Last Friday morning when I arrived at the shelter to walk dogs, I noticed a dirty little mop of a dog sitting quietly in the corner of the kennel. He had been taken to the shelter as a stray by 2 girls who saw him following them when they were out jogging. I've got a pretty good eye for dog breeds and despite his slovenly appearance, I suspected that there was a purebred miniature schnauzer inside the tangled clump of matted fur.
The shelter was full and by the time Cassie, another volunteer, and I finished walking all the dogs, I didn't have and extra time to give the new dog a bath. He wasn't very lively, and he smelled like he had been rolling in something long dead. Officer Dan gave me permission to take the dog home where I had an assortment of medicated shampoos and all my grooming tools. I could clean him up return him to the shelter the next day. How someone could have let a dog get to be so filthy and unkempt was a mystery to me. I was hoping that his owners would not claim him and he might have a second chance with a family who would take better care of him. But he needed a bath regardless.
I started bathing him right away. The stench coming from him was strong, and I thought a good bath would take care of the horrible smell. Not so. Once he was washed, fluffed, and dried, he was a smelly as ever. He stood quietly while I clippered him which was a blessing. The matts and tangles were horrendous and it was slow going. As I cut away the masses of clotted hair, I began to realize how skinny he was, but he was starting to look like a real schnauzer even though he still smelled like a rotten egg.
Duffy was very touchy around his face and feet. There were clumps of imbedded and foxtails and hair between his toes that I couldn't get out. The stink seemed to be coming from his mouth. Was it an abcessed tooth, a wound, a malignant mass? I had no idea. A vet appointment would give us the answer. The first available appointment was Monday morning. He would have to hang in there until then.
Over the weekend, Duffy did a lot of sleeping. He was taken to Monte Vista Animal Hospital in Turlock Monday morning. Duffy was put out, and the vet removed large handfuls of foxtails from each side of the back of his mouth. All the vets at the hospital agreed it was the worst case they have ever seen. They were going to save them so we could see it, but it stunk so badly even though it was double bagged, they had to toss it. His jaws were locked from all the infection and masses of junk. The vet was surprised he could even eat. Duffy also had lots more foxtails embedded in his feet, ears, between his toes and other parts of his body.
Has it really been so long since I've added to this blog? Lots has happened in 2 years but I'll just mention a few highlights. Officers Kelly and Janiece are now "old pros" with 2 years experience under their belts. The Oakdale Animal Shelter continues to have a high adoption rate and a very low euthanasia rate compared to other municipal shelters in the Central Valley and Northern California.
The lousy economic conditions have had a huge impact on the number of animals coming into the shelter both as owner-surrenders and unclaimed strays. Incoming animals 2008 over 2007 is up over 50%. The shelter kennels are overcrowded most of the time despite continuing efforts by volunteers to spread the word about the adoptable pets via weekly posters, and several adoption internet sites such as Petfinder.com.
Recently 2 large dogs were surrendered because the family claimed they could no longer afford to feed them. Earlier this year, 2 small dogs were found abandoned in a garage without food or water. People continue to dump their unwanted animals in the middle of the night in the general vicinity of the shelter in hopes that someone will take them in.
There have been several "repeat offenders". Callie, a sweet spayed young female pit bull, has been a regular off and on all year. Her owner has had financial trouble and has a hard time getting the money together to bail her out every time. But she now has a new home with someone who spends a lot of time with her, and takes her out on a walk everyday. She won't get so lonesome and be so tempted to hop the fence looking for companionship.
We've also had some nice donations coming in. The Tractor Supply Company in Oakdale collects cans and bottles and donates the proceeds to the shelter. An account is now set up with Oakdale Recycle Center so that anyone who wants to collect recycles and donate the cash to the shelter can do so, by just telling the staff at the Recycle Center they want the proceeds to go to the Oakdale Animal Shelter. Last month we got a donation check for almost $40.00. It all adds up.
I'll try to be better at doing more frequent and timely additions to the blog.
Out next adoption day will be at Oakdale Pet Station on Saturday November 8 11am-1pm.
Betsie
It's been a while since I've added to our blog. The Oakdale Shelter has been going through some changes. Officer Jim decided 20 years with Animal Services was enough, and he applied for retirement. Two new officers were in line as replacements for the two vacant positions. It's been a couple of months of new staff learning the ropes, and lots of reorganization and procedural revisions. Welcome to new officers Kelly and Janiece.
All three of us were out to walk dogs today: Ann, Edith and I. Several dogs had been adopted earlier in the week but the shelter was still full with only 2 outside kennels vacant. We noticed that the elderly, blind cocker was no longer there, and neither were the two wild cattle dog youngsters. We called them Bronco and Billy, because they were so difficult to take out on a walk. The kennels were immediately filled. No room at the inn.
We were hopeful that Joey, the extremely shy, timid 5 year old neutered male Kelpie mix, would get adopted today. A woman had inquired about him after seeing his listing on Petfinder. She said she would show up at 10am. We were keeping our fingers crossed. He was one of our two hard-to-adopt dogs. Joey was so scared and timid when he first came to the shelter about 2 1/2 weeks ago that he shivered in the corner of the kennel, and would tried to get away from us when we approached him. He's become one of my favorites, and 2 days ago he finally wagged his tail for the very first time. He walked beautifully on a leash and we all felt if only someone would be patient and gentle with him, he had great potential as a loyal pet.
We've all been worried about Blondie, a terrified senior pomeranian, who would be so scared when someone picked her up she would lose control over her bowels. She was surrendered by the family of an elderly woman who could no longer care for her. Blondie was skinny and covered with fleas. She also had a lump on her back that would need attention. Her chances of getting out of the shelter alive were slim to none. And her terror from being at the shelter hadn't subsided with time. I'd listed her as "URGENT!" on her Petfinder listing and we had several inquiries but no one wanted to take on a dog with so many problems. A man from San Francisco had emailed and sounded interested, but it was a 2 hour drive to the shelter. Would he show up today? If Blondie wasn't adopted today, she would most certainly be euthanized.
At 10am on the dot, Kristy showed up to meet Joey. She explained that she had adopted her other dog exactly one year plus one day ago. Joey was his usual timid self, but it was pretty clear, he liked Kristy and she took to him right away. In less that 30 minutes, the paperwork was done, Joey was wearing his new red collar, and he hopped into the car for the ride to his new home.
Joe called on my cell phone to say that he and a friend were just leaving San Francisco. They should arrive at the shelter about 1pm. He wanted to see if he could arrange to take Blondie home today and have his own vet take care of her spay and other medical needs. Kelly would be the one to authorize the arrangements.
We got all the dogs walked and I helped Kelly with vaccinations of several cats and kittens, plus the new dog we decided to call Gorgeous George because he is truly a "homely mutt". George has short broad face, long body, and short legs. He is so homely he is cute in his own unique way. George is a very easy going guy and if someone can look inside they will see a loving canine companion. George also has "cherry eye" in one eye that will require treatment. Kelly will check with the vet to see what the cost will be to fix it. Ann and Edith went home to finish up last minute Christmas chores.
I hung around until 1:30 but Joe and his friend hadn't shown up yet. I decided to stick around for another 15 minutes in hopes they would show up. If not I would go say my final goodbyes to Blondie. About 1:45 my cell phone rang. Joe and his friend were less than 5 minutes away. Whew! Now, will they like our little scardy cat, or be turned off because she won't run up to them ad wag her tail?
When Joe and Gary arrived I took them back to Blondie's kennel. When she saw us, she ran to the corner and huddled up trying to become invisible. As usual, she shivered and shook with fright, but did let me pick her up and fortunately didn't poop on my jacket as she had done earlier this morning. I set her on the floor and she immediately rolled over submissively on her back. Joe was able to pet her and although she was shaking, she didn't try to snap at him, which was a point in her favor. Joe sat down on the concrete floor of the shelter, scooped up Blondie and cradled her in his arms, and stroked her gently. She was still very confused and scared, but she settle down some and quit shivering. She let him feel the lump on her back, and open her mouth to check her teeth.
Joe and Gary both agreed, that Blondie just needed to be in a safe place and with time she would gain confidence and become a happy little girl. Once Joe explained to Officer Kelly what he would like to do regarding her veterinary care, she agreed that Blondie could go to her new home now, with follow-up to make sure she was spayed. Joe called the vet and set up an appointment for her on Tuesday. Yahoo! Blonde had a new home for the holidays.
I was very excited about Blondie and immediately called Ann and Edith to tell them the good news.
We won't be a the shelter for the next 2 days. When we return the day after Christmas, will the emply spaces have filled up again?
Sunday September 10-
I picked up Moe the little lab/pit mix puppy from the shelter this evening. His neuter was postponed last week and has been resceduled for tomorrow. Since the shelter is fairly crowded, it's easier to keep him here, and make sure he doesn't have anything to eat after 7PM tonight in preparation for his surgery.
Moe was born with genitals not formed quite right. It seems to be strictly cosmetic and everything looks a little funny but seems to be in working order. It's nice his adoptive family has accepted him and his being a "little different." He is sure a sweet guy.
He is not happy staying behind the Xpen I have set up for him in the front hall. He want's to be out and up close with everyone particularly me and my mini-schnauzer Snickers. The other 2 dogs rush him and want to make sure he knows who is boss. He just does some submissive licking and rolls over on his back. He continues to invite each dog to play even though my Sophie continues to give him a hard time.
All was well until it was time to go to bed. He was NOT HAPPY at all at having to be in his crate and whined and cried. He eventually settled down, but every few hours during the night he would wake up and cry. His adopting family is going to have fun. It will be like having a new baby in the house.
Monday September 11-
After a moment of silence in memory of 9/11, I delivered Moe to Olde Towne Veterinary Hospital. The staff there all thought Moe was just the cutest. He lay quietly on my lap while waiting to be checked in. Since his adopting mom couldn't get to the vet before they closed, I agreed to pick him up after his surgery, bring him back to my house and she would pick him up there and we would finalize all the adoption arrangements.
At 1:30pm I got a call from the vet. In checking him over she discovered he had a heart murmer. She had thought she heard an intermittent one when she first examined him the week before, but now it was very obvious and she was very concerned about how this would affect his over all health as he grew and developed. It was urgent I contact his adopting family and let them know about his condition. The vet and I discussed the options, the obvious was one neither of us wanted to face. If little Moe has two congential defects, what are the possiblities that he might have more?
I reached the adoptive family and they were not in a position to take a potentially ill puppy into their family, the vet and I reluctantly agreed that the best decision for this little guy was euthanasia. This is the hard part of this work--letting go of the ones when you've become attached. Little Moe would love to lie quietly at my feet while I worked at the computer. Looking back I think he was such an easy going guy because his little heart wasn't pumping quite right.
His two sisters were adopted and now in their new forever homes. I will remember this one for a long time.
Betsie
