Thursday, February 13, 2014
Snow Day
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Monday, February 10, 2014
Zeta's day 9
We brought her home Feb. 1 and she broke with URI Feb. 3. A week later and she's feeling a lot better, and she gained 2.5 lbs!
Yesterday was her first day to not have an accident in the house. We're so proud of her!
Yesterday was her first day to not have an accident in the house. We're so proud of her!
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Vaccinating a feral, aggressive or undersocialized animal
When people come to the shelter looking for an animal to adopt, most don't realize that they're only seeing half the picture. Half the building houses mostly happy, mostly healthy, adoptable dogs and cats. The other half houses the ones that are too scared, too sick, or too wild for adoption. They all need care and some of them make the transition from one part of the building. Most of the time, though, they need someone to get them out, which is where fosters and rescues come in.
In my previous post, Zeta, I failed to mention the crucial step that even made those dogs available for foster or rescue: vaccination. Without getting their vaccines, animals can't go up for adoption, foster, or rescue. It is also the defining moment for an animal at intake: If they can't be vaccinated, they are labeled either "feral" or "aggressive". Feral means they just aren't used to human handling and are too scared. Aggressive means that fear makes them lash out and seem like they intend to do harm. Both can be worked with because they are fear-based. (These are my definitions, nothing official.)
The issue is that not everyone can work with these animals. They're in restricted rooms which are only to be accessed by staff members. When I was a kennel attendant, it was easy to work with the feral cats because they get used to your voice, day after day, if you talk to them while you clean. Eventually, some of them will let you pet them and even carry them. With the dogs, I could at least get a sense of whether they were truly aggressive or just scared. Most just needed more time and slow introduction than anyone had. Now, at the front desk, I come in a little early and walk around. It's easier to work with the dogs now than the cats because they take days to earn their trust. Most dogs just require a bag of treats.
The puppies Cyrus and Myles were easy; like the cats, they just needed to be handled enough to accept vaccines. Killer was a different situation. He took most of his vaccines, but got uncomfortable and cranky when it came to the last one, pyrantel (an oral dewormer) and his heartworm test (requires blood draw). He was a sweet dog, but the shelter made him very nervous and being restrained downright scared him. I worked with him for days and was finally able to get the dewormer into him, but the blood draw was up to the receiving staff. I was so worried about him that I had said my goodbyes; I was so sure that he was just another sweet, scared dog that wasn't going to make it.
Luckily, though, they kept trying and eventually got the test. They made him foster/rescue only, but it was easy to market him because he passed his behavioral assessment with flying colors. He's now in foster and waiting for a forever home. He loves kids and people in general, gets along with other dogs and is house and crate trained. I'm so happy that he's in a home, but I'm sure he'd be glad to have one of his very own.
Zeta was rescue-only because of her physical condition and also because she needed socialization. She's the first dog I've brought home out of stray. I've brought home four cats/kittens out of stray, and they're all awesome. But this post isn't about her.
In my previous post, Zeta, I failed to mention the crucial step that even made those dogs available for foster or rescue: vaccination. Without getting their vaccines, animals can't go up for adoption, foster, or rescue. It is also the defining moment for an animal at intake: If they can't be vaccinated, they are labeled either "feral" or "aggressive". Feral means they just aren't used to human handling and are too scared. Aggressive means that fear makes them lash out and seem like they intend to do harm. Both can be worked with because they are fear-based. (These are my definitions, nothing official.)
The issue is that not everyone can work with these animals. They're in restricted rooms which are only to be accessed by staff members. When I was a kennel attendant, it was easy to work with the feral cats because they get used to your voice, day after day, if you talk to them while you clean. Eventually, some of them will let you pet them and even carry them. With the dogs, I could at least get a sense of whether they were truly aggressive or just scared. Most just needed more time and slow introduction than anyone had. Now, at the front desk, I come in a little early and walk around. It's easier to work with the dogs now than the cats because they take days to earn their trust. Most dogs just require a bag of treats.
The puppies Cyrus and Myles were easy; like the cats, they just needed to be handled enough to accept vaccines. Killer was a different situation. He took most of his vaccines, but got uncomfortable and cranky when it came to the last one, pyrantel (an oral dewormer) and his heartworm test (requires blood draw). He was a sweet dog, but the shelter made him very nervous and being restrained downright scared him. I worked with him for days and was finally able to get the dewormer into him, but the blood draw was up to the receiving staff. I was so worried about him that I had said my goodbyes; I was so sure that he was just another sweet, scared dog that wasn't going to make it.
Luckily, though, they kept trying and eventually got the test. They made him foster/rescue only, but it was easy to market him because he passed his behavioral assessment with flying colors. He's now in foster and waiting for a forever home. He loves kids and people in general, gets along with other dogs and is house and crate trained. I'm so happy that he's in a home, but I'm sure he'd be glad to have one of his very own.
Zeta was rescue-only because of her physical condition and also because she needed socialization. She's the first dog I've brought home out of stray. I've brought home four cats/kittens out of stray, and they're all awesome. But this post isn't about her.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Haymitch goes to the mall
Haymitch has gone to AniMall in Cary Towne Center. Please go visit him and see how awesome he is! We'll still be answering questions and speaking with potential adopters. Hopefully he'll find the home he's been looking for.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Zeta's first day
The longer she's here, the more we learn about her.
She's taken to the crate very well.
She's not fussy or loud. She will bark if over excited or alarmed, and it's pretty shrill. I've only heard her bark twice: once at the shelter when she heard another excited dog and was frustrated and once today when our Honey barked at the neighbors (because the other neighbor's dog was barking).
She's not house trained, but she's making progress. She had a couple accidents this morning but seems to do pretty well if she goes out every couple hours. We'll build up to three times a day, like Honey, but in the meantime, she's doing well. She does know to use the bathroom as soon as we get outside.
She answers to her name and has great recall. She doesn't run off and so far has done great off leash. She sticks to her person like velcro. She's not allowed on the couch yet, so she can't cuddle on the couch. But she prefers to be right by me.
She learns quickly, especially by example. She only missed about six treats before Honey taught her how to "sit". We'll work on lay down once she gets sit down solid.
I think she's gonna be alright.
She's taken to the crate very well.
She's not fussy or loud. She will bark if over excited or alarmed, and it's pretty shrill. I've only heard her bark twice: once at the shelter when she heard another excited dog and was frustrated and once today when our Honey barked at the neighbors (because the other neighbor's dog was barking).
She's not house trained, but she's making progress. She had a couple accidents this morning but seems to do pretty well if she goes out every couple hours. We'll build up to three times a day, like Honey, but in the meantime, she's doing well. She does know to use the bathroom as soon as we get outside.
She answers to her name and has great recall. She doesn't run off and so far has done great off leash. She sticks to her person like velcro. She's not allowed on the couch yet, so she can't cuddle on the couch. But she prefers to be right by me.
She learns quickly, especially by example. She only missed about six treats before Honey taught her how to "sit". We'll work on lay down once she gets sit down solid.
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Zeta
After Quinn was adopted, I went snooping through the foster/rescue only dogs. I could have chosen someone from the adoption floor, but there is something about the ones who need socialization that I'm drawn to. It's awesome to see them transform from "almost feral" to pampered house pets.
A few of the notable ones from the past:
She needs some TLC before she can be adopted. She's skin and bones (only 30lbs); her coat is thin and patchy, probably from poor nutrition. Her nails were really long and showed malnutrition; her ears were filthy and stank like filth. She has sores on her legs, probably from laying on something hard.
When I met her, she shied away. She didn't want to be touched, she didn't respond to my voice, she didn't try to sniff my hand. I won her over with treats, which is easy when a dog is so hungry. After a couple days, she finally wagged for me. Now, she loves attention, comes when called and seems like a pretty normal dog. It's funny how fast they change.
Zeta got a much-needed medicated bath, had her ears cleaned and her nails trimmed. She's on the surgery list for Tuesday and is currently in heat. She looks like she'd been bred more than a couple times. It's hard to believe she's 7 years old because of her size and spirit, but her teeth are horrible and her paws are old.
So far she's been good with the cats, if a bit rude and pushy to play. We've lucked out too many times, so we'll need to house train and crate train her. She's adjusting to the crate pretty well so far, but we haven't had much luck catching her in the act of using the bathroom in the house. Luckily she's wearing diapers because of her heat, so it's easier to clean up but it's hard to catch her. We'll keep working, though, and I'm sure she'll catch on because she's a smart girl.
Fingers crossed for tonight!
A few of the notable ones from the past:
 |
| Cyrus. I won him over and carried him in to get his vaccinations. |
 |
| He was pulled by Critters 4 U Rescue and adopted. |
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| String Bean, now known as Myles, was "feral". I also won him over and carried him to get vaccinated. He went into foster, was adopted and is a huge sugarmonster! |
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| Killer, now known as Killian. He was my best friend from the very start just because I took time with him. He's in foster now, looking for a home. He's a sweet snugglebug. |
This is Zeta.
So far she's been good with the cats, if a bit rude and pushy to play. We've lucked out too many times, so we'll need to house train and crate train her. She's adjusting to the crate pretty well so far, but we haven't had much luck catching her in the act of using the bathroom in the house. Luckily she's wearing diapers because of her heat, so it's easier to clean up but it's hard to catch her. We'll keep working, though, and I'm sure she'll catch on because she's a smart girl.
Fingers crossed for tonight!
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