Right now, many if not most shelters across the country still take the lazy path to sheltering by (1) allowing the rescue of pets from euthanasia (kill) lists to fall on the shoulders of outside pet rescue organizations, and (2) killing the majority of animals who end up in their facility, even though most of them are totally adoptable. Many shelters kill literally 70-80 percent or more of the animals they take in. This is a catastrophic failure because rescue organizations are limited in their resources and ability to recruit volunteer fosters on little-to-no notice, nor do they always have funds on-hand to pay exorbitant shelter fees to pull animals to safety. Also, it’s not rescue organizations’ responsibility to take on the shelter’s job in the first place. Rescue organizations can support, but not take over, the city and county shelters’ assigned mission of animal care and control.

Shelters Choose to Kill First.

As well, shelters also very shrewdly label healthy, adoptable pets as “unadoptable” for fake reasons, such as “behavioral,” “fearful,” “snotty nose,” etc., to justify killing innocent animals rather than try to find safe loving homes for them. These shocking, illicit tactics by shelter administrators who still operate under outdated policies to justify killing are unforgivable and need to change – NOW – before another precious animal’s life is extinguished.

Demand Enforcement of Compassionate Care.

I am a big supporter of The No Kill Advocacy, whose mission is to bring outdated animal welfare laws and practices into this century and to hold shelters accountable for adherence to new compassionate policies. The No Kill Advocacy truly advocates for animal welfare by (1) teaching shelter administrators how to do away with euthanasia as the first choice for pet population control, thereby becoming actual no-kill facilities, and (2) teaching the general public how to speak up and hold shelters accountable.

Use Your Voice for Shelter Animal Welfare.

You can tap into The No Kill Advocacy movement tutorial page by CLICKING HERE. Their tutorials should answer all your questions and guide you easily toward helping to save precious animals who just want to keep their lives. Once caring people really start pushing en masse for accountability in pet sheltering, the tables will start to turn and animals will be spared the “death walk” in these hell holes. No effort is too small or insignificant. Be part of the change!

The post Help Reform Your Local Animal Shelter appeared first on BareFootPets.

Too Hot For Your Feet? Then It’s Too Hot For Hers Too.

Don’t make your dog walk on it. Simple as that.

Avoid Midday and Evening Walks When The Pavement Is Most Hot.

While we’re on the subject of “too hot,” you also should be very careful about what time of day you walk your pooch. In the heat of Summer, your little Precious can suffer heat stroke very quickly if you’re not paying attention. Get in the habit of waking a half hour earlier in the mornings so you can walk her before the sun is all the way up. Early morning is WAY better than evenings because the pavement has cooled down overnight and won’t scorch her little paws. If you walk in the evenings, don’t be fooled. Sure, the sun’s not bearing down on you, but the pavement hasn’t cooled down yet. It’s still giving off all the day’s heat and her little feet can still be burned. To know for sure, test your own bare foot. A good tip to know–asphalt can be way hotter than cement. Stay on the sidewalks or grass and avoid asphalt at all costs. Always take water with you and give her some as often as she’ll take it.

Booties ~ What A Great Idea!

A novel and very effective idea to protect your lovebug’s feet from hot or cold pavement is booties ~ you can buy them online or at any pet supply store; a great, fun little investment in your pet’s good health. Check out little Layla’s pink booties above. Adorable or what! The bottoms are a good solid rubber that doesn’t let heat or cold through.   🙂

Alternative To Walking Outdoors.

The best way to protect your pet’s health is to find somewhere INDOORS to walk her when the weather is too hot or too cold. Lowes, Home Depot, Petsmart, Petco for example. These are all ideal pet-friendly places – temperature controlled, safe from outdoor natural predators, and they encourage your pooch to interact with people and socialize. Your dog will LOVE you for it.  🙂

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008.  Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post Pavement Too Hot For Her Tootsies? appeared first on BareFootPets.

Foxtail Plants: How to Find Them on Dogs and Why They’re So Dangerous

By Christina Fernandez, DVM, DACVECC on Jun. 30, 2020

Foxtail plants are a weed-type grass that can cause serious problems for dogs.

Flourishing in the summer months, the seeds from these annoying weeds are designed to burrow into the ground. If they attach to your pet’s coat and burrow into the skin, this can lead to pain, infection, and sometimes more serious issues. Foxtails can also be inhaled, lodged in the ears, swallowed, and embedded in the paws.

Luckily, there are things you can do to try to keep your dog safe from the dangers of foxtails. Here’s a breakdown of what the foxtail plant is and why it’s dangerous for your dog.

What Is a Foxtail? What Do Foxtails Look Like?

Foxtails—also called grass seed awns, mean seeds, timothy, cheatgrass, June grass, Downy Brome, or other local names—are an annual summer grass. They start growing in spring and are in full bloom by summer. They will then die during the winter.

Shaped like the tail of a fox, the tip has seeds arranged in spikey clusters with backward-facing barbs.¹ The spikes and barbs allow for one-way burrowing, which is great news for the foxtail but bad news for dogs.

Here are some pictures of a foxtail plant:

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Here are pictures of the dangerous foxtail awns:

_{Shown: Common wheat grass awns / Image credit: Smith Veterinary Hospital} 

_{Shown: Brittle grass awn breaking into smaller pieces / Image credit: FloridaGrasses.org}

Where Are Foxtails Found?

Foxtails can be found anywhere in the United States but are most common in the West. They are most often found in these places:

• Hiking trails
• Parks
• Flatlands
• Meadows
• Open grassy fields

While they are less common in urban areas, they can still be found in areas where grass is allowed to grow uncontrolled.

When the weather is warm, the foxtail dries out and hitches a ride on anything passing by, including dogs. This hitchhiking behavior is important for foxtail seed dispersal.¹

Why Are Foxtails Dangerous for Dogs?

Foxtails can attach to any part of your dog’s body and start the burrowing process. This commonly includes:²

• Eyes
• Eyelids
• Ears
• Nostrils
• Mouth
• Spaces between the toes (in the paw pads)

In some cases, foxtails can burrow through the skin, finding their way into the spine or chest and belly cavities. Once inside, the foxtail continues to burrow, bringing bacteria and dirt along with it.

This can lead to much more serious conditions because internal organs may be affected. The foxtail will continue to cause problems until it is removed.

In some cases, advanced diagnostic tests and procedures may be required to identify and remove the foxtail.

What Are the Signs That a Dog Has Foxtails on Them?

If you live in an area where foxtails are abundant, here are some signs you can look for:

• Head shaking
• Limping
• Pawing at the face
• Snorting
• Sneezing
• Bloody nose
• Excessive licking of an area on the body

Other signs can show up one to several days later. These may include:

• Lumps
• Bumps
• Draining tracts
• Areas of redness or tenderness
• Inflammation
• Lethargy
• Depression
• Decreased appetite

In the worst case scenarios, an embedded foxtail can make it to vital organs, including the lungs, spinal cord or brain, heart, and abdominal organs, causing symptoms specific to that organ. In very bad cases, surgery may be required to remove foxtails or treat infection resulting from embedded foxtails.

How to Remove Foxtails From a Dog

Early removal of the foxtail is important. If you live in a foxtail-prone area, ALWAYS check your dog after being outside.

If you see a foxtail on your dog’s fur or skin, you can attempt to remove it with tweezers.

If you are seeing any of the signs listed above or signs that a foxtail has penetrated the skin or entered an opening on your dog’s body, bring your dog to the vet. This includes the ears, nose, or mouth.

Trying to remove the foxtail yourself from a body cavity may result in an incomplete removal, with pieces of the foxtail still embedded in your dog’s skin and ready to burrow deeper. Foxtails can travel a great distance through body cavities, so it’s important that the full foxtail is removed.

How to Prevent Foxtails From Injuring Your Dog

There are a few ways you can avoid foxtails and keep your dog safe.

• Dogs with long coats are more likely to pick up these annoying hitchhikers. Consider a trim for the summer to reduce the likelihood of attachment.
• Working dogs, or dogs that spend a lot of time in tall grass, may be outfitted with a commercially available vest that covers and protects the chest and abdomen.
• Avoid foxtail-prone areas to prevent injury to your dog.
• Use a short leash when walking your dog.
• If foxtails grow in your yard, make plans to remove them or call a landscaper for assistance. 
• Check for foxtails frequently and after periods of outdoor play, especially if you hike or spend time in foxtail-prone areas.

References:

1. Foxtail (diaspore). (2019, June 2). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxtail_(diaspore)
2. Brennan KE, Ihrke PJ. Grass awn migration in dogs and cats: A retrospective study of 182 cases. Am Vet Med Assoc. 1983.182(11):1201-1204

WRITTEN BY

Christina Fernandez, DVM, DACVECC, Veterinarian

Dr. Christina Fernandez obtained her DVM degree from St. George’s University in 2007 and membership with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2008. She completed a three-year residency training program and obtained board certification with the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in 2013. Dr. Christina has a background in veterinary academia, private specialty practice, and more recently in the animal health industry. She has practiced in both the USA and abroad.

Dr. Christina is a published author and her veterinary interests include supportive care of the critically ill patient and management of complex diseases. She lives in FL with her husband (also a veterinarian), their two daughters, three dogs, one cat and guinea pig named Herman. Dr. Christina enjoys all things CrossFit and spending time outdoors with her family.

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie. 

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008.  Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

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The post Danger of the Foxtail Plant appeared first on BareFootPets.

Why Is Chipping So Important?

Pets become lost for many reasons, some of them preventable, others unavoidable mishaps. Compare losing a pet to losing a child–you need turn your eyes away for only seconds and they can be gone. You can be the world’s best pet parent, and it can still happen. We’re all human. The lawn care guy leaves your gate open, the cat darts out the door when you answer to sign for a Fedex, the dog jumps out the window of your car when he sees a cat on the sidewalk, etc.

And, of course, there’s always the unfortunate possibility of your pet being stolen. Thieves can easily figure out your routine, when you’re not home, and they can climb your fence, grab little Fluffy and be gone in a New York minute. Without Fluffy having a chip, most likely you’ll never get her back. Chipping tells the finders you are the rightful owner and eliminates any claims someone else may be trying to make for your pet.

Posting on social media is a huge help, for sure, but that depends on people actually reading the posts, and then those specific people being in the right place at the right time to find the lost pet. With chipping, the owner’s contact information is secured right on the pet at all times. Chipping is hands-down the best way to recover a lost or stolen pet.

What Does A Chip Do And How Do I Get My Pet Chipped?

A chip is a nearly microscopic little disk, if you will, that is inserted with a needle, as if giving the pet a shot. Typically, chips are implanted between the shoulder blades, where it will remain permanently. The injection is nearly painless for most pets. The chip is programmed with a serial number that is registered to you and contains your name, address, and phone. Some chip manufacturers also provide a website where you can opt to set up a profile for your pet with photos and certain identifying information to make identification even more exact. You can get your pet chipped at your vet or most pet stores. The cost is generally $35 to $45. Most rescue organizations include micro-chipping in the adoption process if you adopt the pet from them.

If your pet shows up at a shelter, the folks there have a scanner gun that they will scan over your pet. If the pet is chipped, the scanner gun will capture the information, and they can call you immediately. If someone finds your pet and wants to help get her back home safely rather than drop her off at a shelter, the finder can go to any PetSmart, Petco, veterinarian, etc., and ask them to scan the pet for a chip. There is no charge for simply scanning. Once the rescuer has your contact information, they can let you know that Fluffy is safe and sound and can get her back home to you. Chipping is critical to your pet’s wellbeing and keeping your family whole. There is no better substitute.

Being Chipped Can Mean Life Or Death To Your Pet.

Chipping also protects your pet from being killed should she end up in a shelter. Shelters screen incoming strays for chips. If your pet is chipped, then all is well, because first thing they will do is call you and you can go get her safely back home. But be aware–shelters typically deal with overcrowding, so they don’t invest lots of time trying to identify lost or stray pets. Sadly, kill rates for shelters across the nation are still very very high. If your pet is not chipped and ends up in a shelter, she is in extreme danger. They may put her to death in a matter of hours and you’ll never even know. You may still be driving your neighborhood, posting flyers, searching hopefully and calling for her, not knowing she’s no longer alive. Avoid such a terrible heartbreak–chip your beloved pet. Cats and dogs both. If you love her, chip her.

While We’re On The Subject Of Shelter Kill Rates …

Awareness is growing nationwide about the epidemic of high shelter kill rates, especially for cats. Barely 1 in every 10 cats gets out of a shelter alive–there is no excuse for this. While many shelters are finally abandoning old set ways of using euthanasia to “control” what they identify as “pet over-population,” we still have a very long way to go to stop the terrible killings. If you have an interest in learning more or volunteering to help in this overdue animal welfare revolution, get this book–Redemption by Nathan Winograd. It’s truly eye-opening. When you finish the book, pass it on, keep it going. It’s on our generation to get the word out and get the wheels in motion.

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008.  Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post If You Love Her, Chip Her. appeared first on BareFootPets.

Thankfully, the leash was attached to the pup’s harness, not its collar. The pup could have been horribly injured, choked, and even died, if the leash had been attached to the collar around its neck. This is a very important reminder that collars are just ornamental and for dog tags only.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie. 

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) ) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post Another Argument For Harnesses appeared first on BareFootPets.

First Make A List

Consider what should be done before the actual move, like installing a dog door in the new house, constructing a new enclosure, blocking off rooms in your new house that will be off-limits to the pets, etc. Below is a sample list for ideas to help you plan. For me, it was extra important to plan ahead and have a list because we were moving cross country. Packing up a whole house, two vehicles, six cats, and a dog. It was going to be a two-day drive straight through, roughly 36 hours, longer if we stopped overnight at a hotel. The animals’ mental and physical comfort for such a long drive depended heavily on my being diligent to consider all details and scenarios before potential situations arose.

• Make certain all pets are current on licensing and vaccinations before the move
• Stock the car with ample food, water, pee pads, and wet wipes for the trip
• Hire builder to install pet enclosure and dog door at new home before moving date
• Locate new veterinarian in new neighborhood and gives heads-up records are coming
• Ask current veterinarian to send records to new veterinarian and print a copy for yourself
• Have crates clean and ready with food, water, and pee pads, to load pets before movers arrive
• Cover pets’ crates with lightweight sheet to remove visual stimulation – will help to calm them
• Move pets/crates to a place where they can’t see or hear the house being packed up
• Harness pets before movers arrive and keep harnesses on at all times till move is complete
• Be sure harnesses have name tags with phone number(s) in case pet should bolt
• Keep crates covered with a lightweight sheet during travel to prevent panic or motion sickness
• Put pets/crates in a quiet room with door closed at new house during unloading
• Anchor crates in car so they don’t shift and toss pets about
• Put pets in same crate only if they get along and won’t fight

Start Your List Early

I’m a Type A personality when it comes to preparations, so probably you’ll look at my list and think – wow, is that overkill! And that’s cool. Make your list your own – whatever details are unique and important to you and your pet family. The important thing is to do as much as possible before moving day, and to minimize the chaos and stress for your pets through the whole process. These little details, like covering the crate with a light sheet, can make all the difference to keeping your pet calm. They’ll fall in love with your new home much more easily and quickly if you can prevent as much trauma as possible beforehand. And don’t forget – the better prepared you are ahead of moving day, the less stress you’ll be putting on yourself, so the better it is for you, too!

Good Luck and Happy Trails!

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie. 

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post Moving With Pets appeared first on BareFootPets.

Remember — chocolate can be FATAL to a pet!  Keep a close watch on the candy that comes into your house around Halloween.  No candy or even candy wrappers on the floor.  Containers and candy up high and totally out of reach from your pets.  It’s easy to keep a close eye out, and may save your sweet pet’s life!

Any time is a dangerous time for pets to be left outside.  But Halloween is even more dangerous for pets to be outside, more than other holidays, and especially for black cats.  Sadly, there are nasty people lurking about, waiting and watching for animals to abuse, and even kill.  Don’t let your pet become a statistic!  Keep them safely indoors the whole week before Halloween, and don’t let them outside again till after Halloween has passed.  No matter how much they fuss!  You are their protector — be strong and don’t give in till after the day passes.

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post Trick or Treat! appeared first on BareFootPets.

The article below is republished, with permission by its author, in its entirety to underscore the absolute critical importance of not leaving animals in cars.  Fortunately, this story has a happy ending.  Sadly, that’s not always the case.  Please take a few minutes to read and lock this information away in your brain so that you will always be mindful and protective of your own beloved pet.  Remember, at best your pet has the mental capacity of a two-year-old child.  He can’t save himself — he needs you to watch over him at all times. And if you get it wrong, there aren’t always do-overs.  Gratitude to Amy McGorry, Fox News, for this very important reminder.

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This lucky dog in New York City has now found a loving home

A dog that had been trapped inside a hot car this summer in New York City for as long as 24 hours now has a new home — thanks to the police officers who rescued him from the dire situation and the officer who then took him into her heart.

An official from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) told Fox News Digital that New York City Police Department officers rescued the fluffy white dog — an American Eskimo dog whose name is now Snow — and brought him to the ASPCA Animal Recovery Center on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

There, the dog was given medical care and behavioral treatment until he was ready for adoption.

AS MORE FRENCH BULLDOGS ARE STOLEN, PET LOVERS WANT TO KNOW: WHAT’S GOING ON WITH THIS BREED?

Last month, the NYPD tweeted about the rescue as it was happening. It said police responded to calls from “caring New Yorkers” who notified them about a dog locked in a hot car in the heat of the summer.

The responding police officers discovered the car was off, the windows were closed and the distressed dog was inside, according to the NYPD 19th Precinct’s tweet.

Police tweeted that the dog was locked inside the car for two hours; the ASPCA confirmed afterward that the dog was trapped inside the car for at least 24 hours.

The officers broke through one of the car’s windows, removed the suffering pup from the car once they were able to open the door — and brought the animal to the ASPCA for treatment.

A criminal investigation was underway at that time, according to the June 18 social media post.

On an 85-degree day, it only takes 10 minutes for the inside of a car to reach a deadly 102 degrees, the NYPD said.

Another tweet shared by the NYPD 19th Precinct said the temperatures that hot summer June day were in the mid-80s.

CATS CLASSIFIED AS ‘INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES’ BY POLISH SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTE

The precinct said that on an 85-degree day, it only takes 10 minutes for the inside of a car to reach a deadly 102 degrees.

This sweet dog — an American Eskimo dog — was trapped in a hot car in Manhattan for approximately 24 hours. It took the dog a month to recover and to be available for adoption. (ASPCA)

The NYPD social media post also said the law prohibits leaving “an animal unattended in a car under these dangerous conditions — thankfully the pup was rescued & is being cared for.”

Officer Aruna Maharaj, one of the NYPD rescuers, remained in touch with the ASPCA during Snow’s month-long recovery, a media spokesperson for the ASPCA told Fox News Digital.

This dog — rescued from a hot car — has now been adopted. The dog’s new name is Snow. The officer who adopted the pet “knew Snow was special.” (ASPCA)

The ASPCA also confirmed that the officer and her fiancé made the adoption official just last week.

“From the moment Officer Maharaj was involved in this case, she knew Snow was special,” the ASPCA official told Fox Digital News.

“When [the officer] rescued Snow from the car, she instantly fell in love.”

The spokesperson said that the officer was not looking to adopt a pet — but when she rescued Snow from the car, she instantly fell in love.

82% OF AMERICANS FELL IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT WITH THEIR DOGS, SURVEY FINDS

“She immediately brought him into her car with the air conditioner blasting, where he sat on her lap, licked her face and wouldn’t move from her company,” the ASPCA spokesperson added.

Officer Aruna Maharaj, one of the NYPD rescuers, holds Snow, who was removed from a hot car in June. Maharaj has since adopted Snow. (ASPCA)

The ASPCA official said the dog’s adoption was delayed for several weeks because Snow needed to receive medical care and behavioral care.

Officer Maharaj officially adopted Snow once the dog was cleared.

She brought him to her home, where he now enjoys a large backyard and walks to a nearby park, according to an emailed statement from the ASPCA.

Snow is enjoying a large backyard and regular walks to a nearby park.

The official also said Snow has been adjusting well to his new family and to having a cat sibling.

This pup rescued by officers with the NYPD is now enjoying himself again. (ASPCA)

Fox News Digital reached out to the NYPD, who said the officer was not available for comment; the department did not comment on the case.

As the summer continues, the ASPCA shared the following tips and advice for everyone when dealing with pets and the heat. 

Never leave pets alone in a parked car

A car can overheat even when the window has been left cracked an inch or two.

PENNSYLVANIA BABY BOY DIES IN HOT CAR INCIDENT: WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW NOW

The temperature inside a parked car may be as much as 20 degrees hotter than the temperature outside.

Not only can it lead to a fatal heat stroke — it is also illegal in many states.

Know the signs of overheating in pets

The signs that an animal is overheated include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, bright red gums, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor — or even collapse.

Symptoms can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomiting, along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees.

Heat stroke can be life-threatening.

PIGS AND A PLAYLIST? FARMER FINDS HIS PIGS ARE HAPPIER WHEN THEY HEAR MUSIC

It can cause permanent damage or death.

If you’re worried a pet might be experiencing a heat stroke, immediately remove your dog from the environment

Let your dog pant out excessive heat in a controlled and cooler space, such as an air-conditioned room, the ASPCA advises.

During very hot weather, use good judgment about keeping pets indoors

Also, when walking dogs in hot weather, never let them linger on hot asphalt — which can burn their sensitive paw pads.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Since pets are close to the ground, the hot asphalt can also contribute to their body heating up very quickly.

Amy McGorry is a contributing health reporter for Fox News Digital. Follow her on Twitter @amymcgorry.

The post Pets And Hot Cars appeared first on BareFootPets.

It’s about Johnny, my neighbors’ beautiful young German Shepherd.  When the neighbors moved in next door to me several years ago, they brought along their two dogs — Alabaster, a petite, pretty, white Pittie, and Johnny, a magnificent young German Shepherd.  I was happy to meet the young couple and befriend their pets.  But the couple weren’t as excited to get to know their neighbors, which of course is their choice, obviously, but disappointing nonetheless.  Our properties are divided by concrete block privacy walls, so once Johnny and Alabaster were ushered into their new backyard, I was never able to interact with them again …

… Until Johnny began jumping the wall into my back yard.  The first time he came over was quite the surprise.  I happened to walk past my patio door and glance out to see this big guy standing there staring back in at me.  I marveled at his size — large, muscular, a real specimen dog.  Johnny, however, was not trained, even basics like walking on a lead.  He was a good-natured boy, but had lots of nervous energy, making him unable to focus or respond to commands.  It only took a minute or two to recognize that his owners were not invested in managing his behavior.

His owners were away that first time, so I kept Johnny with me in my yard till they returned home a few hours later.  We had fun.  Turns out Johnny loves water — loves it!  The more I sprayed the garden hose for him to chase, the more he loved it.  I loved his child-like joy!  And the more he ran and chased the water spray, the more relaxed he became.  I could see his nerves and anxieties melt away as he played and burned off all his built-up toxic energy.  It was a great time, and I could tell he was relieved.

Our New Normal.

And so began the next three years living next to Johnny.  He jumped the fence on a frequent basis.  I was always finding him in my yard running around.  I adored Johnny but, even tho he was welcome at my home, I couldn’t allow him to keep coming over unannounced.  My own pets were outside with me every day enjoying our yard, and I had no idea if Johnny could be trusted with them.  My dog Bandit is only 11 pounds, and my two cats are quite small as well, especially compared to a 150-pound hyper-active German Shepherd.  I couldn’t put them at risk by allowing Johnny free run of my property.  Johnny might have been friendly and non-threatening, but his size and nervous energy alone could hurt them.  We never knew when he would come over the fence — we just knew that he was always pacing on his side of the fence, and that he would surprise us at any moment.

Johnny’s back yard is higher than mine because we live on the foothills of a mountain range.  So he was never able to jump back over the fence to go home on his own.  And he would freak out — running, crying, pacing, barking, tearing up my grass, my window screens, etc.  I was never angry at Johnny for his anxieties and poor behavior, because it was never his fault.  I knew he was a good dog, who just needed some attention and training.  So I tried to take advantage of the times he was in my yard, and help him burn off pent-up energy so he could learn some commands.  He liked that.  But then the owners would come get him and he’d go back to being ignored and misbehaved.  It was a sad and unfortunate cycle.

Sad Intentions.

It became apparent that Johnny’s time living next door to me was coming to an end.  The neighbors were growing frustrated at having to come get him from my yard so often, and they commented on occasion that they needed to find him a new home.  They listed the typical reasons that people give:  he’s badly behaved, he’s too much work, we have a new baby, etc.  I could tell they were looking for a quick and easy way to unload him, so I began reaching out to people I knew to see if we could get him re-homed safely.  Before I got any takers, tho, the big escape happened.

The Big Escape.

One day last month, I got a notice on NextDoor.com about two dogs wandering a nearby neighborhood.  I pulled up the photo and saw that it was Alabaster and Johnny.  I quickly texted my neighbors that their dogs were loose and the finder had already taken the dogs to the county shelter.  I knew the danger they were in there, and my heart was racing.  The neighbors eventually texted back saying they would go retrieve them.  I texted them again and gave them the two kennel numbers to help quickly identify the dogs and get them safely out.  They texted back saying they were on their way to the shelter.

Later that evening, another post came through on NextDoor.com about Johnny and Alabaster.  It said Alabaster had been picked up by the owners, but Johnny was still at the shelter.  I was shocked to realize the owners had recovered Alabaster but had deliberately left Johnny behind at the shelter.  My heart sank.

Heartbroken But Hopeful.

Posts on NextDoor.com were swirling about trying to get Johnny out of the shelter to safety.  I called everyone I could think of.  Folks were even visiting Johnny at the shelter to be sure he was doing okay and posting status reports on any possible adoptions.  Three days later, the posts stopped.  No more updates on Johnny.  The shelter folks would not let us know if Johnny had been adopted or if they had killed him.

It’s been a few months now, and I still think of Johnny every day.  I fight the urge to judge his owners and be angry with them.  But it’s hard.  Johnny deserved so much better than he got from them.  My heart will always hurt for Johnny knowing he got cheated … and it wasn’t his fault.  I can only pray our networking helped and that he was adopted and is now in the care of loving, diligent folks who prioritize his wellbeing and happiness.  Miracles do happen.

If you don’t have the time or attitude to invest in training a dog, . . .

                                                              . . .   please don’t get a dog.

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post And Another Good Dog Is Ruined. appeared first on BareFootPets.

Especially not the pets locked away on death row in high-kill shelters, with the clock quickly ticking, and not the rescuers trying to figure out how to save them. You must adopt a mind-set to act quickly and figure out details later, such as possible behavior issues, medical issues, etc. Sadly, high-kill “shelters” still operate all over the country; so, as a rule, you don’t have time to think about rescuing a pet, like I thought I did with Ramona (see earlier post “It Should Not Have Ended This Way”).

You need to act first and figure it all out later–learn to power rescue.

A Rose by Any Other Name?

Don’t be fooled about “shelters.”  Too many of them are anything but.  “Shelter” is too often code for “killing machine.”  People need to be aware that way too many shelters in our country are still high-kill and operate under old, close-minded protocols, using euthanasia as their first choice to manage animal population.  They extinguish precious animals’ lives, and justify the murders by blaming fake reasons, such as lack of kennel space, lack of people willing to adopt, the animal has behavioral issues, the animal is fearful, etc.  Of course an animal is fearful — look where he is!!  The chaos, the smell of death in the hallways, fear of all the strange people and other caged animals around him.  But take him out and away from those halls of hell and watch him blossom.  Sadly, “shelters” still exist that won’t be bothered to give animals in their supposed care such a chance.  In these cases, the shelters aren’t shelters at all–they’re killing machines.

Whose Job Is It, Anyway?

Another thing “shelters” do is put the responsibility and blame on us, the public, whether the animals live or die.  They assign animals an arbitrary 72 hours to live, then pretty much just sit back and wait.  If no one steps up to adopt or rescue him within the 72 hours, the “shelter” feels justified in killing the poor animal–as if they had no choice, they were forced, it’s not their fault. The beautiful mama lab in this photo, ironically named Hope, and her newborn pups–every last precious one of them–were murdered by the shelter.  Instead of protecting them and finding homes for them, in the way that “sheltering” means, the “shelter” decided it was easier and more cost-effective to just get rid of them.  Even though rescue organizations were standing by, offering and begging for the lives of this innocent family, the “shelter” took the shameful way out, and killed them, all of them, one by one.

Certainly not all shelters are this cold and ugly, but sadly too many still are.  Truth is, it should be squarely on the shelters to advocate for the animals–it’s their job–to set up new programs that pro-actively prepare the shelter animals behaviorally and health-wise so they have the best possible chance at finding caring, responsible new homes; and to create public and media outreach programs that make more people aware of the pets needing homes, and encourage those folks to foster and/or adopt. Nathan Winograd, founder of No Kill Advocacy, has a regular blog that addresses the failure of shelters nationwide to show compassion toward the animals they have charge over.  Nathan created the No-Kill design that truly saves the lives of shelter animals, not kills them behind closed doors.  Visit these links to learn more.  I’ve spoken about Nathan and the No Kill Advocacy in previous posts.  Their efforts have resulted in profound improvements nationwide in sheltering.  Because of them, “a no-kill nation is within our reach.”

Learn To Power Rescue.

To anyone who considers getting involved in pet rescue, know this: You Must Be Prepared To Go All-In. There is no halfway. Prepare yourself to act quickly so that situations like poor Ramona and Hope don’t happen should you hesitate. Prepare yourself to be flexible because you typically will not know the behavioral or medical history of most pets you will rescue, so you’ll be dealing on a daily basis with many unknowns.  Learn ahead of time what you can to be best prepared to handle tough situations.  You’re going to need every bit of emotional, mental, and physical strength you can draw upon.

Above all, prepare your heart.  Rescue is an extreme labor of love that will change you from the inside out.  Once you commit to saving and protecting these vulnerable lives from those who would hurt them, and experience the power in this simple act of love, you will never be the same.  And, while it will hurt like hell, that’s a good thing.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post Learning To Power Rescue. appeared first on BareFootPets.