As the President of GWP Rescue, Inc, and the one that holds the Animal Care Facility licenses in three states, I find myself needing to vent here a bit.
As there have been so many blogs on the involvement of large private charities in illegal raids, confiscations of animals from hoarding situations, only to send them to high kill shelters, or shelters where many of them die from disease at the hands of such "rescuers", I find myself outraged!
A raw nerve if you will when it comes to those making profit off their pull and dump on small organizations/over crowded rural shelters whilst they make money off of the situation by taking a lot of photos and asking for money on their huge professional websites. When in truth they pocket funds and little if any of the money pocketed by these large organizations actually goes to help the animals in need.
Those of us in rescue have seen it many times. It being a LARGE organization, coming in to save the day on their white horse...and basically giving a ride to the animals to be shuffled off to over crowded high kill facilities or dumped on small rescue organizations. it is time to stop believing those TV commercials folks...take a look at www.Guidestar.com at any organization you wish to support...take a look at their books which are public record.
I invite you to view the following blogs:
KC Dog Blog
YesBiscuit!
Maybe it is because I have a vested interest in one of those raids, months of rehab work on GWP's that thankfully ended up in the hands of GWP Rescue. Maybe it is because of the input I am getting from those that were actually there witnessing the animals being kept in small cages and never getting human contact....maybe it is because of the psychologically damaged dogs I have spent the last 6 months working with. What really caused all of this damage, what really made them so afraid. Guess we will never know will we? What made them so hand shy they hit the floor when you toss a ball?
It's time to wake up people!
There are rules and regulations to follow. There are ways to educate and reform situations. There is a way and as a society we must insist on those in law enforcement to enforce the current laws, and for those in states where laws do not exist to lobby for a change.
There...I feel better. But that doesn't help those poor animals that have no voice, and depend on us to provide "better" living conditions, a chance...not throw them to the wolves so those doing the throwing can rake in more of our hard earned dollars by deceiving the public.
I am sick to death of the abuse, neglect, irresponsibility of owners and now RESCUERS that are equally irresponsible. You have probably guessed it, the LARGE organization I am speaking of is the HSUS, and those that bring in dogs from horrible situations enabling such organizations. Rescuers that fly by the seat of their pants, and then beg constantly for money. Yes, we all need money at times, but regulate the numbers please....and you-John Q. Public..get your dogs spayed and neutered OK?
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
the Importance of Fostering-A Dog like Meg
I recently got an email with photos from one of our adopters on one of our more difficult cases...her name was Meg. I decided to get out her file and go over her notes, on just how bad she was in the beginning. Not bad I should say, but what a challenge she was, and how I fumbled through different ways of handling her to counter these challenges.
The first weeks entries were eye opening. I had forgotten all of Meg's quirks, and my own dismay over her personality. She was a huge girl, around 28" at the shoulders. She had obviously been a kennel dog all her life with little socialization with humans or other dogs.
Meg was dumped into a shelter with what we believe to have been her breeding partner. When another rescue contacted us, it was decided they would take the male and I would take the female. We enlisted help from those wonderful transport people, mostly former adopters of ours to help bring her from the Texas panhandle to Oklahoma City where my son and I would meet them from Kansas City.
When we picked up Meg, she was incredibly thin....shaking, and belly crawling. Rescuers were shocked as we were. Considering she had some huge ticks on her, my first thought was tick borne disease. When we got her to our vet here that was ruled out. It was the extreme lack of socialization and realization she was just a breeder...a money maker. Meg had never had any affection, and we learned early on that a nod when she did something good was enough. When I started to work with Meg, it was a day by day slow progression. I really had to work hard on my frustration level, breathe, meditate...seriously before working with her.
I was so wrong when I thought she was "dumb as rocks"...as later when I observed her opening crate door latches with ease. I thought, "okay girl, if my eyes did not deceive me which I KNOW they didn't, you are capable of so much more than I am getting from you." What could I do to reach this dog that when even patted would maul you with unwanted attention, or ambush me from behind while I sat on my computer wrapping her legs around my neck and licking my head? Oh that used to frustrate me, now it is quite funny to think of it.
I see from the progression of my notes, the big changes came two months into her stay with us. As we are somewhat lucky, being our breed is not overly common we have the capability of taking in a few at a time and doing actual rehab. We are not about numbers, but about working with our dogs to provide our adopters with a pet with some manners, and no surprises. My big requirement is a loose leash walk, some idea of recall, sit and wait.
I have a special son, actually three special sons...but one that does good work with the dogs. He has grown up observing rescue dogs, he reads them, handles them well and the dogs respect him. He was the one person Meg did not pull any punches with. He was much larger than her, and one of our first orders of business was to master the walk with Meg. I will never forget when we "saddled" up the dogs for their pack walk I of course, being the experienced handler wanted Meg. That lasted about one block, when I told Matt..."Hey, you're going to have to trade me the three pups for this one!" Meg was bucking like a horse, and I could feel my back and shoulders taking hits already.
What happened next was nothing short of a miracle. Matt made her go into a sit,(one command I was able to teach her), leaned over her and spoke to her. He pulled the leash short, and Meg was no longer bucking. She fell into a heel, and walked beside him or slightly behind. He said he had laid out the rules, pulled up his energy from the gut and Meg had understood. Meg soon realized the leash was good, sitting calmly was required for the leash to be attached, and waiting at the door required. I remember as time went on how I used to take her alone in the evening, and how wonderful it was to be one with the dog....a team, and the joy of realizing this girl was going to progress into a lovely adoptable pet! Matt was featured in Cesar Millan's Newsletter with Meg last March, as special kids seem to have an intuitive communication with the dogs.
Meg started then to mingle with our other dogs, and she did very well. She started Daycare in the country two times a week, mostly hunting breeds and geared towards their needs. She was changing, before my eyes. We labeled her the Queen Diva Bigness, as she conveyed the Diva attitude in her body language, almost as though she thought she was royalty.
We came to adore Meg as she was with us six months, and so ingrained into our day to day lives. A dog that required so much had not disappointed us, a young man with little confidence other than his handling skills with the rescue dogs felt proud of his hand in making her what she was now. She was finally ready to move into a home.
And that home did come. Meg went to live with the most special couple, one that marveled at her leash skills, obedience, and manners.
As we stay in touch with our adopters and love to hear updates and receive photos, one such email this week announcing Meg had a new sister from Lab rescue prompted this post. As this most unlikely pair sit for a treat, and are the couch Divas together, can we celebrate the rescue, rehab, re-home and rejoice of these tremendous animals. As they teach us so much, and allow us to never give up....to keep trying.
Below We have a photo of our new Queen Diva Bigness....her name is Emma, and the saga continues!
"Oh Matt???"
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Not all Rescues are Created Equal nor Shelters
This blog post is dedicated to the companion animals that have no voice, they are at our mercy when it comes to rescue from high kill shelters.....
So what IMO defines a "rescue"
A rescue to me means abiding by the rules. Rescues need to heed state licenses and requirements, no group is above the law. Even if they have the word "National" "United States" or "Humane Society" in their name...ask for them to provide their credentials...licenses, 501c3, are their fosters inspected? Are they inspected by their state inspectors annually? How do they actually help the animals?
A rescue must have the funds in hand to provide medical care before committing to an animal/animals.
A rescue should be able to provide the very best in care, not allow the dog to languish in an outdoor kennel for months on end....especially when relinquished by a family that has had the poor dog indoors their entire lives on a big puffy dog bed.
A rescue must be willing to provide services that will benefit the animal and make them more adoptable, spay/neuter, medical tests, microchipping, leash training, crate training, obedience work. The rescue must do their very best to provide a healthy pet to their adopters, and disclose any potential problems with solutions and volunteer intervention if needed if a problem does arise.
A rescue must think with their head, and not their heart....as this is difficult at times, many times I have seen the "road to hell was paved with good intentions."
A rescue must not work within a panic mode, but a logic mode.
A rescue MUST always be responsible for their dogs/cats, taking them back into rescue when an unforeseen event may happen in the adopter's life. Stay in touch with their adopters, check up on the dog/cat, and always save a foster space for any event when a dog/cat must come back into rescue.
What I have seen going into 16 years of companion animal rescue, is that the problems are this:
Shelters not willing to work with licensed 501c3 rescues, people calling themselves a rescue with no credentials, zealots as I call them...not in a bad way, but filling up in boxes with "This Baby dies at 1:pm today" "SAVE this Furbaby!!!!" "OH GOD...I am begging!!!" Don't they realize these posts will be deleted by seasoned rescuers?
I also love it when a dog of our breed is cross posted bcc'd to multiple rescues, especially those of us that do not talk to each other...or it has been blind copied, thus leading to duplicated efforts.
Which leads me to Facebook....
I have seen some incredible legitimate rescues work together to move animals, egos left aside, providing adequate care, training, dog parks with photos...socializing animals at events, and volunteerism that is to behold.
There have been some incredible people working behind the scenes, coordinating medical care with no other intention but to provide the animal a chance to be adopted if a surgery is needed for example....or coordinate a transport to another legitimate rescue (with licenses and 501c3).
There have been many, many good saves and dogs put into good homes.
Then there are the ones that I question....those that do not ask questions of the organization willing to help. Do they have proper licenses to work within those states? How will the dog/cat be housed and cared for? What is their protocol, are they a no kill rescue? Or do they only give the animal minimal medical care, and if the animal proves to need more, euthanize. Just because they have the word "National" in their name, does not mean they work within the laws of such states...nor does it mean they will provide an indoor home to teach the dog (using dog here) house training, crate training, manners so they may go into an adopters home. Do the dogs receive basic obedience or any type of training? What are their credentials? Are they legitimate with the IRS to run a business?
Why am I so adamant on working within the laws, rules and regs? Because there are those of us licensing yearly in states we do business, we keep accurate records as the state agencies coming in for yearly inspections want to see them, because we do it right, and if it means we cannot save them all due to space then this is what happens. We do what we can, but we will do it right. We work hard to provide complete medical care, working within the law, work only with legitimate 501c3 organizations with a good standing within the rescue community. Ask for references, do home visits, vet references and do background checks on adopters. Carry liability insurance we pay for dearly each year to protect ourselves and the public. Do not adopt out animals we feel are not completely ready or rehabilitated. List any and all incidents after rehabilitation and document in their files. Do what is best for the dog, always.
When visiting a local Petsmart yesterday, I spoke to a group that was there doing an adoption event. They had a lovely 9 month old pup there that had been returned....why? Because the couple that had adopted her the week before were in their mid seventies, the energy level of the dog was not matched with the family, and because she had issues with food?
When I asked "what type of issues?" "Oh she is food aggressive....." "Nothing that cannot be worked on."
Now ask yourself, is a dog with food aggression with no rehab being adopted to a seventy year old couple fair?
Now there are many dogs in the shelters that have no issues at all...divorce, loss of job, and the list goes on...the owners cannot provide care...or in our case "the dog cannot hunt." I would say out of close to 300 dogs we have had within our system, we have had very few with issues that could post any threat to the general public. Within the right environment, food aggression can be rehabbed....by experienced handlers/trainers. But not in a shelter environment.
Shelters should be made accountable when a purebred dog comes within their system, to have lists of purebred rescues to come in to help...thus making room for another mixed breed dog. Not only is the dog placed properly, but with some rescues such as ours, not returned to the rescue as we have gone the distance to insure proper placement with experienced individuals.
I guess my beef with the entire situation is this:
While we all want to save a dog's life....sometimes being turned over to "some" rescue situations is worse than death. Asking questions, be responsible, do some investigation before throwing a dog to the wolves.
Off my soap box now....I hope this post will give some guidelines to those needing it.
So what IMO defines a "rescue"
A rescue to me means abiding by the rules. Rescues need to heed state licenses and requirements, no group is above the law. Even if they have the word "National" "United States" or "Humane Society" in their name...ask for them to provide their credentials...licenses, 501c3, are their fosters inspected? Are they inspected by their state inspectors annually? How do they actually help the animals?
A rescue must have the funds in hand to provide medical care before committing to an animal/animals.
A rescue should be able to provide the very best in care, not allow the dog to languish in an outdoor kennel for months on end....especially when relinquished by a family that has had the poor dog indoors their entire lives on a big puffy dog bed.
A rescue must be willing to provide services that will benefit the animal and make them more adoptable, spay/neuter, medical tests, microchipping, leash training, crate training, obedience work. The rescue must do their very best to provide a healthy pet to their adopters, and disclose any potential problems with solutions and volunteer intervention if needed if a problem does arise.
A rescue must think with their head, and not their heart....as this is difficult at times, many times I have seen the "road to hell was paved with good intentions."
A rescue must not work within a panic mode, but a logic mode.
A rescue MUST always be responsible for their dogs/cats, taking them back into rescue when an unforeseen event may happen in the adopter's life. Stay in touch with their adopters, check up on the dog/cat, and always save a foster space for any event when a dog/cat must come back into rescue.
What I have seen going into 16 years of companion animal rescue, is that the problems are this:
Shelters not willing to work with licensed 501c3 rescues, people calling themselves a rescue with no credentials, zealots as I call them...not in a bad way, but filling up in boxes with "This Baby dies at 1:pm today" "SAVE this Furbaby!!!!" "OH GOD...I am begging!!!" Don't they realize these posts will be deleted by seasoned rescuers?
I also love it when a dog of our breed is cross posted bcc'd to multiple rescues, especially those of us that do not talk to each other...or it has been blind copied, thus leading to duplicated efforts.
Which leads me to Facebook....
I have seen some incredible legitimate rescues work together to move animals, egos left aside, providing adequate care, training, dog parks with photos...socializing animals at events, and volunteerism that is to behold.
There have been some incredible people working behind the scenes, coordinating medical care with no other intention but to provide the animal a chance to be adopted if a surgery is needed for example....or coordinate a transport to another legitimate rescue (with licenses and 501c3).
There have been many, many good saves and dogs put into good homes.
Then there are the ones that I question....those that do not ask questions of the organization willing to help. Do they have proper licenses to work within those states? How will the dog/cat be housed and cared for? What is their protocol, are they a no kill rescue? Or do they only give the animal minimal medical care, and if the animal proves to need more, euthanize. Just because they have the word "National" in their name, does not mean they work within the laws of such states...nor does it mean they will provide an indoor home to teach the dog (using dog here) house training, crate training, manners so they may go into an adopters home. Do the dogs receive basic obedience or any type of training? What are their credentials? Are they legitimate with the IRS to run a business?
Why am I so adamant on working within the laws, rules and regs? Because there are those of us licensing yearly in states we do business, we keep accurate records as the state agencies coming in for yearly inspections want to see them, because we do it right, and if it means we cannot save them all due to space then this is what happens. We do what we can, but we will do it right. We work hard to provide complete medical care, working within the law, work only with legitimate 501c3 organizations with a good standing within the rescue community. Ask for references, do home visits, vet references and do background checks on adopters. Carry liability insurance we pay for dearly each year to protect ourselves and the public. Do not adopt out animals we feel are not completely ready or rehabilitated. List any and all incidents after rehabilitation and document in their files. Do what is best for the dog, always.
When visiting a local Petsmart yesterday, I spoke to a group that was there doing an adoption event. They had a lovely 9 month old pup there that had been returned....why? Because the couple that had adopted her the week before were in their mid seventies, the energy level of the dog was not matched with the family, and because she had issues with food?
When I asked "what type of issues?" "Oh she is food aggressive....." "Nothing that cannot be worked on."
Now ask yourself, is a dog with food aggression with no rehab being adopted to a seventy year old couple fair?
Now there are many dogs in the shelters that have no issues at all...divorce, loss of job, and the list goes on...the owners cannot provide care...or in our case "the dog cannot hunt." I would say out of close to 300 dogs we have had within our system, we have had very few with issues that could post any threat to the general public. Within the right environment, food aggression can be rehabbed....by experienced handlers/trainers. But not in a shelter environment.
Shelters should be made accountable when a purebred dog comes within their system, to have lists of purebred rescues to come in to help...thus making room for another mixed breed dog. Not only is the dog placed properly, but with some rescues such as ours, not returned to the rescue as we have gone the distance to insure proper placement with experienced individuals.
I guess my beef with the entire situation is this:
While we all want to save a dog's life....sometimes being turned over to "some" rescue situations is worse than death. Asking questions, be responsible, do some investigation before throwing a dog to the wolves.
Off my soap box now....I hope this post will give some guidelines to those needing it.
Friday, October 29, 2010
New Books Worthy of our Hard Earned Dollars
Two Must have Books for those cold winter nights! Nothing is better than curling up with a good book. I wanted to share two books I would highly recommend!
The first Book is "Cesar's Rules" by Cesar Millan and Mellissa Jo Peltier.
The book encompasses some of my favorites, Cesar of course...Ian Dunbar, Martin Deeley, and Joel Silverman. Many other behaviorists and trainers also, but those above are most interesting to me as I am familiar with them. The similarities and differences are outlined in philosophy, but all have a common ground to help owners achieve balance along with engaging their dog in training that is critical for bonding and safety of the pet. I was very happy to have a book that those of us that are seasoned owners could sink our teeth into.
As Cesar points out, (paraphrasing) A well trained dog is not necessarily a well balanced dog. This book will show you how to achieve both, a well trained balanced dog. As I have read all of Cesar's books, I have two favorites and this is one of them.
In our licensed Shelter home, that takes on only a very few fosters at a time from neglect and mill situations, I have always worked towards balance. As I see this as the most important first step. As we get our dog's trust we can then move on to the training aspect. I loved trying some of the games outlined by Ian Dunbar to engage our balanced fosters, and have always enjoyed Martin Deeley's insight and perspective on training techniques. I loved Joel Silverman's input and knowledge that he has so graciously shared. Joel by the way has a new book coming out soon that I am indeed very excited about. "Take 2-Training Solutions for Rescued Dogs." ...looks to be a tremendous book so also on my list of must haves when it comes out!
As many of you know...."Baldwin", my mill puppy I adopted out of 28 puppies from a back yard breeder relinquish last year, has been raised Cesar's Way as I have understood the philosophy. In fact, all of the 18 puppies that came to live with us were raised with Leadership, as I had to become the Mother dog basically with the little ones 5-6 weeks old with no mother. Of course, I am so very proud of all of them, we lucked out on temperament and stability. Baldwin is so very balanced as he has an extremely good temperament, been raised going to events with Leadership, daycare with other well balanced dogs since he was 16 weeks old, and has been in agility since he was 6 months old. As I see him as the best dog I have ever had the pleasure of sharing my life with, I still want to increase that bond as we learn together. "Cesar's Rules" is just the book I have been longing for, and the introduction to other behaviorists/trainers allowed me to view their insights and knowledge. It is a "Must Have" book truly! With the Holidays coming up, I cannot think of a better gift!
The second book is "Oogy:The dog Only a Family could Love"
This incredible book details the courage and commitment of a one time bait dog, and a family willing to go the distance for a dog that had known no human kindness. Tears are shed through this book, but the lessons this wonderful dog has taught and then shared by his family brings home that no matter how terrible life can be, if we remain positive and hopeful we can survive it. Oogy's story has had a profound effect on me and as the author/owner Larry Levin says on Oogy's Facebook page,
"What we've learned is you can't avoid bad things happening, you can't let them define who you are. You have to wait and see what's going to come out at the other end."
You must get this book....You will LOVE Oogy.
Both books are bookstores now and online!
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