her foster family said she has had some runs along the beach and some "low-impact fetching," sort of like a "lollygagging fetcher." She has a circle of dog friends and keeps up with them over hill and dale. She is, and this is a direct quote, "darn near perfect." This gal is really quite special. Her perfect home will continue with her exercise and nutrition programs so that she will just get better and better. If you'd like to meet her, just give us a call and we'll make arrangements.
What if we told you we were trying to place a dog that is fully obedience trained, fully house trained, crates like an angel but doesn't need to be crated, loves people, does well with other dogs, enjoys walks but enjoys cuddling more? You'd probably wonder why she hasn't been adopted yet. We wonder, too, but we think it may be because this dog, Tina, is an American bully mixed breed. She is in foster care so we have a detailed history on her. She does have a medical condition called hypothyroidism, but her medication is not expensive. Tina will shine in an adult home familiar with bully breeds and willing to share a couch and other creature comforts.
This just in: Eva is a 3-month-old pit bull cross. More information and photos of her are on Adopt-a Bull Rescue's Facebook page.
Keep in mind that our census can change in an hour, so we invite you to stop by and check out our residents or our bulletin board, or visit us on our website.
We are open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to noon; Sunday from 1 to 3 PM; and Monday and Thursday afternoons from 3 to 5 PM. We look forward to seeing you.
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By Pamela Alden Kokmeyer
Friday, January 13, 2012
While Sweetie hasn't quite made it to the status of jogging partner, she is certainly traveling farther afield each day with the help and cheerleading of her foster home. And this is a good thing. Dogs were meant to move; they enjoy running, trotting, walking. Most dogs enjoy it even more with their "people." That's why we encourage you to think of your dog as an exercise machine with a heartbeat. And hair. Because people were meant to move, too, and now that the holidays are over and the New Year resolutions to lose weight and exercise more have been made, dog owners can turn to their pets for help. Who needs a treadmill when you've got a dog? Walking, running, swimming, playing ball can all be shared with your pet. It's good for you and it's good for your dog.
Sweetie is living proof of the benefits of a healthier lifestyle. This 7-year-old rottie-Lab cross was terribly overweight when she came to us. Her weight issue brought with it attendant health problems that are being addressed with her new, healthy regimen. Proper diet and proper exercise are proving to be wildly successful. This wouldn't have been as easy—or successful—without the efforts of Sweetie's foster family. They tell us that her pace is quicker, she responds well to training, she enjoys meeting people of all ages on her daily walks, and "every single dog we meet is greeted happily." Sweetie wants nothing more than to be with her people, so an ideal home for her would be one where the family is home a good deal of the time and enjoys taking the dog on errands in the car.
Tina, the American bully mixed breed, has been in foster care for close to two years. We suspect that is because her breed causes people to not even give her a chance. But we ask you to at least consider meeting this sweet dog. Her foster family knows pretty much everything about her that you can know about a dog and will happily share that information with you. We would be happy to arrange a meet-and-greet and we can also arrange to have her visit the shelter. You are under no obligation if you ask to meet her, and it will give her a field trip! She is fully house trained and obedience trained and walks well on a leash but mostly enjoys cuddling.
Scout is a handsome young boxer, a little over a year old. This boy, a flashy fawn, came from a family with children. But his start in life was rocky and he's showing the results of that. Poorly socialized with strangers and the world at large, he is fearful of sudden movements and loud noises, but after you spend time with him, you learn that he desperately wants to trust and be friends. We are still assessing him. We feel he will need an experienced boxer owner.
We have really good news: Wrinkles, the beagle/spaniel mix, has found a lap to call his own. This sweet little guy is never happier than when sitting on someone's lap and wrapped in their arms. Of course, he also enjoys his walks and sniffing the outside world, and fortunately, his new family also enjoys their walks and seeing the outside world. Looks like a win-win for everyone. What a great start to the new year.
Now, after the holiday parties and holiday food, may be the best time to consider adding a dog to your life. You'll have plenty of opportunities (and duties) to walk your new friend. We on the Upper Cape are extremely lucky to have so many places to walk our dogs, too many to list here. However, with that good fortune comes responsibility: keep your dog on leash where posted; keep your dog under control, especially around other dogs, people, and wildlife; and most importantly, please clean up after your pet. The more that dog owners are considerate of others, the more welcome we will be.
Our New Year's resolution is really just a continuation of what we resolved to do more than 20 years ago when our group was formed: find homes for abandoned dogs. Of course, the scope of our program has grown tremendously over those two decades: a new facility, many more volunteers, education and outreach components, a community pet assistance fund, microchipping programs, and, of course, community support.
What about you? Will this be the year you join our volunteers and help the dogs or help with fundraising? Will this be the year you consider being a foster home? Will this be the year you consider adopting a dog?
Do stop by someday and visit. We are open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to noon; Sunday from 1 to 3 PM; and Monday and Thursday afternoons from 1 to 3 PM.
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By Pamela Alden Kokmeyer
Friday, January 6, 2012
Surely it will come as no surprise to our regular readers how much we cherish our foster homes. To say we cherish them is not an overstatement because in so many cases, the foster home has made the difference between a dog's being adopted or being completely overlooked. A foster home offers a dog that is sick, frightened, handicapped, too young or too old a chance to blossom in a safe, monitored environment. As dogs relax and adjust to routines, their true personalities emerge—personalities that are often hidden in the confines of a shelter.
In the year just ended, we rejoiced with the second chances given to Munchkin, Heidi, Sgt. York and Norman, but despite each victory, there always seemed to be another creature needing special help just waiting in the wings. And so it was with Sweetie, the perfectly named older rottie/Lab cross, whose extreme extra weight was causing her other problems.
We'd like to share this account from the angels who are fostering Sweetie, who despite her ailments, is living up to her name. Her foster mom and dad wrote the following:
People who are thinking clearly would feel pretty certain they'd never adopt an 8-year-old overweight rottweiler mix. Then they'd meet Sweetie.
She's probably the kindest animal I've ever met, but kindness aside, our 10 days of fostering her have revealed the following:
Although apparently unaccustomed to portion control, she's cooperated fully with her new diet: never ever begging, waiting patiently for her two daily meals and eating them daintily. She's lost 10 pounds in a bit over a week—a total that would make Jillian Michaels proud.
Moving is at this point not always graceful (if she's tired, she needs help getting her back half into our van), but she loves the car and loves to walk and has been an eager companion for two long walks a day. As the weight's come off, she's gotten more and more playful.
She's met kids and seniors and other dogs, and has greeted them all with equanimity. People, especially, inspire the banging of her seriously heavy tail.
She walks like a dream on the leash, even though you know she could probably pull you anywhere she wanted to go.
Where she wants to go is with her humans. She'll settle in any room in the house, but is partial to padded places: dog beds, rugs, and—this morning I discovered—living room couches (which seemed confusing, when I've been working to lift her hindquarters into my car) as long as it's near her people.
Although she'd definitely prefer riding along on errands, she's done fine when we've left her alone in the house for a few hours.
She sits when you ask, comes when you call, and lets you know when she needs to go out.
She goes to sleep when we do and often stays on her bed later than we stay in ours.
She takes her post-spaying meds in a bit of yogurt in the palm of my hand, with complete gentleness.
She's a terrible watchdog. There are plenty of things she could be trained to do, but I'm convinced that one is out of the question.
Simply put, people like this couple are treasures.
Wrinkles, a 7-year-old beagle mix, is an owner surrender. In a recent column, we mentioned that he will appeal to beagle lovers. We were wrong. Well, partially wrong. This winsome black and white little fellow appeals to everyone, regardless of your favorite breed. A volunteer took him to the beach recently and he got a taste of freedom mixed with the salt air. Little Wrinkles was in his element: he ran, he played with other dogs, he charmed people, and he was grateful for this field trip. He spent some time at our information booth outside of Stop & Shop over the weekend and adored the attention he received from everyone—from children in strollers to adults. And when he's at the shelter, after he's had his walk, he prefers to snuggle in your lap quietly. This boy's ideal home would have someone around most of the time.
If Tina had a choice, she would probably choose to be a Lab or a golden retriever or just about any other breed, because then more people would consider meeting her. Instead, she's an American bully mixed breed and that luck of the draw in the gene pool means she has to be extra good and extra special. But you know what? She is extra good and special. Her foster family describes her as a wonderful dog. She requires minimal exercise and is fully trained in obedience and is fully house trained. She loves to cuddle and does well with other dogs, but because she shows some possessiveness over toys, we think she will do best as the only dog in the home. She does have a medical condition called hypothyroidism, but the meds are very inexpensive. She comes with her raised double feeder, a bag of food, treats, collar and leash, No Pull Easy Walk Harness, her toys, and all of her medical records.
We had fun on Saturday talking with those of you who stopped to chat outside of Stop & Shop, and we are very grateful for the generous donations we received. With those donations, we consider you to be part of our program and mission. Again, many thanks.
We are open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to noon; Sunday from 1 to 3 PM; and Monday and Thursday afternoons from 3 to 5 PM. Stop by, say hi, and, of course, visit the dogs.
By Pamela Alden Kokmeyer
Friday, December 30, 2011
We salute all the dogs we've been privileged to know this year:
Angus * Beau * Breyer * Brianna * Buddy * Buddylove * Buster * Carmen * Charlotte * Charlie * Chaz * Cody * Colleen * Debo * Doc * Dolly * Ellie * Ellie II * Elliot * Gladys * Gus * Hanna * Heidi * Isabella * Jack * Jackson * Jake * Jasmine * Jenny * Joon * Kasha * Katie * Luke * Marley * Matilda * Mocha * Molly * Munchkin * Neeley * Nina * Noaa * Norman * Oliver * Oscar * Pearl * Pickles * Pooky * Ralph * Reggie * Renny * Riley * Riley II * Roxy * Rosie * Sandy * Sasha * Sgt. York * Sparky * Spike * Sunny * Sweetie * Teake * Teddy * Teddy II * Tiko * Tina * Trixie * Vader * Wrinkles * Zinnia * Zorro
Won't you join us in the coming year as we continue our mission to help the dogs?
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By Pamela Alden Kokmeyer
Friday, December 23, 2011
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. We will be at the shelter taking care of the dogs, and we will return on Christmas Day. Don't feel sorry for the dogs because it's Christmas and they're at the shelter. They don't know one day from another. They will enjoy their breakfast, walks, time outside to run around, snacks, and finally, dinner. And don't feel sorry for the volunteers because we're going to the shelter on a holiday. We do it because we love doing it. Regardless of holidays, weather or illness, volunteers faithfully head out to take care of the dogs. Caring for animals has no time clock.
It should come as no surprise to us, but we celebrate the news anyway: Sgt. York is being adopted! His foster mother realized that once she gave her heart to this border collie, there was no taking it back. Of course, we celebrate the news and his new home celebrates the news, but Sgt. York is taking it all in stride and will continue the great life he has come to expect.
Wrinkles, the 7-year-old beagle-springer mix, is next in line to capture someone's heart. This extremely attractive black and white beagle mix wants a lap to call his own. He craves attention so the ideal home would be someone who is around a good deal of the time. He is the perfect size for a beagle: not too big, not too small, just right. Like all scent hounds, he will follow his nose on a trail, but the springer spaniel in him seems to mitigate the extreme drive some beagles possess.
Sweetie, the 8-year-old rottie-Lab mix that was surrendered with Wrinkles, is in a foster home. Oblivious to the time of year and holiday season, she doesn't have to revel in holiday parties; she's just reveling in life. This girl, who is quite overweight, has her own personal trainers (aka her foster family). With proper diet, proper exercise, and plenty of attention, Sweetie is indeed living the sweet life—she even has her own "diva pillow."
Every day is like Christmas for Norman, who is also in foster care. His biggest gift was capturing the attention of a foster family and he has tried to reciprocate ever since by being a perfect gentleman. This adult chocolate Lab continues to amaze with his impeccable manners.
Tiny Tina also patiently waits for a family of her own. This 5-year-old American bully-mix is a low-maintenance dog, according to her foster family. Although she has excellent leash manners, she requires minimal exercise and would rather cuddle on the couch with a human. She has obedience training and is fully housebroken. Her foster family can give you substantial details on Tina's habits and likes.
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Along with the holiday comes the reminder of tips to keep our pets safe. You may already be familiar with most of the common holiday hazards that can harm our pets, but we think they bear repeating. If the following tips protect even just one pet, then this segment has done its job.
Trees: Dangling glass ornaments and electrical cords pose obvious dangers to dogs. Tinsel, when ingested, can damage intestines.
Presents Under the Tree: Food presents, of course, should not be placed under the tree if the dog has access to that room. Same goes for packages that might look like toys, which to your dog, might be fair game.
Plants: Poinsettias, mistletoe, holly, many types of lilies, and Christmas roses and Christmas cactus can all be toxic. These plants can cause a variety of ills, from vomiting and diarrhea to kidney damage to cardiovascular collapse. Pretty serious stuff.
Foods: Chocolate, alcohol, poultry bones, fatty foods and coffee. This requires extreme vigilance, not only on your part, but on the part of visiting family and friends. Many people fall for the "sad puppy eyes" of a dog that is begging. Say no and stay firm.
Cesar Millan offers even more good tips for the holiday. Top on his list is to tire your dog out before visiting or receiving holiday guests. A tired dog is more likely to behave. He also reminds owners to not forget "rules, boundaries, and limitations just because it's the holidays! Use the holiday as a chance to intensify good behavior instead of intensifying bad behavior." He also reminds owners to never leave a lighted candle in a room unattended (which is good advice even for non-pet owners!)
And finally, a favorite tip from Cesar: Live in the moment! Be happy! Laugh! Celebrate!
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We'll be at the Super Stop & Shop on New Year's Eve from around 11 AM to 3 PM. We'll have calendars, totes and T-shirts available for sale, but we'll also be there to meet and greet old friends and new, and answer any questions you may have about our organization. Stop by and say hello.
We wish you all the best in this season of peace, and we hope to see you in the New Year. Perhaps this coming year will be the one when you will find your new best friend.
We are at the shelter Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to noon; Sunday from 1 to 3 PM; and Monday and Thursday afternoons from 3 to 5 PM.
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By Pamela Alden Kokmeyer
Friday, December 16, 2011
Do you know how Sir Edmund Hillary scaled Mt. Everest? No, that's not a trick question. The answer is, he did it one step at a time. And while that may be oversimplifying things, it really is as basic as that. That's why we have adopted a similar philosophy for our adoption program: Saving One Dog At A Time. We keep our focus on helping each dog as it needs us now.
Which brings us to another point. We wish we could help every dog that needs us and accommodate every owner who calls us for help, but that is not always possible. The Friends of Falmouth Dogs operates its adoption program out of the municipal Falmouth Animal Control Center. We are distinct and separate entities, and although there is overlap on the care of the dogs at the shelter, our two groups remain separate as regards responsibilities, parameters and authority.
Stray and abandoned dogs are also processed into the facility by Animal Control. For these dogs, there is a 10-day holding period, during which time the owner can claim their dog (having proven ownership and having paid all fees and associated expenses incurred). With dogs that are surrendered or unclaimed after 10 days, Friends of Falmouth Dogs will assume responsibility for initiating the adoption process. We handle such things as taking the dog to the vet, paying for treatment (spaying/neutering, vaccines, checking for heartworm and Lyme, and addressing any other evident health issues), exercising them, and assessing their temperaments and needs, all while working on finding the best home for each dog.
We also try to help dogs that don't come through the shelter, but whose owners or outside foster families or rescue groups call us for help.
One such example is Tina (and in a nod to Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," she is nicknamed Tiny Tina), a 5-year-old female American bully-mix. She requires minimal exercise so will be a great companion for fellow couch potatoes (as she loves to cuddle) but also walks great on a leash. She is fully housetrained and fully trained in obedience. She is eager to please. While she prefers dogs smaller than she is, she seems to go out of her way to avoid confrontations with big dogs. She is in a foster home.
Sweetie! Well, she is every bit as delightful as her name. She is an 8-year-old rottie/mix and she is quite overweight. We are slowly introducing her to regular exercise and she already has improved. She has the rich black and tan markings of a rottweiler with the sweet disposition of a Lab. We are hoping that whoever adopts her will keep her on a (slimmer) path to improve her overall health and joy in movement.
Wrinkles, her boon companion and with whom she was surrendered, is a 7-year-old beagle/springer cross. He looks like a black and white beagle, and beagle lovers will fall in love with him. He is fun to play with and is very people-oriented. Although he and Sweetie came in together, we will adopt them separately or as a pair. We think they will thrive either way.
Norman, the charismatic chocolate Lab, continues to thrive in foster care. He is still experiencing ear infections and is back on medication for that and is still on a special diet for his allergies, but those are small inconveniences compared to the pleasure he will bring to whoever adopts him.
Sgt. York, the adult border collie who, along with Norman, is one of our most dramatic turnarounds from miserable to magnificent, is also in foster care. You can see this turned-around creature on Tuesdays, when he visits the shelter. Even though the dogs in foster care are safe and loved and happy, it means that other dogs needing us have to wait. So if you're interested in meeting the dogs being fostered, please consider doing it sooner rather than later.
Marley, the happy young black Lab, has returned to his roots, so to speak. He caught the attention of a family who spends a great deal of time by and on the water and he was adopted last week. As we say over and over again, the right home usually comes along for each dog.
We are open seven days a week: Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to noon; Sunday from 1 to 3 PM; and Monday and Thursday afternoons from 3 to 5 PM. Please stop by and say hello.
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By Pamela Alden Kokmeyer
Friday, December 9, 2011
TV advertisers would have you believe that a fuzzy yellow puppy with a big red bow around its neck will stay quietly in a basket under a Christmas tree waiting for the little girl or little boy to come scoop him up. First, that's just plain unrealistic. No puppy is going to stay in one place for more than a moment unless it's asleep. Second, that's just plain wrong. Giving a pet for Christmas is never a good idea. While the commercial may sell whatever product is being advertised, it's not the message that we want to convey.
The AKC says it best: A puppy is not a stocking stuffer. Pets are for life, not just for Christmas.
When someone says they want a puppy (or a cat, or a bird or ferret....) for Christmas, stop and think of what that means. First, a dog, or any pet, should be a family decision. The pet will be part of the family, so it just makes sense for the family to be involved from the beginning. But we encourage you to wait until after the holidays. Instead, wrap up a leash, bowl or toy for the future member of the family and put the package under the tree with a promise to begin your search after the holidays are over. Introducing a pet to a home during the holidays is probably about the worst time—too much activity and too little time.
Even if you've already visited the shelter and chosen the dog and your application has been approved, ask the shelter if you can wait until after the holiday to bring your new friend home. Chances are the shelter will be only too happy to oblige.
New to us are two dogs that were surrendered together: Sweetie and Wrinkles. They are yet more victims of the economy—their owner is unemployed, lost his housing and has to relocate out of state and cannot take the dogs. He has had the dogs since they were puppies. Wrinkles is a 7-year-old beagle/springer spaniel mix that looks like a black and white beagle. He loves hugs and long walks. He is as sweet as his aptly named "sister," Sweetie, a large (dare we say overweight?) rottie/Lab mix, who is 8. She is pretty much a couch potato, but we hope to change that as she begins to lose weight and we gradually increase her exercise. Although they are best of friends, they can be placed separately. Both dogs are very friendly, good with children and other dogs.
Patiently waiting his turn for a permanent home is Sgt. York, the adult border collie. Of course, he can afford to be patient because he is in a foster home and from what we hear, he is the king of that home. But this special dog is not just a taker. He also gives as much affection and fun as he gets. He has introduced his foster mother to the world of morning walks, dog parks, companionship, and everything else good that comes with loving a pet. He visits the shelter every Tuesday.
Norman, the chocolate Lab about 5 to 7 years old, is in foster care. His foster family says he is just about perfect. But then, we knew that. What else can we say? Perfect just about sums it up.
Christmas came early for Buddy, the senior Aussie shepherd cross, who has begun his new life. A lovely family came to the shelter looking for a senior dog. They, and we, know that older animals are particularly grateful when they are adopted. And what you see with an older dog is what you get—the size and temperament are developed and apparent.
And we still have plenty of great gift ideas: 2012 calendars ($15), tote bags ($3 and $5), and T-shirts ($10 and $12). What easier way to help us help homeless dogs?
As the season of giving is here, you can help dogs in need of homes in many ways right now. Shelters always need help. Volunteer to walk a dog or sit with a cat. Help clean kennels. Donate money or supplies, or spearhead a fundraising drive. Consider providing foster care to an animal that needs time away from the shelter, which, for many animals, can be stressful. Or best of all: consider adopting a shelter animal.
As always, we welcome visitors at the shelter. We are open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to noon; Sunday from 1 to 3 PM; and Monday and Thursday afternoon from 3 to 5 PM.
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