Rescue Dog plus Rescue Human equals PERFECTION.

Posted on 11. Jan, 2010 by Annvi in Barkin' Doggie Bloggie, Community Efforts, Companies doin' cool things, Rescue Dogs

“It’s impossible to be around them and stay in a bad mood.” ~ John Grogan

I just found this blog post.  I had to immediately share it.  It made me cry.  Goodness.  I LOVE RESCUE DOGS.  Go out and get you one.  You will never regret it.

Cheers and Happy Barkin’!

Annvi and Tobiah

I RESCUED A HUMAN TODAY by Janine Allen

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 overworked 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.

I 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.

http://rescuemedog.org/dog-blog/i-rescued-a-human-today-by-janine-allen/

Written by Janine Allen CPDT, Rescue Me Dog’s professional dog trainer. Janine’s passion is working with people and their dogs. She provides demonstrations for those who have adopted shelter dogs, lends email support to adopted dog owners that need information beyond our Training Support Pages, and aids shelter staff and volunteers in understanding dog behavior to increase their adoptability. Copyright 2010 Rescue Me Dog; www.rescuemedog.org

From Service Dog to SURFice Dog

Posted on 11. Dec, 2009 by Annvi in Barkin' Doggie Bloggie, Community Efforts, Interesting Dog Tidbits

Just another example of the profound impact a doggie can have on all of us.

Cheers and Happy Barkin’!

Annvi and Tobiah

Fences For Fido

Posted on 09. Dec, 2009 by Annvi in Barkin' Doggie Bloggie, Community Efforts, Companies doin' cool things, Interesting Dog Tidbits

“One person can have a profound effect on another. And two people…well, two people can work miracles. They can change a whole town. They can change the world.” ~ Diane Frolove and Andrew Schneider, Northern Exposure, Cicely, 1992

UN-CHAINED one dog at a time

Have you heard of this organization?  Pretty cool people in Portland, Oregon.  Basically, they build fences and unchain dogs- improving the quality of life for outdoor dogs.  Ready for a tear jerker?

What I love about this group is the fact that they aren’t taking dogs away from people or judging anyone.  They are educating the public and providing a safer environment for these pups. Fences for Fido is part of the solution.  Just another example of how just a few people can have such a huge impact on so many lives.

Some stats I found on their site:

•Dogs are pack animals who want and need socialization and companionship.
•The Animal Welfare Act prohibits dog chaining as the primary means of confinement.
•The American Veterinary Medical Association warns that chaining a dog can contribute to aggressive behavior.
•The Centers for Disease Control states that chained dogs are 2.8 times more likely to bite than unchained dogs.

Cheers and Happy Barkin’!

Annvi and Tobiah

The Importance of Spaying & Neutering

Posted on 20. Nov, 2009 by Annvi in Barkin' Doggie Bloggie, Community Efforts

“Many people are surprised to learn that nationwide more than 3 million cats and dogs are euthanized in shelters. Spay/neuter is the only permanent, 100-percent effective method of birth control for dogs and cats.” US Humane Society

I get emails everyday about dogs being PTS (put to sleep) because shelters are running out of space and not because the dogs are unadoptable.  Even puppies are having to be put down.  The worse is when they have to be PTS by gas chambers.  Gas chambers are 30-45 mins of torture for these dogs.  I found this letter that someone whose job it is to gas animals wrote in 2008.  I had no idea that this was practiced to euthanize dogs until today.  I am in tears.  I can’t imagine this sort of suffering.  Here is some information on states that have banned it and states that still use it: More States Taking on Gas Chambers.  This is what the Humane Society has posted in an article on their resource site:

Currently, 32 states have direct licensing laws. Of these, however, 12 states still allow the use of carbon monoxide chambers, while 8 make no mention of the practice and 12 ban it altogether. The remaining 18 states have no direct licensing laws. Five of these states permit the use of carbon monoxide chambers, 13 make no mention of the practice or have no information available, and one explicitly bans it.

Honestly, these problems- such as overcrowding shelters, high-kill rates, animal suffering, just will not stop until we do something about puppy mills, backyard breeders, and spaying and neutering.  I don’t think people fully understand the consequences of not spaying and neutering until they go to shelters and see for themselves.  What did these animals do to deserve such a destiny ?  Now, although I do believe every dog/cat should be spayed or neutered, I do not believe in mandatory spaying and neutering.  It does not seem to work because people who cannot afford to have their dog neutered/spayed end up turning their animals into shelters, some people won’t abide to the law, and others may refuse to take their animal to a vet in fear of receiving a fine or losing the pet!  It has been shown that mandatory laws like this do not work in lowering the animal intakes and euthanization rates.   However, I do think that cities should work on lowering the cost of spaying and neutering so that more people can afford to do so.  I think this would be a better alternative than making this practice mandatory.  In Houston, we have SNAP, which offers low cost/free vet services to low income families.  They are a mobile clinic!  Pretty awesome, if you ask me.  You can also donate to SNAP by clicking here.

Some people don’t believe in spaying/neutering because it is unnatural.  Here is another article that dispels some of these myths.

Puppies at a high-kill shelter

Soooo….if you haven’t spayed/neutered, please please please consider doing so.

Cheers and Happy Barkin!

Annvi and Tobiah