For Christmas, a foster parent couple surprised me with a $200 gift card to a day spa downtown, Vanilla Day Spa. It was such a huge gift from this couple, and filled my heart that they thought so much of me. Being the caretaker for many animals, I rarely get a chance to relax just for myself, and I was overly excited to have someone pamper me for a bit. I was very excited as I had heard this place had won several awards from local magazines, though I have never known anyone to personally use it. Sadly, that was not the experience I had today.
Earlier this week, I contacted the spa through its website about scheduling for a specific package that would use up the gift card in one trip. The spa director responded and gave me an appointment for today. According to the website information, I would be there for three hours, which meant I had to reschedule several items to be done and leave a key for our records manager to tend to filing without me. I thought allowing myself some down time after recent stressed weeks would be a great way to rejuvenate me for the coming chaotic month.
After spending 20 minutes trying to find a place to park, I finally made it into the day spa with a minute or two to spare before my appointment. The masseuse used his skills to the best of his abilities (and I tipped him very well for trying), however, due to all the noise outside the room from doors slamming, plates being dropped in the cafe, and people loudly talking and laughing, I could not even hear the music in the room. Needless to say, it was not as relaxing as I had hoped it would be.
The massage was over before long, and seemed shorter than I remembered the description being on the website for the package. Imagine my surprise when I was ushered to the front to pay and be told that I was done for the day. The lady at the front desk, who never once smiled when I arrived or was checking out, said I was only scheduled for a massage. I was not offered an apology for the miscommunication, nor was I offered a chance to reschedule for the other parts of the package I thought I was getting. I was simply told it was $70 and they needed the gift card to charge it.
Granted, I am not your typical spa client as I could not normally afford such luxuries, however, this gift card was given to me by my volunteers who wanted to treat me to an afternoon of pampering. I'm really more saddened than anything as I had to completely reschedule my normal duties for today and get others to cover my jobs to arrange for this afternoon to myself. It is not something that is easily done, nor do I know when I will get the opportunity to try to again.
It is a disappointment that this was my first and probably last experience with the spa, but maybe these places aren't made for simple folk like me who prefer common courtesies. My hands and feet are rough and calloused from hard work and should probably stay that way. At least I know it is appreciated by those for whom I work.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Celebrating the Season
This holiday season has been incredibly busy for me. On Thursday, I graduated from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. It was my first trip to the city, and was 27 degrees when I landed. Not much fun for a beach baby, but walking across the stage and hearing my name called followed by "Magna Cum Laude" made it worth the trip. An old friend of mine, Harry, joined me in PA for my two days to keep me company. It was nice to see that we could spend a couple of days together and not kill each other since he's from the north and used to the cold and I couldn't stop complaining about it. I even tried ice skating, but that lasted only about 15 minutes. I fell really hard, and some little kid came flying by laughing at me. I crawled off the ice, pulled out my cell phone, and called the hotel shuttle to pick me up and take me back to safety.
Graduation culminates the end of two and a half years of very hard work. I've had funny looks when I told people I went back to school, after all, I already have an associates and bachelors degrees, why did I need another bachelor degree? The rescue quickly outgrew the little knowledge I had received through the first two educational endeavors. I was so unprepared for our growth and the responsibilities that followed. The degree program is specialized for animal welfare workers to turn them into better leaders. It was such an eye opener and has really made a huge difference in my vision for our organization.
The last week saw several adoptions for our pets, and I couldn't be happier, except if some had been the ones I'm fostering. I will have another full house this Christmas, but at least it is a warm, safe place for them then where they had been. I'm keeping faith that we'll get some of them in homes soon. They are all such great dogs, if only someone would give them a chance.
Last night, two CPR supporters treated me to a fantastic evening at the Savannah Theater's A Christmas Tradition. As two of the performers, they took the opportunity to make sure I had a good time, setting me up to be a part of one of the audience participation skits. I couldn't stop smiling. It's hard to be alone this time of year, but Josh and Shannon made me feel like such a part of their world even if just for one evening. During the announcements, they had a special message read to me in front of the audience, that I was the prime example of what this season means. It brought tears to my eyes and filled my heart.
We don't get a lot of thank yous in our work, and most people don't understand that we aren't paid to do these jobs. It is our satisfaction when all the work we put into an animal results in a fabulous adoption. In fact, I had an email while I was in PA in which a person inquiring about our organization wrote that he assumed we are "taking the donations and feeding them to the Exec. Board" and "just a group for socialite status." It really upset me, so much so that I had to send it on to my second in command to attend to as I was too emotional about it to respond. I work a full time job and some smaller contract projects to make it paycheck to paycheck and pay for some of the rescue's expenses. I don't make much as I took a pay cut to be able to work from home and have more time interacting with the dogs so they will be better pets when they are adopted. No one on our board gets paid for their work, we all do it out of our love for homeless pets. And as far as "socialite status," I'm anything but. I bought my first black dress this year in order to attend an awards recognition out in Dallas. I am not a socialite, I don't even have time for a social life. Being in rescue does not give any of us special status. We're most all of middle class stature, just regular people who prefer jeans and flip flops. In fact, if you saw me on the street, you would never even notice me unless I was wearing one of our CPR shirts. Is it really that far-fetched to think that people who are doing something good are doing it because it makes them feel good, not because they are gaining anything?
Ok, so time to get off my soap box and get back on topic. This is a season of giving to others and sharing our gifts with those less fortunate. Thank you to everyone who gave to our Home 4 the Holidays supply drive. It is greatly appreciated.
Graduation culminates the end of two and a half years of very hard work. I've had funny looks when I told people I went back to school, after all, I already have an associates and bachelors degrees, why did I need another bachelor degree? The rescue quickly outgrew the little knowledge I had received through the first two educational endeavors. I was so unprepared for our growth and the responsibilities that followed. The degree program is specialized for animal welfare workers to turn them into better leaders. It was such an eye opener and has really made a huge difference in my vision for our organization.
The last week saw several adoptions for our pets, and I couldn't be happier, except if some had been the ones I'm fostering. I will have another full house this Christmas, but at least it is a warm, safe place for them then where they had been. I'm keeping faith that we'll get some of them in homes soon. They are all such great dogs, if only someone would give them a chance.
Last night, two CPR supporters treated me to a fantastic evening at the Savannah Theater's A Christmas Tradition. As two of the performers, they took the opportunity to make sure I had a good time, setting me up to be a part of one of the audience participation skits. I couldn't stop smiling. It's hard to be alone this time of year, but Josh and Shannon made me feel like such a part of their world even if just for one evening. During the announcements, they had a special message read to me in front of the audience, that I was the prime example of what this season means. It brought tears to my eyes and filled my heart.
We don't get a lot of thank yous in our work, and most people don't understand that we aren't paid to do these jobs. It is our satisfaction when all the work we put into an animal results in a fabulous adoption. In fact, I had an email while I was in PA in which a person inquiring about our organization wrote that he assumed we are "taking the donations and feeding them to the Exec. Board" and "just a group for socialite status." It really upset me, so much so that I had to send it on to my second in command to attend to as I was too emotional about it to respond. I work a full time job and some smaller contract projects to make it paycheck to paycheck and pay for some of the rescue's expenses. I don't make much as I took a pay cut to be able to work from home and have more time interacting with the dogs so they will be better pets when they are adopted. No one on our board gets paid for their work, we all do it out of our love for homeless pets. And as far as "socialite status," I'm anything but. I bought my first black dress this year in order to attend an awards recognition out in Dallas. I am not a socialite, I don't even have time for a social life. Being in rescue does not give any of us special status. We're most all of middle class stature, just regular people who prefer jeans and flip flops. In fact, if you saw me on the street, you would never even notice me unless I was wearing one of our CPR shirts. Is it really that far-fetched to think that people who are doing something good are doing it because it makes them feel good, not because they are gaining anything?
Ok, so time to get off my soap box and get back on topic. This is a season of giving to others and sharing our gifts with those less fortunate. Thank you to everyone who gave to our Home 4 the Holidays supply drive. It is greatly appreciated.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Boot Camp Update
So last week I got lazy and didn't post an update. So maybe it is easier to do it once a week. I missed two days last week, but Derek put a hurting on me on Monday to make up for lost time. Last night was a little better, and I'm impressed at how I'm able to do more push ups with each session. I also found my workout clothes are getting looser, so I think that is a good sign. My eating habits still aren't what they should be, but I've really cut down on my sweets intake. It's baby steps, but every little one counts.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Michael Vick Gets His Due
Yesterday, former Falcons quarterback Michael Vick finally got his sentence for his involvement with dogfighting. While most animal advocates would have hoped for the maximum five years in prison, I really believe Judge Henry Hudson has sent a message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated especially from celebrities.
In my opinion, this sentence is a good start that other judges around the country need to follow. We have two dogs from a cruelty case in early 2006 that is still in legal process. Why? Because the judge keeps giving exception to the defendant. The guy did not show several times to the court and yet he continually got second chances. The last time was just a month ago. This time he showed, but without an attorney. Usually, that means you waive your right to legal counsel, but not before this judge. Nope, he appointed the guy an attorney and the case is being held over for a jury trial now in February. Lucky us that we can continue to take time off from work and never know if we will really get justice not to mention having a resolution for the families that have been caring for the dogs all this time.
Dogfighting is still a problem in our area. I know of several places that have been investigated, dogs that have been confiscated, and more information that still hasn't been resolved. But the main problem are neighbors who are afraid to report suspected activity. The silence can be just as much a death sentence as the cruelty those animals suffer. Reports can be made confidentially through CrimeStoppers and the Georgia Sheriff's Association. Document all the activity you see, people coming and going, animals and their environment, day and time. All this information can help investigators.
But it's just a dog. I've heard that so many times from people who think I get too involved and emotional about pets. But dogfighting usually means other criminal activity, such as illegal gambling and interpersonal violence. It's not a sport and should never be a "cultural thing" as Whoopi Goldberg believes. But it takes cases like Vick's to make an example and get people out of their shell of ignorance. We know this is going on in our communities, now we have a chance to do something about it.
As for Michael Vick, I think he's suffered quite a bit from all this. He's in financial ruin and his football career is greatly questionable. I still don't believe he's "found Jesus" as he said after he was first arrested, but I certainly hope he's found some sense that cruelty isn't profitable.
In my opinion, this sentence is a good start that other judges around the country need to follow. We have two dogs from a cruelty case in early 2006 that is still in legal process. Why? Because the judge keeps giving exception to the defendant. The guy did not show several times to the court and yet he continually got second chances. The last time was just a month ago. This time he showed, but without an attorney. Usually, that means you waive your right to legal counsel, but not before this judge. Nope, he appointed the guy an attorney and the case is being held over for a jury trial now in February. Lucky us that we can continue to take time off from work and never know if we will really get justice not to mention having a resolution for the families that have been caring for the dogs all this time.
Dogfighting is still a problem in our area. I know of several places that have been investigated, dogs that have been confiscated, and more information that still hasn't been resolved. But the main problem are neighbors who are afraid to report suspected activity. The silence can be just as much a death sentence as the cruelty those animals suffer. Reports can be made confidentially through CrimeStoppers and the Georgia Sheriff's Association. Document all the activity you see, people coming and going, animals and their environment, day and time. All this information can help investigators.
But it's just a dog. I've heard that so many times from people who think I get too involved and emotional about pets. But dogfighting usually means other criminal activity, such as illegal gambling and interpersonal violence. It's not a sport and should never be a "cultural thing" as Whoopi Goldberg believes. But it takes cases like Vick's to make an example and get people out of their shell of ignorance. We know this is going on in our communities, now we have a chance to do something about it.
As for Michael Vick, I think he's suffered quite a bit from all this. He's in financial ruin and his football career is greatly questionable. I still don't believe he's "found Jesus" as he said after he was first arrested, but I certainly hope he's found some sense that cruelty isn't profitable.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Dear Santa
I would like to think I have been a very good girl this year. I know I'm too old for this, but recently heard that if you put things in writing, you're that much closer to making them happen. So, here's my list:
Adoptions for Madison, Dancer, Comet, Ely, and Lizzie so that my two furkids can have me all to themselves for just a little while. But we both know that isn't true, but it makes room for us to save a few more from euthanasia and grant their holiday wishes.
A maid or house help just for a day. I spend most of my time cleaning up after the dogs, and so little doing things for myself. My house looks more like a dog kennel than a home. And it would be nice to have clean laundry for me instead of doing a load or two a day of soiled dog linens. The carpets might also appreciate a good steam cleaning as housebreaking hasn't been easy for Hannah.
Landscaping. Though the dogs have really tried to leave their own designs on the backyard, I miss having a place to relax and listen to my Jimmy Buffett music or host friends for an evening at the bar. Come to think of it, how about adding a sunroom while you're there so I can get my furniture that is ruining out of the shed? And a new cushion for my garden swing. Heck, why not make it a new swing altogether? Hannah has finally torn the cushion and padding to make it fit her just perfectly, I hate to make her have to start over again.
Heating and air for the backyard kennels. I'm sure there is a way to make that work, I just have no idea where to start. But it would be nice to reclaim the kitchen from some of the larger dogs that use my dining table as Victory Lane for their own race track.
A Dyson vacuum. Years of trying to teach the dogs to shed only outdoors has failed, as have two Bissell steamcleaners, 1 Hoover vacuum, and now a Dirt Devil bagless. Heck, I'd even be happy with a Rainbow, I hear those things are pretty good. I could even hook it up to Vinnie and groom him. Well, maybe not.
While on the subject of Vinnie, my poor 5'1" mother has requested obedience lessons as the ungraceful pooch knocks her on her butt every time she comes over trying to hug her. How do I tell my loving dog not to be so friendly? Shouldn't I be proud of a male that shows nothing but happiness when I walk through the door?
A properly running vehicle would also be nice, or just a gift certificate to get this one in good working order. As you know, I've put over 100,000 miles on it to the benefit of hundreds of homeless pets, but now it, too, needs some tender loving care. And let's face it, I'm not a car chick, and I know nothing about what's right or wrong with it. I love this vehicle and would like it to last another 100,000 miles.
Running shoes. A very odd request coming from me, and no it is not to increase my ability in chasing dogs. I actually just recently put myself into a fitness bootcamp and find my current shoes aren't quite as comfortable as they used to be. But it could also be the exercises and my natural lack of grace.
And finally, repairs of the master bathroom. I have one, just the people who lived here before me decided to leave me a clean slate to rebuild as I like. Problem is, I know nothing about plumbing, drywall or electricity, all of which would have to be put back in this room. It would be nice to have my own bathroom separate from the dogs' grooming station.
Ok, Santa, I think that is a pretty tall order for you. There's lots of other needy boys and girls out there who need their wishes granted, but if you could grant me just this one final wish, it would mean more to me than anything this Christmas:
Make people more compassionate to animals.
Thanks, Santa.
Adoptions for Madison, Dancer, Comet, Ely, and Lizzie so that my two furkids can have me all to themselves for just a little while. But we both know that isn't true, but it makes room for us to save a few more from euthanasia and grant their holiday wishes.
A maid or house help just for a day. I spend most of my time cleaning up after the dogs, and so little doing things for myself. My house looks more like a dog kennel than a home. And it would be nice to have clean laundry for me instead of doing a load or two a day of soiled dog linens. The carpets might also appreciate a good steam cleaning as housebreaking hasn't been easy for Hannah.
Landscaping. Though the dogs have really tried to leave their own designs on the backyard, I miss having a place to relax and listen to my Jimmy Buffett music or host friends for an evening at the bar. Come to think of it, how about adding a sunroom while you're there so I can get my furniture that is ruining out of the shed? And a new cushion for my garden swing. Heck, why not make it a new swing altogether? Hannah has finally torn the cushion and padding to make it fit her just perfectly, I hate to make her have to start over again.
Heating and air for the backyard kennels. I'm sure there is a way to make that work, I just have no idea where to start. But it would be nice to reclaim the kitchen from some of the larger dogs that use my dining table as Victory Lane for their own race track.
A Dyson vacuum. Years of trying to teach the dogs to shed only outdoors has failed, as have two Bissell steamcleaners, 1 Hoover vacuum, and now a Dirt Devil bagless. Heck, I'd even be happy with a Rainbow, I hear those things are pretty good. I could even hook it up to Vinnie and groom him. Well, maybe not.
While on the subject of Vinnie, my poor 5'1" mother has requested obedience lessons as the ungraceful pooch knocks her on her butt every time she comes over trying to hug her. How do I tell my loving dog not to be so friendly? Shouldn't I be proud of a male that shows nothing but happiness when I walk through the door?
A properly running vehicle would also be nice, or just a gift certificate to get this one in good working order. As you know, I've put over 100,000 miles on it to the benefit of hundreds of homeless pets, but now it, too, needs some tender loving care. And let's face it, I'm not a car chick, and I know nothing about what's right or wrong with it. I love this vehicle and would like it to last another 100,000 miles.
Running shoes. A very odd request coming from me, and no it is not to increase my ability in chasing dogs. I actually just recently put myself into a fitness bootcamp and find my current shoes aren't quite as comfortable as they used to be. But it could also be the exercises and my natural lack of grace.
And finally, repairs of the master bathroom. I have one, just the people who lived here before me decided to leave me a clean slate to rebuild as I like. Problem is, I know nothing about plumbing, drywall or electricity, all of which would have to be put back in this room. It would be nice to have my own bathroom separate from the dogs' grooming station.
Ok, Santa, I think that is a pretty tall order for you. There's lots of other needy boys and girls out there who need their wishes granted, but if you could grant me just this one final wish, it would mean more to me than anything this Christmas:
Make people more compassionate to animals.
Thanks, Santa.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Boot Camp Day 5
What a harsh night! DaVinci joined me for my walking warm up around the park, only because he refused to get out of the car while I was unloading our event materials from this past Tuesday. It ended up only being one other person and I at camp tonight, which meant more pain. It was so bad I couldn't talk and could barely breathe. Even an hour later I'm hurting, but I'm told it will help my posture as well as shrink my abs. I am noticing that I can see a waistline again, so I'm very happy about that, and my jeans are starting to feel a bit bigger on me. I just have to remember, no pain, no gain. We'll see if my legs agree in the morning.
Don't Know Much About Technology
Ok, well, anyone who knows me know that is a lie. But for the last month, part of my job at eMarketSouth has been maintaining our blog to inform clients of services and gizmos we can offer them for their websites. It's been fun as each member of the staff took turns to make one post a day for National Blog Posting Month. It wasn't always easy, but I think we were able to teach ourselves quite a bit along the way.
Next week, I will be teaching again for the Georgia Center for Non-Profits. For one afternoon on December 6, I will be sharing my ten years of Internet experience with other non-profits looking to make the most out of their website. Having built several non-profit websites including LibLines.org, TybeeBeautifcation.org, and of course CoastalPetRescue.org, I'm hopeful attendees will take away a lot of useful information to make their websites more profitable for their organization.
Next week, I will be teaching again for the Georgia Center for Non-Profits. For one afternoon on December 6, I will be sharing my ten years of Internet experience with other non-profits looking to make the most out of their website. Having built several non-profit websites including LibLines.org, TybeeBeautifcation.org, and of course CoastalPetRescue.org, I'm hopeful attendees will take away a lot of useful information to make their websites more profitable for their organization.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Boot Camp Day 4
Misery loves company, so I conned our CPR secretary Heather into joining me for the workout last night. While she only got a small taste, I think she'll see it to be as beneficial as I do. I've noticed that I feel better overall, I sleep better, and I'm eating a bit less junk food, which is a huge step for me. I have to admit, I don't feel near as bad this morning as I normally do after a night of bootcamp. I guess I'm getting used to it. I even found myself doing cartwheels last night. No idea what brought them on, but I know it's been years since I've done one. Guess I just feel better all over.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
The Excitement and Anticipation of Graduation
Today, my cap and gown arrived for my December 20th graduation from Duquesne University. They also called me today to let me know they were mailing my honor cords. Yes, I am graduating with honors. I'm so excited. I can't remember having worked this hard for my associates or first bachelors degrees. Maybe it is because I'm older and have direction in my life and hope this degree will take me to the next level. Regardless, I'm looking forward to the travel to Pittsburgh, a big adventure in a new city.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Boot Camp Day 3
Oh the pain! The horror! Believe it or not, I was accepted to the US Coast Guard academy my senior year of high school. However, I declined the offer as I was not interested in signing away the next nine years of my life or early morning exercise. Which is the reason I attend the evening Boot Camp.
Tonight was abs night. Derek thought we needed to work off all the turkey we ate over Thanksgiving. I tried all my might to minimize my eating so there would be less to work off. It didn't matter. We did a thing called the cockroach tonight, which Daniel explained "pushes your abs out your a**." Yep, I definitely had that feeling. But oh do I ever feel better after a hot shower.
Tonight was abs night. Derek thought we needed to work off all the turkey we ate over Thanksgiving. I tried all my might to minimize my eating so there would be less to work off. It didn't matter. We did a thing called the cockroach tonight, which Daniel explained "pushes your abs out your a**." Yep, I definitely had that feeling. But oh do I ever feel better after a hot shower.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
The Spirit of Giving During the Holidays
For many of us, this past week has been full of chaos with preparing to spend time with family and shopping for gifts. For Coastal Pet Rescue, it has been full of trying to schedule adoption interviews, find room for new intakes, and figure out how to get more funding. After an afternoon of errands and evaluating pets at animal control, I made one last stop at WalMart to get some storage containers for our office. I was tired and worn out, and as I walked to my car, I noted a beautiful black SUV next to mine. I had gone through a coin wash back on Wednesday, but it didn't do much good. Our car is in bad shape and needs lots of work, not to mention the payoff. I had loaded everything in and was preparing to leave when there was a tap at my window. The gentleman asked me if I managed the rescue, and I replied yes. He then handed me a $20 and said "This is for you, keep up the good work." I was stunned. I was almost moved to tears as I told him thank you. He smiled and went back to loading his purchases into the vehicle I had been admiring previously, and I found myself smiling all the way home.
What a great start to the holidays.
What a great start to the holidays.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Boot Camp Day 2
In honor of Thanksgiving, tonight's workout was only 30 minutes. I had my measurements done. While I don't have them in front of me, I do know that my weight was at 174. Yikes. Well, guess it is a good thing I decided to do something about it now. And poor Derek, he didn't know what a problem child I was going to be for him... bad wrist, left knee MCL injury, and scoliosis in my lower back. So lucky me, I did squats for most of the night. But I made it through. I know this is what I need, so I'll keep at it. I just have to remember not to eat six hours before the workout...
Monday, November 19, 2007
Ms. CPR Goes to Boot Camp
Believe it or not, I finally decided that chasing dogs around day in and day out was not enough exercise. I met a wonderful woman recently at an eWomenNetwork coffee, and she put me in touch with her husband that is a personal trainer. We spoke on the phone for about a good thirty minutes of what I wanted to achieve and the best way to get results. He suggested I try his boot camp out at J.F. Gregory Park in Richmond Hill. Since I am very gym-phobic and lack any self discipline on my own, I thought this would be a great fit, especially since I was in athletics up through college.
Well, there was no slacking tonight. I lost count of the number of laps around the park he had me jog. I couldn't feel my legs. Then we did a lot more exercises, which reminded me of my soccer coach back at Andrew. Every part of me felt on fire. I forgot just how many muscles I had. But it wasn't just Derek's instruction and constant mention that I had "good hips" to tolerate the exercises. It was the feeling of being part of a team again. It was a small group, 10 of us I think (I still feel rather blurred from the hour), but I quickly connected with a National Guard Recruiter. Seems we have similar physical backgrounds, and sense of humor. At one point in class he said he was there because his wife called him fat, and she's pregnant.
I wasn't sure I was prepared for an exercise commitment again. But I can honestly say I'm looking forward to seeing Derek again on Wednesday, when he'll get to do my actual measurements, yikes! But I'm looking forward to the day I can look in the mirror and feel confident about my appearance for now.
Well, there was no slacking tonight. I lost count of the number of laps around the park he had me jog. I couldn't feel my legs. Then we did a lot more exercises, which reminded me of my soccer coach back at Andrew. Every part of me felt on fire. I forgot just how many muscles I had. But it wasn't just Derek's instruction and constant mention that I had "good hips" to tolerate the exercises. It was the feeling of being part of a team again. It was a small group, 10 of us I think (I still feel rather blurred from the hour), but I quickly connected with a National Guard Recruiter. Seems we have similar physical backgrounds, and sense of humor. At one point in class he said he was there because his wife called him fat, and she's pregnant.
I wasn't sure I was prepared for an exercise commitment again. But I can honestly say I'm looking forward to seeing Derek again on Wednesday, when he'll get to do my actual measurements, yikes! But I'm looking forward to the day I can look in the mirror and feel confident about my appearance for now.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
When All He** Breaks Loose
There have been few situations within the rescue for which I have not been able to handle or which I knew the exact right course of action. Today was not one of those days.
Dogs are pack animals. I work hard to maintain harmony, but occasionally, personalities clash. But I was not prepared for what happened. My beloved DaVinci and a Pit Bull I have doted upon so much for the last several months were in a bad altercation. I can't begin to describe how much blood was shed, but you couldn't tell that Vinnie was a blonde. I don't know what happened or exactly when. I had last been out with the dogs around 3 when I took fresh water. I took a break from work around 4:30, and went out to play with the dogs. When I opened the door, DaVinci was lying right there. I tried to get him to come inside, but he wouldn't move. Then I noticed the panting, and something wasn't right. Then Lady ran in the house, and that's when I saw the blood drops down the hallway. My world just started spinning.
I shoved Lady into the bathroom and pulled the door tight, then ran to the computer to locate a phone number for the closest veterinarian to see if I could rush the dogs over. I called my unofficial big sister Wendy and her husband for help. Neither could answer, so I shot off a quick email then set about getting Vinnie into the car safely. I arrived to the vet a few minutes later and two techs came to help get him in there. Then I had to come back and get Lady. Luckily, Wendy's husband was able to meet me at the house to help get Lady in the car. Her face was scratched, and there was blood all over her. We arrived to the vet and Wendy had called that she was leaving work early to come be with me.
DaVinci was still back being evaluated. It seemed like an eternity before someone came to tell me what was going on. We had Lady resting on a towel, blood still dripping from parts of her. A tech came out. Vinnie had puncture wounds up and down all his legs, some going about to the bone. He had a few bites on his face, but nothing big, and a bad scratch on his head. They were taking him back to the tub to wash everything off and see what else had happened to him.
Meanwhile, Wendy and I discussed that this left us no hope of having Lady safely adopted, as once a dog has been involved in a fight like that without knowing the trigger, they can never truely be trusted again. When the vet came in, she agreed with us that putting Lady down would be the best solution. It hurt so much. After all I had put in to her, the chances I took, trying to prove to the world that Pits can be good dogs. And then this happened. The vet came back, I signed the papers, and Lady was taken away.
Meanwhile, Jackie and Brent came to my rescue to pick up the momma dog and two puppies I was supposed to get. They came to the vet and got my key and settled mom and babies in one of the back kennels until I could get home. Almost as soon as they left, DaVinci was brought out from the exam room. I fell to my knees weeping. Vinnie wouldn't move. All I could see was red up and down his legs, all shaved, and the fur missing from his head where more scratches were exposed. Guilt, that's all I can feel right now. I can't even remember a time that they ever even growled at each other, and I can't figure out why one would turn on the other, or who started it. But as we put my baby on the stretcher to take him to the car, I couldn't stop crying. He whimpered, tried to move, and we kept trying to keep him stable. The drugs were doing a little bit, but not enough.
Getting Vinnie home and settled was even more of a challenge. Aaron picked me up to go to Walmart and get him a bed, and the largest would could find barely held his entire body. We spent most of an hour trying to get him positioned on it without causing too much distress, but every time he cried, I cried. It is just not easy for me to be strong as my baby lies in pain.
And now that everything is all settled for the night, I'm feeling utter saddness for Lady. Such a wonderful dog, but maybe it is time I give up trying to prove the stereotypes wrong. It's hard enough to save the ones we can without extra baggage. But as I go to sleep on my pallet next to Vinnie tonight, I have to remember that I can't save them all, and I will always have my family first.
Dogs are pack animals. I work hard to maintain harmony, but occasionally, personalities clash. But I was not prepared for what happened. My beloved DaVinci and a Pit Bull I have doted upon so much for the last several months were in a bad altercation. I can't begin to describe how much blood was shed, but you couldn't tell that Vinnie was a blonde. I don't know what happened or exactly when. I had last been out with the dogs around 3 when I took fresh water. I took a break from work around 4:30, and went out to play with the dogs. When I opened the door, DaVinci was lying right there. I tried to get him to come inside, but he wouldn't move. Then I noticed the panting, and something wasn't right. Then Lady ran in the house, and that's when I saw the blood drops down the hallway. My world just started spinning.
I shoved Lady into the bathroom and pulled the door tight, then ran to the computer to locate a phone number for the closest veterinarian to see if I could rush the dogs over. I called my unofficial big sister Wendy and her husband for help. Neither could answer, so I shot off a quick email then set about getting Vinnie into the car safely. I arrived to the vet a few minutes later and two techs came to help get him in there. Then I had to come back and get Lady. Luckily, Wendy's husband was able to meet me at the house to help get Lady in the car. Her face was scratched, and there was blood all over her. We arrived to the vet and Wendy had called that she was leaving work early to come be with me.
DaVinci was still back being evaluated. It seemed like an eternity before someone came to tell me what was going on. We had Lady resting on a towel, blood still dripping from parts of her. A tech came out. Vinnie had puncture wounds up and down all his legs, some going about to the bone. He had a few bites on his face, but nothing big, and a bad scratch on his head. They were taking him back to the tub to wash everything off and see what else had happened to him.
Meanwhile, Wendy and I discussed that this left us no hope of having Lady safely adopted, as once a dog has been involved in a fight like that without knowing the trigger, they can never truely be trusted again. When the vet came in, she agreed with us that putting Lady down would be the best solution. It hurt so much. After all I had put in to her, the chances I took, trying to prove to the world that Pits can be good dogs. And then this happened. The vet came back, I signed the papers, and Lady was taken away.
Meanwhile, Jackie and Brent came to my rescue to pick up the momma dog and two puppies I was supposed to get. They came to the vet and got my key and settled mom and babies in one of the back kennels until I could get home. Almost as soon as they left, DaVinci was brought out from the exam room. I fell to my knees weeping. Vinnie wouldn't move. All I could see was red up and down his legs, all shaved, and the fur missing from his head where more scratches were exposed. Guilt, that's all I can feel right now. I can't even remember a time that they ever even growled at each other, and I can't figure out why one would turn on the other, or who started it. But as we put my baby on the stretcher to take him to the car, I couldn't stop crying. He whimpered, tried to move, and we kept trying to keep him stable. The drugs were doing a little bit, but not enough.
Getting Vinnie home and settled was even more of a challenge. Aaron picked me up to go to Walmart and get him a bed, and the largest would could find barely held his entire body. We spent most of an hour trying to get him positioned on it without causing too much distress, but every time he cried, I cried. It is just not easy for me to be strong as my baby lies in pain.
And now that everything is all settled for the night, I'm feeling utter saddness for Lady. Such a wonderful dog, but maybe it is time I give up trying to prove the stereotypes wrong. It's hard enough to save the ones we can without extra baggage. But as I go to sleep on my pallet next to Vinnie tonight, I have to remember that I can't save them all, and I will always have my family first.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Sunrise from the News Room
Last month, I signed an agreement with WJCL/WTGS news stations here in Savannah for them to be the exclusive TV partner for Coastal Pet Rescue. What I didn't know was that I would become the stations' official pet expert. It's a great idea, and really helps the pets, but I've seen sunrise more in the last three weeks than I have the last three years. Funny enough, I'm finally using that first bachelor's degree.
Believe it or not, I did not plan to grow up and be a pet rescuer. According to my 8th grade yearbook, I was going to be a dolphin trainer at Sea World, and my high school scrapbooks says I was going to be a nature photographer for National Geographic. I went to school to pursue journalism, wanting to be a writer as I loved to write and had been published a few times already. Instead, I went the route of communication arts, being jaded by a not so favorite journalism professor my junior year at Georgia Southern University. I continued to write, mostly guest columns for the Tybee News and the Tybee Breeze.
Two years ago, I was sent to New York for an award I won from Jiffy Lube. I was put on a national satellite media tour, which meant that every three minutes I was doing live interviews in different cities around the country. The woman appearing with me, known as The Car Coach, told me I should consider going after CNN to be the pet reporter, that I had the poise, drive and knowledge (or at least could fake it). She turned me on to some great PR reference books, and from there, I learned how to best write press releases so media would run them. What has progressed since has been nothing short of amazing.
I've always considered Coastal Pet Rescue the underdog, or red-headed step-child, in our local community. We're new, we're overly diverse, and we don't get paid for our work. We are constantly looking to push limits and try something new, anything to make our mission work. I've been told I'm pushy and too direct, but I prefer to be called passionate and dedicated. And apparently, that was why WJCL/WTGS offered to partner with us as an exclusive TV partner, which means lots of early mornings for me.
So, here I sit in the newsroom, watching sunrise after having appeared on air from 5 to 7 am and waiting for the 8 am show to start. Mom and Dad would be so happy I'm finally getting something from that college tuition.
Believe it or not, I did not plan to grow up and be a pet rescuer. According to my 8th grade yearbook, I was going to be a dolphin trainer at Sea World, and my high school scrapbooks says I was going to be a nature photographer for National Geographic. I went to school to pursue journalism, wanting to be a writer as I loved to write and had been published a few times already. Instead, I went the route of communication arts, being jaded by a not so favorite journalism professor my junior year at Georgia Southern University. I continued to write, mostly guest columns for the Tybee News and the Tybee Breeze.
Two years ago, I was sent to New York for an award I won from Jiffy Lube. I was put on a national satellite media tour, which meant that every three minutes I was doing live interviews in different cities around the country. The woman appearing with me, known as The Car Coach, told me I should consider going after CNN to be the pet reporter, that I had the poise, drive and knowledge (or at least could fake it). She turned me on to some great PR reference books, and from there, I learned how to best write press releases so media would run them. What has progressed since has been nothing short of amazing.
I've always considered Coastal Pet Rescue the underdog, or red-headed step-child, in our local community. We're new, we're overly diverse, and we don't get paid for our work. We are constantly looking to push limits and try something new, anything to make our mission work. I've been told I'm pushy and too direct, but I prefer to be called passionate and dedicated. And apparently, that was why WJCL/WTGS offered to partner with us as an exclusive TV partner, which means lots of early mornings for me.
So, here I sit in the newsroom, watching sunrise after having appeared on air from 5 to 7 am and waiting for the 8 am show to start. Mom and Dad would be so happy I'm finally getting something from that college tuition.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Saying Goodbye is Never Easy
Just a warning before you go further... today's post is not a happy subject, but a most necessary part of my job.
Two months ago, a white bundle of fur entered my home as a retiree. Cotton was a 10-year-old Husky/Corgi mix, who had spent the majority of life living on a chain, not truly knowing the joy and love of a full-time family. It took her three weeks to be comfortable enough to stay in the house, and we had her professionally groomed to make her pretty. We knew she had quite a few health issues, as the woman who saved her had veterinary care provided before her arrival to me. But of the two months, I watched as her energy levels dropped to zero, and I was forced to pick her up to go outside, and do the same to come back in. Her breathing became more labored, and her incontinence became more frequent. Her appetite became more finicky, and she barely acknowledge my petting her.
This morning, I decided we needed a veterinary consult. The determination was respiratory disease, possible liver disease, and a host of other issues. It was determined that the medicines may not improve the conditions and it was very doubtful they would prolong her life much further. We decided to put an end to her suffering and allow her to be in peace.
I held Cotton through her very last breath, and even longer after that. It is never easy to say goodbye, and we have to try and remember that as rescuers, we are charged to show more compassion and humanity than these animals had known previously. As I promised her savior that she would always have a home here, I made arrangements to have her cremated and her remains brought back to me.
Just a few moments ago, I finally picked up her food and water dishes and moved her bed to the laundry pile. I sat for a moment, holding the bed close to me, missing her so much already, and hoping she knows that even for a short time, she was very much loved.
Two months ago, a white bundle of fur entered my home as a retiree. Cotton was a 10-year-old Husky/Corgi mix, who had spent the majority of life living on a chain, not truly knowing the joy and love of a full-time family. It took her three weeks to be comfortable enough to stay in the house, and we had her professionally groomed to make her pretty. We knew she had quite a few health issues, as the woman who saved her had veterinary care provided before her arrival to me. But of the two months, I watched as her energy levels dropped to zero, and I was forced to pick her up to go outside, and do the same to come back in. Her breathing became more labored, and her incontinence became more frequent. Her appetite became more finicky, and she barely acknowledge my petting her.
This morning, I decided we needed a veterinary consult. The determination was respiratory disease, possible liver disease, and a host of other issues. It was determined that the medicines may not improve the conditions and it was very doubtful they would prolong her life much further. We decided to put an end to her suffering and allow her to be in peace.
I held Cotton through her very last breath, and even longer after that. It is never easy to say goodbye, and we have to try and remember that as rescuers, we are charged to show more compassion and humanity than these animals had known previously. As I promised her savior that she would always have a home here, I made arrangements to have her cremated and her remains brought back to me.
Just a few moments ago, I finally picked up her food and water dishes and moved her bed to the laundry pile. I sat for a moment, holding the bed close to me, missing her so much already, and hoping she knows that even for a short time, she was very much loved.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Would you marry your pet?
I read this question on the SavannahNow message boards today. It is an interesting concept, but not now...
MarryYourPet.com came online back in 2003. With the divorce rates what they are (and Pet Rescue Barbie being among them), it might not seem like a bad idea. Let me examine my dog, DaVinci and what he gives me:
Well, even though there are lots of positives for just having a dog, I can't seem to give up hope of actually marrying a human male one day. Maybe Vinnie can give them a few pointers.
MarryYourPet.com came online back in 2003. With the divorce rates what they are (and Pet Rescue Barbie being among them), it might not seem like a bad idea. Let me examine my dog, DaVinci and what he gives me:
- Displays of affection without my asking.
- Always happy to see me.
- If I yell at him, he goes to the other room because he knows he is wrong, then will come apologize as soon as I get up to walk anywhere.
- Will wipe my tears anytime I cry.
- Brings me flowers (ok, so really it is all dead grass now, but it's the thought that counts).
- Does not scold me when I bring home another dog, and in fact, goes out of his way even more for my affection.
- Always treats my friends and guests with great friendliness and rarely makes a scene in public.
- Has the same taste in shoes that I do.
Well, even though there are lots of positives for just having a dog, I can't seem to give up hope of actually marrying a human male one day. Maybe Vinnie can give them a few pointers.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
When You are Failed by Your Role Models
For as long as I can remember growing up on Tybee, Jack Kingston has always been our congressional representative. He's done so much for us, making sure our beaches survive with beach renourishment and working to keep our military bases open. He's good with the people, participating in local festivals, even donning a crazy costume as the Tybee Island Beach Bum King last year. Twice in my life he's presented me with honors, first my sophomore high school year when I won the national Propellor Club essay contest, and last year when Coastal Pet Rescue was named a Purina Rally to Rescue Ambassador of Excellence. I've always thought of Jack as a great friend of the community, but was deeply saddened when I found that he isn't much of a friend to animals.
Two months ago, I attended a day-long workshop by the Georgia Legal Professionals for Animals on Prosecuting Animal Cruelty. In one of the sessions, they talked about the need for animal welfare individuals to communicate with their representatives about the need for legislation to prevent incidents like the Michael Vick case. They then proceeded to tell us how our representatives voted for the national legislation Bush signed into law earlier this year... and Jack Kingston voted against. I was stunned. But today, for whatever reason, maybe because of my recent cases with Rusty and Lady and three Pitbull puppies, that I couldn't remain silent anymore. So, I decided to email Jack through his website. I'm sure many people will disagree with me, but my hope is that Jack Kingston and other representatives remember that although the pets they vote against protecting can't vote, the people who do care about them can.
Two months ago, I attended a day-long workshop by the Georgia Legal Professionals for Animals on Prosecuting Animal Cruelty. In one of the sessions, they talked about the need for animal welfare individuals to communicate with their representatives about the need for legislation to prevent incidents like the Michael Vick case. They then proceeded to tell us how our representatives voted for the national legislation Bush signed into law earlier this year... and Jack Kingston voted against. I was stunned. But today, for whatever reason, maybe because of my recent cases with Rusty and Lady and three Pitbull puppies, that I couldn't remain silent anymore. So, I decided to email Jack through his website. I'm sure many people will disagree with me, but my hope is that Jack Kingston and other representatives remember that although the pets they vote against protecting can't vote, the people who do care about them can.
Dear Congressman Kingston,
I have wrestled for the last two months about contacting you, but I now feel it is my duty to do so to make informed voting decisions.
Two months ago, I attended a day-long workshop on St. Simon's on Prosecuting Animal Cruelty. I was shocked when I found that you did not vote in support of national legislation to ban this abomination. Are you aware of the other illegal activities that accompany dogfighting, such as illegal gambling, drugs and interpersonal and gang violence? I have looked to you as a role model since our St. Michael's class trip to see you in DC in 1993. I had always thought of you as a person who wants to see greatness for his community. I was even greatly honored when you recognized my efforts for the animal welfare community in Savannah last year by having a flag flown for Coastal Pet Rescue. So why would you not support harsher penalties and ending these cruel sports?
Maybe dogs can't vote, but there are thousands of animal lovers in your district who can. I have already spoken at Magnolia Manor in Richmond Hill on the topic of dogfighting and your lack of support for the national bill. I have also spoken in smaller groups on Tybee about my displeasure. As the island residents regularly support my organization, I felt they should also know where their representatives stood in support of similar issues.
I would appreciate a response with your reasons for not supporting this legislation. I sincerely hope it is not a trend that will continue.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Remembering Pet Safety When Traveling
It's never easy when you lose a pet, but it's even harder when you realize the tragedy could have been prevented.
Last Friday night, a Chihuahua was killed in a car crash. She had been riding in the owner's lap when the air bag deployed and crushed her. How many of us have allowed our sweet, little pooches to travel this way? We never think it could happen to us, but this accident shows otherwise.
So, how do you travel safely with your pets? Here's a few ideas:
1. Seat belt restraint. Several manufacturers produce harnesses that will snap into your seatbelt buckles in your car. Petmate also makes special leashes that have the snap as well.
2. Use a pet gate. These gates sit behind the driver and passenger seats and keep active pets from jumping up front. They are great for SUVs.
3. Keep your pet in a carrier or crate while traveling. This is my preference. I use crates when transporting dogs from animal control or to the vet. I put a puppy pad on the bottom that helps for accident clean up, especially if a pup gets car sick.
4. Never let your pet ride in the back of a truck. In many areas, including Chatham County and Savannah, this is illegal, but also very dangerous. Animals can get thrown from the vehicle in a crash or jump out when stopped. If your pet must ride in the back of a truck, place them inside a strapped crate with adequate ventilation.
We are often tempted to make allowances for our pets that we would not do for our children. There are reasons they have safety laws including booster seats, and we should remember to keep our pets just as safe.
Last Friday night, a Chihuahua was killed in a car crash. She had been riding in the owner's lap when the air bag deployed and crushed her. How many of us have allowed our sweet, little pooches to travel this way? We never think it could happen to us, but this accident shows otherwise.
So, how do you travel safely with your pets? Here's a few ideas:
1. Seat belt restraint. Several manufacturers produce harnesses that will snap into your seatbelt buckles in your car. Petmate also makes special leashes that have the snap as well.
2. Use a pet gate. These gates sit behind the driver and passenger seats and keep active pets from jumping up front. They are great for SUVs.
3. Keep your pet in a carrier or crate while traveling. This is my preference. I use crates when transporting dogs from animal control or to the vet. I put a puppy pad on the bottom that helps for accident clean up, especially if a pup gets car sick.
4. Never let your pet ride in the back of a truck. In many areas, including Chatham County and Savannah, this is illegal, but also very dangerous. Animals can get thrown from the vehicle in a crash or jump out when stopped. If your pet must ride in the back of a truck, place them inside a strapped crate with adequate ventilation.
We are often tempted to make allowances for our pets that we would not do for our children. There are reasons they have safety laws including booster seats, and we should remember to keep our pets just as safe.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Rent a Pet for Busy Lives
This morning, I was watching the Early show on CBS, and they showcased a new business that allows people to rent a dog for hours up to seven days. The business is called FlexPetz, and get this: it costs members over $1,400 a year to be able to rent a dog whenever they want. The idea behind the program is to allow people who "love" dogs or desire their companionship but don't have the time to care for them full-time to at least get a chance to for a little while. The proprietor stresses that they get these animals from shelters, train them to socialize with anyone and everyone, and live in cageless daycare when they aren't in homes.
Unfreakinbelievable. How can this possibly be good for the dogs??? The nature of the human-animal bond will never be established here, and the dogs will bounce from one routine to the next, causing much stress on them. And what about health issues? If different people see this dog each week, who will be able to notice when something isn't right and the pup needs to see a vet?
Most of this week the media has spent saying how outrageous it was that a rescue agency would not allow a pet to live a happy life with a home that had children under 14. But this just irritates me. I know most would say it is better than them being euthanized in a shelter, but it should be about quality of life, not quantity.
There are so many other options to renting a dog. Become a foster parent for a couple weeks, volunteer your free hours at an animal shelter or rescue, or help out at community pet events. There are lots of ways to interact with pets without requiring a lifetime of responsibility and increasing stress of the pets.
Unfreakinbelievable. How can this possibly be good for the dogs??? The nature of the human-animal bond will never be established here, and the dogs will bounce from one routine to the next, causing much stress on them. And what about health issues? If different people see this dog each week, who will be able to notice when something isn't right and the pup needs to see a vet?
Most of this week the media has spent saying how outrageous it was that a rescue agency would not allow a pet to live a happy life with a home that had children under 14. But this just irritates me. I know most would say it is better than them being euthanized in a shelter, but it should be about quality of life, not quantity.
There are so many other options to renting a dog. Become a foster parent for a couple weeks, volunteer your free hours at an animal shelter or rescue, or help out at community pet events. There are lots of ways to interact with pets without requiring a lifetime of responsibility and increasing stress of the pets.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Adoption Contracts Are Made to Prevent Heartbreaks, Not Cause Them
Contracts are supposed to be made to protect parties involved, but when contracts are broken, other people can be the ones to pay the price.
This week, Ellen DeGeneres replaced her usual humorous and witty opening monologue on her show with a plea to Mutts and Moms rescue to return a dog she adopted and then gave to another family. Per the adoption agreement between DeGeneres and Mutts and Moms, if the adoption did not work out, DeGeneres was to return the dog to the rescue, not give it away.
This is not an unusual clause in an adoption contract. This clause exists to reiterate to adopting families the commitment a pet needs from the family and also ensure that the animal has a better life than the one that landed him in the rescue.
Coastal Pet Rescue has a return and transfer of ownership clause in its contract that also requires families to return the pets to them if the adoption does not work. The organization has had a small number of returns, but always keeps the doors open for their rescued pets.
We try to follow up on our adoptions periodically. We use the follow ups to help us with enhancing our program as well as sharing adoption stories with others to encourage adoption. Only once can I recall being told a pet had been given away. We didn't ask to take the pet back, but to have the family's contact information to update the microchip. It was admitted to us then that the pet had been having massive behavior problems and the vet had recommended euthanasia, which they followed. There was really nothing more we could do; suing wouldn't bring the dog back, and it would only cause the family more pain. So we let it be.
In addition to a return policy, Coastal Pet Rescue's adoption contract has a reclaim policy that allows the organization to reclaim any dog if any part of the agreement is not upheld. In the last three years, we have only reclaimed two pets via the contract and are in the process of reclaiming a third.
Last Wednesday night, I received a phone call at 9:30 from another rescuer. She had been called by a neighbor that had found a stray dog. As luck would have it, he still had my ID tag on him. The rescuer knew me personally and called me directly. After calling one of my adoption coordinators at home to look up the adopter's information in our database, we determined the dog to be Rusty, a five-year-old golden cocker spaniel. I called the rescuer back and told her that I would pick Rusty up the next morning. She told me he was badly matted, but I really just had no idea.
My heart completely sank when I arrived at 8 am to pick up Rusty. I could smell him before I even saw him. He was matted head to toe, and I couldn't even move the collar he had on, which was the same one he had when we adopted him out back in February. I was crushed. I got Rusty in the car and composed myself, calling our vet to see if they could see me immediately. It was going to be an hour before they could work me in, so I headed home to get my digital camera and copies of the adoption contract, intending to go file neglect charges with animal control after we left the vet's office.
I walked into the vet with Rusty, as we had done when he was with us before. But this time, I just had so many tears, it was hard to talk. I got the usual, "Aw, is he a new rescue?" and heard the gasps when I explained that no, he had been adopted from us back in February and this was what they did to him.
We spent the next two hours trying to clean him up. The vet checked him over, and determined he had yeast infections in both ears and an eye infection. But there was a smell we couldn't determine. We thought it was just the feces that had gotten caught in his fur, but then I found what I thought was a small wound on his left ear. The vet got the shaver out and started to shave... and then we uncovered the mystery smell: a colony of maggots had taken up residence. I cried some more.
Photos can never tell you what it was like being in that room, Rusty on the table and muzzled, being handled by two techs and a vet trying to do the best they could for him. I was just incredibly sick, not from the smell or the sights, but knowing that someone who knew he was a rescue, knew he had not always had an easy life, manipulated us into thinking they would give him the same love and care we had been doing.
I had an animal control officer meet us at the vet's office. They took my documentation and took more photos. I was lucky it was an officer I had worked with when I worked at animal control, and he promised me that we would have a day in the court for her to be charged with neglect.
I got Rusty in the car and called our groomer, pleading to see if they could work him in that day. They were in shock as well when we arrived, and promised to do the best they could. Over three hours later, he was shaved down and ready to go home. They saved all the fur for me to use in my evidence... it weighs a couple pounds. Rusty felt like a new dog, being able to walk without all the weight and restriction from his fur that had matted together, being able to shake his head, and showing his happiness with his tail wags.
Rusty is now safe in another foster home where he is receiving five medications two to three times daily. He is getting along great with other dogs and eating up all the attention his foster home can give.
Adoption contracts usually provide provisions to ensure proper care of the pet, such as requiring the spaying or neutering if not already done, maintaining yearly innoculations, administering monthly heartworm preventative, and providing humane care at all times to include adequate exercise, food, water and shelter. It is sad that this seems to us to be such common sense, but is so hard to follow by others. But having this in our contract gives us one more reason we can demand legal ownership of Rusty from his adopter.
I see the Ellen DeGeneres situation as a learning experience for our organization. There is never an always right or always wrong answer to these types of situations. You have to evaluate them, learn from them, and adjust your procedures accordingly. And maybe people thinking about adoption will spend a little more time making sure it is a responsibility they can handle and that the pet is just the right match for their home, which is the reason we do applications and pre-adoption in-home interviews.
My heart goes out to all the parties involved in the Ellen situation. It's hard to explain to people why rescues are so protective of their pets. But it is hard not to be jaded when you see first hand the suffering these pets endure and overcome.
This week, Ellen DeGeneres replaced her usual humorous and witty opening monologue on her show with a plea to Mutts and Moms rescue to return a dog she adopted and then gave to another family. Per the adoption agreement between DeGeneres and Mutts and Moms, if the adoption did not work out, DeGeneres was to return the dog to the rescue, not give it away.
This is not an unusual clause in an adoption contract. This clause exists to reiterate to adopting families the commitment a pet needs from the family and also ensure that the animal has a better life than the one that landed him in the rescue.
Coastal Pet Rescue has a return and transfer of ownership clause in its contract that also requires families to return the pets to them if the adoption does not work. The organization has had a small number of returns, but always keeps the doors open for their rescued pets.
We try to follow up on our adoptions periodically. We use the follow ups to help us with enhancing our program as well as sharing adoption stories with others to encourage adoption. Only once can I recall being told a pet had been given away. We didn't ask to take the pet back, but to have the family's contact information to update the microchip. It was admitted to us then that the pet had been having massive behavior problems and the vet had recommended euthanasia, which they followed. There was really nothing more we could do; suing wouldn't bring the dog back, and it would only cause the family more pain. So we let it be.
In addition to a return policy, Coastal Pet Rescue's adoption contract has a reclaim policy that allows the organization to reclaim any dog if any part of the agreement is not upheld. In the last three years, we have only reclaimed two pets via the contract and are in the process of reclaiming a third.
Last Wednesday night, I received a phone call at 9:30 from another rescuer. She had been called by a neighbor that had found a stray dog. As luck would have it, he still had my ID tag on him. The rescuer knew me personally and called me directly. After calling one of my adoption coordinators at home to look up the adopter's information in our database, we determined the dog to be Rusty, a five-year-old golden cocker spaniel. I called the rescuer back and told her that I would pick Rusty up the next morning. She told me he was badly matted, but I really just had no idea.
My heart completely sank when I arrived at 8 am to pick up Rusty. I could smell him before I even saw him. He was matted head to toe, and I couldn't even move the collar he had on, which was the same one he had when we adopted him out back in February. I was crushed. I got Rusty in the car and composed myself, calling our vet to see if they could see me immediately. It was going to be an hour before they could work me in, so I headed home to get my digital camera and copies of the adoption contract, intending to go file neglect charges with animal control after we left the vet's office.
I walked into the vet with Rusty, as we had done when he was with us before. But this time, I just had so many tears, it was hard to talk. I got the usual, "Aw, is he a new rescue?" and heard the gasps when I explained that no, he had been adopted from us back in February and this was what they did to him.
We spent the next two hours trying to clean him up. The vet checked him over, and determined he had yeast infections in both ears and an eye infection. But there was a smell we couldn't determine. We thought it was just the feces that had gotten caught in his fur, but then I found what I thought was a small wound on his left ear. The vet got the shaver out and started to shave... and then we uncovered the mystery smell: a colony of maggots had taken up residence. I cried some more.
Photos can never tell you what it was like being in that room, Rusty on the table and muzzled, being handled by two techs and a vet trying to do the best they could for him. I was just incredibly sick, not from the smell or the sights, but knowing that someone who knew he was a rescue, knew he had not always had an easy life, manipulated us into thinking they would give him the same love and care we had been doing.
I had an animal control officer meet us at the vet's office. They took my documentation and took more photos. I was lucky it was an officer I had worked with when I worked at animal control, and he promised me that we would have a day in the court for her to be charged with neglect.
I got Rusty in the car and called our groomer, pleading to see if they could work him in that day. They were in shock as well when we arrived, and promised to do the best they could. Over three hours later, he was shaved down and ready to go home. They saved all the fur for me to use in my evidence... it weighs a couple pounds. Rusty felt like a new dog, being able to walk without all the weight and restriction from his fur that had matted together, being able to shake his head, and showing his happiness with his tail wags.
Rusty is now safe in another foster home where he is receiving five medications two to three times daily. He is getting along great with other dogs and eating up all the attention his foster home can give.
Adoption contracts usually provide provisions to ensure proper care of the pet, such as requiring the spaying or neutering if not already done, maintaining yearly innoculations, administering monthly heartworm preventative, and providing humane care at all times to include adequate exercise, food, water and shelter. It is sad that this seems to us to be such common sense, but is so hard to follow by others. But having this in our contract gives us one more reason we can demand legal ownership of Rusty from his adopter.
I see the Ellen DeGeneres situation as a learning experience for our organization. There is never an always right or always wrong answer to these types of situations. You have to evaluate them, learn from them, and adjust your procedures accordingly. And maybe people thinking about adoption will spend a little more time making sure it is a responsibility they can handle and that the pet is just the right match for their home, which is the reason we do applications and pre-adoption in-home interviews.
My heart goes out to all the parties involved in the Ellen situation. It's hard to explain to people why rescues are so protective of their pets. But it is hard not to be jaded when you see first hand the suffering these pets endure and overcome.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Just Another Day
Well, it's been awhile since I've had the time to blog for a bit, so let me catch you up...
I came back from Dallas in June and set about packing up my entire life to move. I didn't know where just yet, but had to be out by the end of July. I still had one more weekend workshop to attend in Atlanta, so things were just a bit chaotic. Oh, and I was in summer semester for school. Yes, that does get to be a bit much.
We broke our record for rescued dogs. We're at 107 now, with a few more on the way by the end of the weekend. Our trapping volunteers have kicked butt on our feral cat program, trapping and neutering over 180 cats since January. That's definitely something to be proud of.
So, back to the move... I did find a place and moved on July 27. Anyone who knows me knows I bought this place not for the small home, but the land for the animals. I did finally get air conditioning installed two weeks ago, and the new interior paint colors have changed this from the dungeon to the castle. I've been so fortunate to have great friends and CPR volunteers come over to help as well. With new lighting, some rugs, and professional carpet cleaning, it really is becoming a nice place to call home. My parents have been a huge help; I couldn't have even bought this without them. Dad has been by to cut the acre lawn twice now, and follows up to see how the painter is coming along. Mom calls about every other day to check on me, since I now live over an hour from them. I think she's excited as much as me about having a new place. I just love that I have a place that is mine.
We got two dog runs built in the back yard, thanks to a generous donor who saw our ad on Craigslist. We have new dog houses coming today that will help as well. While the runs aren't as ideal as foster homes, it has provided housing for us to bring home four dogs from animal control, saving them from euthanasia. The dogs seem really happy, including Ceasar, a Doberman I brought home on Tuesday. He's one of those that just sucked me in when I first met him. I couldn't stop thinking about him, trying to figure out where we could put him, if we could adopt him. His time was up, and I just couldn't say no. Of course, I have many tails of those... Ashleigh, a little six week old Shepherd mix that stole my heart with a simple kiss and bark... Lily and Ivy who climbed their cage to get my attention... and countless more.
Our annual Cruise for Critters is coming up this Sunday. I'm hard at work trying to procure soft drinks, waters and more food for our 80 guests. It's going to be a great event, and as always, one in which I can actually sit back and just enjoy.
This is also a big week for two of our sponsors. The New South Cafe had a ribbon cutting today for their grand opening of their express lunch room. I have no problem admitting that I pigged out on several of the dishes passed around. Tomorrow, I get to do it again as I attend the grand opening of the second location for The Wound Care Clinic in Pooler since TNSC is also catering their event. And it just so happens, we'll have their food on the cruise on Sunday as well!
Next week is shaping up to be pretty crazy as well. In addition to our spay day with SNAC on Monday, I have to attend a black tie affair on the 13th. Seems I was named to a Top Ten list for Working Women in Savannah. I'm in very good company, sharing the honor with my eWomenNetwork executive managing director Lisa Cree. My parents are accompanying me to the event, and I had to even go buy a special dress just for the occasion. So, I get to be a real Barbie for a night.
Oh, I forgot to mention I finally got my certification as a pet first aid and CPR instructor for the American Red Cross. I'll be teaching my second class on September 15th here in Savannah. I'm still a bit nervous as I get used to it, but I'm hopeful that I'll be a valuable asset to their organization.
School starts back for me on the 15th. I only have three classes this semester, and am set to graduate in January. I'm very excited and am considering starting on my masters next September. Anyone want to sponsor my student loans? :)
On the volunteer front, we're in need of folks for Pirate Fest on Tybee October 6th as well as our upcoming Home 4 the Holidays in November and December. We're also planning a microchip clinic in Port Wentworth for September 22nd, and a 5th anniversary gala for either February or April. We can always use more hands. Just tells us what you want to do, and we'll put you to work!
I came back from Dallas in June and set about packing up my entire life to move. I didn't know where just yet, but had to be out by the end of July. I still had one more weekend workshop to attend in Atlanta, so things were just a bit chaotic. Oh, and I was in summer semester for school. Yes, that does get to be a bit much.
We broke our record for rescued dogs. We're at 107 now, with a few more on the way by the end of the weekend. Our trapping volunteers have kicked butt on our feral cat program, trapping and neutering over 180 cats since January. That's definitely something to be proud of.
So, back to the move... I did find a place and moved on July 27. Anyone who knows me knows I bought this place not for the small home, but the land for the animals. I did finally get air conditioning installed two weeks ago, and the new interior paint colors have changed this from the dungeon to the castle. I've been so fortunate to have great friends and CPR volunteers come over to help as well. With new lighting, some rugs, and professional carpet cleaning, it really is becoming a nice place to call home. My parents have been a huge help; I couldn't have even bought this without them. Dad has been by to cut the acre lawn twice now, and follows up to see how the painter is coming along. Mom calls about every other day to check on me, since I now live over an hour from them. I think she's excited as much as me about having a new place. I just love that I have a place that is mine.
We got two dog runs built in the back yard, thanks to a generous donor who saw our ad on Craigslist. We have new dog houses coming today that will help as well. While the runs aren't as ideal as foster homes, it has provided housing for us to bring home four dogs from animal control, saving them from euthanasia. The dogs seem really happy, including Ceasar, a Doberman I brought home on Tuesday. He's one of those that just sucked me in when I first met him. I couldn't stop thinking about him, trying to figure out where we could put him, if we could adopt him. His time was up, and I just couldn't say no. Of course, I have many tails of those... Ashleigh, a little six week old Shepherd mix that stole my heart with a simple kiss and bark... Lily and Ivy who climbed their cage to get my attention... and countless more.
Our annual Cruise for Critters is coming up this Sunday. I'm hard at work trying to procure soft drinks, waters and more food for our 80 guests. It's going to be a great event, and as always, one in which I can actually sit back and just enjoy.
This is also a big week for two of our sponsors. The New South Cafe had a ribbon cutting today for their grand opening of their express lunch room. I have no problem admitting that I pigged out on several of the dishes passed around. Tomorrow, I get to do it again as I attend the grand opening of the second location for The Wound Care Clinic in Pooler since TNSC is also catering their event. And it just so happens, we'll have their food on the cruise on Sunday as well!
Next week is shaping up to be pretty crazy as well. In addition to our spay day with SNAC on Monday, I have to attend a black tie affair on the 13th. Seems I was named to a Top Ten list for Working Women in Savannah. I'm in very good company, sharing the honor with my eWomenNetwork executive managing director Lisa Cree. My parents are accompanying me to the event, and I had to even go buy a special dress just for the occasion. So, I get to be a real Barbie for a night.
Oh, I forgot to mention I finally got my certification as a pet first aid and CPR instructor for the American Red Cross. I'll be teaching my second class on September 15th here in Savannah. I'm still a bit nervous as I get used to it, but I'm hopeful that I'll be a valuable asset to their organization.
School starts back for me on the 15th. I only have three classes this semester, and am set to graduate in January. I'm very excited and am considering starting on my masters next September. Anyone want to sponsor my student loans? :)
On the volunteer front, we're in need of folks for Pirate Fest on Tybee October 6th as well as our upcoming Home 4 the Holidays in November and December. We're also planning a microchip clinic in Port Wentworth for September 22nd, and a 5th anniversary gala for either February or April. We can always use more hands. Just tells us what you want to do, and we'll put you to work!
Monday, June 18, 2007
But I'm Just One Woman
Two weeks ago, I embarked on a great journey to Texas, a place I had never been to share a week with people I've never met. I figured I'd be the only animal rescue person, but was so thrilled to meet some fellow over-achievers. These women are amazing, giving of themselves for others. I was overwhelmed at some of the live experiences - spending two years in Kenya, growing up in Pakistan, working with battered women, becoming entreprenuers in their early 20s - I couldn't see what in the world I was doing there amongst them. But for five days, I was part of an elite and very well admired sorority. I avoided them in college, knowing that I had nothing in common with the ladies enrolled in such, and I have never done well with having other people tell me what to do, when, where and who with. But for five days, I walked around with a big badge of honor, smiling every time another conference attendee would say "wow, we are amazed by all that you all do."
But it wasn't all play. No, this beach bum gave in to peer pressure and gussied up a bit for the gala evening. For one night, I traded my flip flops, shorts and tank top for a little black dress, sparkling jewels, and rhinestone high heels. For one night, Pet Rescue Barbie was just Barbie. I felt like I was in a Miss America pagent. We even had a rehearsal where we got instructions on how to stand, smile, turn, and hold the award if we were the winner. It went so quickly. I didn't win, and my heart sank a little, but I took pride in knowing the company in which I was being associated.
While I could go on and on about the week, I will save that for another time. What I learned most about this weekend is that I am just one woman, and I can make a difference. I was amazed at the number of business women who would marvel when they read my tag saying I was with Coastal Pet Rescue. I had offers of radio interviews, talks with magazine publishers, and hugs from some of the major speakers at the event. What I do, while it may go unnoticed on a local level, really does impress people elsewhere.
I try to set the example for our volunteers, and I feel like it is working. We have a group of sincerely dedicated volunteers, and new people are joining us each week. Just this past Friday, we rescued our 84th and 85th dogs of the year. I still can't wrap my mind around it; we only had 70 all of last year.
So what is this one woman to do next? I couldn't hold my head high as a part of this new sorority without working harder to increase our successes. So, my hope is to close on new property within the next two weeks where I can start a small rehab facility for our pets. The place is an excellent candidate for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, but I will make it work for the dogs and me. But I take so much comfort in knowing I won't have to go it alone. Several volunteers have offered their services, from packing and cleaning the old place to helping with the new one. I'm hopeful that this will grow strong and make an even larger impact in our community than we have before.
So yes, I may be just one woman, but I am one woman with the support of many others and who has a very hard time taking "No" for an answer.
But it wasn't all play. No, this beach bum gave in to peer pressure and gussied up a bit for the gala evening. For one night, I traded my flip flops, shorts and tank top for a little black dress, sparkling jewels, and rhinestone high heels. For one night, Pet Rescue Barbie was just Barbie. I felt like I was in a Miss America pagent. We even had a rehearsal where we got instructions on how to stand, smile, turn, and hold the award if we were the winner. It went so quickly. I didn't win, and my heart sank a little, but I took pride in knowing the company in which I was being associated.While I could go on and on about the week, I will save that for another time. What I learned most about this weekend is that I am just one woman, and I can make a difference. I was amazed at the number of business women who would marvel when they read my tag saying I was with Coastal Pet Rescue. I had offers of radio interviews, talks with magazine publishers, and hugs from some of the major speakers at the event. What I do, while it may go unnoticed on a local level, really does impress people elsewhere.
I try to set the example for our volunteers, and I feel like it is working. We have a group of sincerely dedicated volunteers, and new people are joining us each week. Just this past Friday, we rescued our 84th and 85th dogs of the year. I still can't wrap my mind around it; we only had 70 all of last year.
So what is this one woman to do next? I couldn't hold my head high as a part of this new sorority without working harder to increase our successes. So, my hope is to close on new property within the next two weeks where I can start a small rehab facility for our pets. The place is an excellent candidate for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, but I will make it work for the dogs and me. But I take so much comfort in knowing I won't have to go it alone. Several volunteers have offered their services, from packing and cleaning the old place to helping with the new one. I'm hopeful that this will grow strong and make an even larger impact in our community than we have before.
So yes, I may be just one woman, but I am one woman with the support of many others and who has a very hard time taking "No" for an answer.
Friday, May 25, 2007
The Volunteers Behind the Woman
I am so lucky to have such wonderful volunteers to serve in Coastal Pet Rescue. Earlier this month, I had an unexpected trip to the emergency room, the same day I had scheduled to take a mom husky and her seven one-week-old puppies from a deploying soldier. With just three phone calls, I had someone at the house to let all the dogs out for me, and someone to pick up mom and her babies and have them delivered to the house. The next day, we had a big adoption day at Spiva Law Group. Determined to contribute my weight, I got my best friend to come drive me and the rescue truck with all our event equipment to the event location. I was amazed at just how many people beat us there, willing to lend a hand and make sure that I didn't. I was even threatened with duct tape if I tried to move from my chair. I had to just sit back and watch as the volunteers showed me that everything could run smoothly without my participation. I was sort of sad, but at the same time, so proud. We finally have a core group of people who work well with one another and know how to make things work, recruit volunteers, solicit donations, and promote pets for adoption. It made me proud. And our professionalism hasn't gone unnoticed. I have had numerous sponsors tell me how impressed they were with this group. That always makes me light up. And I can't thank them all enough for looking out for me for the next two weeks while I was in recovery, from having meals delivered, help with the pets, or just phone calls to check in, I felt so blessed to have so many people show they cared.
This month has been full of ups and downs. I've been celebrating inside my excitement as a finalist for the eWomenNetwork's Emerging Leader of the Year award. Again, I could not have been this successful without our wonderful volunteers. And once again, they all stepped up to help me, offering to split shifts to let dogs out in my absense. Joan and Mike even went a step further. In addition to offering to puppy sit DaVinci bear, they spent six hours on a Saturday at the mall with me while I shopped for new clothes for my trip. My good friend Lynda even came and cleaned the house, and yesterday, Alexi, Joan and Mike came to reorganize the porch and storage areas and finish doggy laundry so I could do mine. I'm very nervous about the whole trip, but feel so much better that I have these wonderful people around me to share it with.
For another up, my foster dog of three years was finally adopted by one of our volunteers. Cocoa (now Koko) went home after our microchip clinic last Saturday. It was bittersweet. I'm so glad she has a home where she is the center of attention, but I do miss her little surprise kisses when I got under the covers at night and found her hiding, her little stamper up and down the hallway, or nose her way into the bathroom when she decided I didn't need my privacy.
I've spent this month helping a mom raise her seven puppies. I've had the fun of watching the first time they opened their eyes, the first time they ate from a food dish, and as their first teeth came in. Mom's done the best job she can, but has decided she's wiped out. So, now two other foster parents are stepping in to take care of the litter until adoption.
As I said, there have been a lot of ups and downs. Unfortunately, the one big down is something we never want to see in rescue. A puppy we adopted out last December was returned to us for behavior problems. As it turned out, the family had a very difficult time training her, always just giving in to her instead of establishing rules. We took her back, as we always do, and had a behavorist brought it, but it wasn't enough. She lashed out at another dog in her foster home, sending him to the vet for extensive care and drainage tubes. She had gone from being a behavior problem to a major liability, knowing that she could do such damage to another animal or child again. It's always hard for me to have to be the one to make the final call, but sometimes, you have to weigh the safety of others against the life of one. After a chat on the phone with one of the vet techs at our vet office, the decision was made to have her put down. It always hurts so much when we have invested so much to try to save a life to have to end it. I still try to take comfort in knowing we tried everything we could, but sometimes, you just can't save them all.
But since we want to try and save as many as we can, I have started looking for a place to move to where we can make that happen. Our intakes this year have been more than we had all of 2006. Earlier this week, I found a place with an acre of land, and room for a second house or structure. I'm still waiting on my dad (a former architect) to go check everything out for me. If it all works out, it will be the start of the next level of Coastal Pet Rescue. I have such high hopes and dreams for this organization. We now have the people with the heart and dedication, and together, we really can change more lives, one at a time.
This month has been full of ups and downs. I've been celebrating inside my excitement as a finalist for the eWomenNetwork's Emerging Leader of the Year award. Again, I could not have been this successful without our wonderful volunteers. And once again, they all stepped up to help me, offering to split shifts to let dogs out in my absense. Joan and Mike even went a step further. In addition to offering to puppy sit DaVinci bear, they spent six hours on a Saturday at the mall with me while I shopped for new clothes for my trip. My good friend Lynda even came and cleaned the house, and yesterday, Alexi, Joan and Mike came to reorganize the porch and storage areas and finish doggy laundry so I could do mine. I'm very nervous about the whole trip, but feel so much better that I have these wonderful people around me to share it with.
For another up, my foster dog of three years was finally adopted by one of our volunteers. Cocoa (now Koko) went home after our microchip clinic last Saturday. It was bittersweet. I'm so glad she has a home where she is the center of attention, but I do miss her little surprise kisses when I got under the covers at night and found her hiding, her little stamper up and down the hallway, or nose her way into the bathroom when she decided I didn't need my privacy.
I've spent this month helping a mom raise her seven puppies. I've had the fun of watching the first time they opened their eyes, the first time they ate from a food dish, and as their first teeth came in. Mom's done the best job she can, but has decided she's wiped out. So, now two other foster parents are stepping in to take care of the litter until adoption.
As I said, there have been a lot of ups and downs. Unfortunately, the one big down is something we never want to see in rescue. A puppy we adopted out last December was returned to us for behavior problems. As it turned out, the family had a very difficult time training her, always just giving in to her instead of establishing rules. We took her back, as we always do, and had a behavorist brought it, but it wasn't enough. She lashed out at another dog in her foster home, sending him to the vet for extensive care and drainage tubes. She had gone from being a behavior problem to a major liability, knowing that she could do such damage to another animal or child again. It's always hard for me to have to be the one to make the final call, but sometimes, you have to weigh the safety of others against the life of one. After a chat on the phone with one of the vet techs at our vet office, the decision was made to have her put down. It always hurts so much when we have invested so much to try to save a life to have to end it. I still try to take comfort in knowing we tried everything we could, but sometimes, you just can't save them all.
But since we want to try and save as many as we can, I have started looking for a place to move to where we can make that happen. Our intakes this year have been more than we had all of 2006. Earlier this week, I found a place with an acre of land, and room for a second house or structure. I'm still waiting on my dad (a former architect) to go check everything out for me. If it all works out, it will be the start of the next level of Coastal Pet Rescue. I have such high hopes and dreams for this organization. We now have the people with the heart and dedication, and together, we really can change more lives, one at a time.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Promoting Good Causes
I'm making this post to thank those who have been helping us get the word out in our area. Marjorie Young with Carriage Trade PR has been a long-time supporter, allowing us bulletin space in her weekly emails to notify the community of our events as well as pets for adoption. And recently, I made the acquaintance of April Groves, a local real estate agent and eWomenNetwork member. April has a dedicated post on her blog to local charities, and Coastal Pet Rescue was a featured.
So to these ladies, we say "Thank You" for giving a little of your space and time to help us in our mission.
So to these ladies, we say "Thank You" for giving a little of your space and time to help us in our mission.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Most Eligible Bachlorette
It's that time of year again, the annual Connect Savannah Best Of awards. I posted my MySpace bulletins asking everyone to vote Coastal Pet Rescue for Best Charitable Organization, but I was shocked yet flattered to see my friend Shannon start a campaign to get me listed as most eligible bachlorette. Does that mean I can get out for a free dinner and a movie? So, since Shannon left a plug for me, let me leave a plug for her and boyfriend Josh. Vote for Shannon Kuanfung for best local actress and Josh Holley for Best All-around Local Musician. Both are great people and avid supporters of Coastal Pet Rescue. I will also make a request to have WRHQ voted Best Radio Station, not just because it was the last station I worked for, but because they consistently and avidly support animal welfare and the pet rescue community in Savannah. We just can't beat that!
Want more ideas of who to vote where? Visit our sponsors page and help them get a leg up on the competition. After all, they're supporting us helping those with two more legs than us.
Want more ideas of who to vote where? Visit our sponsors page and help them get a leg up on the competition. After all, they're supporting us helping those with two more legs than us.
Waiting on the World to Change
My friend Ashley told me about John Mayer's song, Waiting on the World to Change, during our trip this weekend. Having left the world of radio back in November, I really haven't kept current on new music; I opt to listen to my MP3 mixes in the car, mostly of 80s rock and pop, Jimmy Buffett, and Blue Collar Comedy. But I decided to check out his music and I must say, not a bad tune at all. But it did strike a different chord of sorts with me.
The song mentions waiting on the world to change. Where would we be if all we did was wait? I like to think Coastal Pet Rescue is progressive, working to make changes happen. We give what little free time we have after work, school, families to change the lives for many needy and deserving animals in our community. Now, what I would like to change about the world is how disposable pets seem to be. But we all know that is a gradual process; we can't expect things to happen over night. I am hopeful we'll have new ideas and better results in our local community this year. It seems more people are taking notice of how slack things have been allowed to be handled for far too long. They've waited around long enough for change, and instead, have decided to make changes themselves. I'm always one to admire those that are willing to try rather than those who stand back and watch someone to fail.
The song mentions waiting on the world to change. Where would we be if all we did was wait? I like to think Coastal Pet Rescue is progressive, working to make changes happen. We give what little free time we have after work, school, families to change the lives for many needy and deserving animals in our community. Now, what I would like to change about the world is how disposable pets seem to be. But we all know that is a gradual process; we can't expect things to happen over night. I am hopeful we'll have new ideas and better results in our local community this year. It seems more people are taking notice of how slack things have been allowed to be handled for far too long. They've waited around long enough for change, and instead, have decided to make changes themselves. I'm always one to admire those that are willing to try rather than those who stand back and watch someone to fail.
Monday, April 23, 2007
The Respect of Others
I take great pride in the respect Coastal Pet Rescue receives from our community, but I was moved to tears this afternoon when I went to pay our vet bill.
I go in to Crossroad Animal Hospital on an almost-daily basis. The vets and staff know my face well. They see me in most unflattering looks, having just wrangled a dog, gotten myself tied up in a lead, covered in dirt paw prints, hair tangled from the ride over, baggy eyes from no sleep due to a new puppy arrival the day before, etc. They are always patient and understanding as we go through the routines: shots, dewormings, heartworm treatments, spays, kennel cough, coccidia, parvo. They see us through arrival and adoption, and even sometimes, through loss of life. But I was truely touched when I arrived today and was told they had set up a donation jar for us. It was a cute puppy bank that they had received from Bayer to use as they wish, and the clinic staff all voted to donate to us. Crossroad is always so giving to us with our needs, I was overwhelmed with their generosity.
This show of support comes after a wonderful email I received over the weekend. While in Atlanta, eWomenNetwork notfied me that I am a finalist for their International Femtor Emerging Leader of the Year award. While it is a great honor, I am more honored by the letters of recommendation I received from Coastal Pet Rescue volunteers. I know everyone's time is already maxed, but that several people chose to take some to do one on my behalf was extremely touching. So, I get to head to Dallas this June for the awards ceremony and naming of the winner. I'm looking forward to the trip, though this means I have to find a pet sitter again.
I go in to Crossroad Animal Hospital on an almost-daily basis. The vets and staff know my face well. They see me in most unflattering looks, having just wrangled a dog, gotten myself tied up in a lead, covered in dirt paw prints, hair tangled from the ride over, baggy eyes from no sleep due to a new puppy arrival the day before, etc. They are always patient and understanding as we go through the routines: shots, dewormings, heartworm treatments, spays, kennel cough, coccidia, parvo. They see us through arrival and adoption, and even sometimes, through loss of life. But I was truely touched when I arrived today and was told they had set up a donation jar for us. It was a cute puppy bank that they had received from Bayer to use as they wish, and the clinic staff all voted to donate to us. Crossroad is always so giving to us with our needs, I was overwhelmed with their generosity.
This show of support comes after a wonderful email I received over the weekend. While in Atlanta, eWomenNetwork notfied me that I am a finalist for their International Femtor Emerging Leader of the Year award. While it is a great honor, I am more honored by the letters of recommendation I received from Coastal Pet Rescue volunteers. I know everyone's time is already maxed, but that several people chose to take some to do one on my behalf was extremely touching. So, I get to head to Dallas this June for the awards ceremony and naming of the winner. I'm looking forward to the trip, though this means I have to find a pet sitter again.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
A Weekend Away
On Friday, Ashley, Heather and I left to attend the Petfinder.com Adoption Options training in Atlanta. We were fortunate enough to have At Home Pet Sitters sponsor us for the trip, and our friend and volunteer Maari hook us up with a fabulous room at one of the DoubleTree hotels in Atlanta. The trip up was late, but we were greeted with warm cookies to start the night out.
After settling in our room, we headed downstairs to ask about a great place to eat. The guest relations gentleman informed us of a nice little joint called Wild Wing Cafe, to which a woman who had been with us in the elevator for maybe 20 seconds said, "You girls would do well there." Should we have been insulted that she thought we belonged in a bar? Regardless, we went there, having a pretty good idea of the food and atmosphere. I was quite content with my order, but poor Ashley and Heather had to return their Margaritas. Apparently, there was a new mix being used. Perhaps some Savannah bartenders should call up and give them some hints.
After a long drive, we decided to cut out after dinner and head back to the hotel before our morning drive to the seminar Saturday. We got into our jammies, and Ashley headed for the fabulous hotel lotion, which she discovered the next morning was actually hair conditioner. I didn't sleep well, tossing and turning most all night, and morning came quite early.
Saturday was a long day, but very educational. We started out with a great breakfast at the hotel, complete with Southern grits. The drive took us only about 30 minutes, so we were actually early for registration. We settled in our seats, noting that we were the only group in matching attire, all three of us having packed our 2006 Cruise for Critters T-shirts without knowing the others were doing the same. It seemed most of the groups kept to themselves. We made friends with two ladies from Alabama, and an older couple just starting a new rescue in the Atlanta area. I did get to reacquaint myself with Paul Jolley, VP of Petco, and Lynn Katz from Petfinder that I met last year at Adoption Options in Jacksonville, FL. We chatted about some other possibilities for CPR, so that's always a good thing. The other presentations taught us about medicines to use for our rescued pet, how to increase hits for our Petfinder website pages, and how to evaluate and promote Pit Bulls for adoption.
We decided to hang out around Atlanta Saturday evening, which included a terrible meal and service (although fabulous Messy Sundae dessert) at a restaurant across from the hotel. We then ventured to Roswell for what became a private screening of Firehouse Dog since we were the only patrons. We killed time prior to the screening by playing Skeeball for a few. There were so many experiences just withing those two hours that I would have to write an entire other blog post about them.
Sunday, we treated ourselves to sleeping in since we all had pet sitters and haven't known what sleeping in can be like in quite some time. We decided to take a detour home and visit the Georgia Aquarium. What a great experience that was. I had no idea what to expect, and was thoroughly impressed, though I had a difficult time differentiating their version of "rescue" from my version of "dinner."
The trip home was much shorter than going up, but I won't say that our driver had a lead foot. It was all safe and sound, and that's what mattered. Of course, there was so much to be done when I got home, including calling someone over to fix the kennel that Carolina chose to tear apart during my absense.
All in all, it was a great trip, and a much-needed mini vacation.
After settling in our room, we headed downstairs to ask about a great place to eat. The guest relations gentleman informed us of a nice little joint called Wild Wing Cafe, to which a woman who had been with us in the elevator for maybe 20 seconds said, "You girls would do well there." Should we have been insulted that she thought we belonged in a bar? Regardless, we went there, having a pretty good idea of the food and atmosphere. I was quite content with my order, but poor Ashley and Heather had to return their Margaritas. Apparently, there was a new mix being used. Perhaps some Savannah bartenders should call up and give them some hints.
After a long drive, we decided to cut out after dinner and head back to the hotel before our morning drive to the seminar Saturday. We got into our jammies, and Ashley headed for the fabulous hotel lotion, which she discovered the next morning was actually hair conditioner. I didn't sleep well, tossing and turning most all night, and morning came quite early.
Saturday was a long day, but very educational. We started out with a great breakfast at the hotel, complete with Southern grits. The drive took us only about 30 minutes, so we were actually early for registration. We settled in our seats, noting that we were the only group in matching attire, all three of us having packed our 2006 Cruise for Critters T-shirts without knowing the others were doing the same. It seemed most of the groups kept to themselves. We made friends with two ladies from Alabama, and an older couple just starting a new rescue in the Atlanta area. I did get to reacquaint myself with Paul Jolley, VP of Petco, and Lynn Katz from Petfinder that I met last year at Adoption Options in Jacksonville, FL. We chatted about some other possibilities for CPR, so that's always a good thing. The other presentations taught us about medicines to use for our rescued pet, how to increase hits for our Petfinder website pages, and how to evaluate and promote Pit Bulls for adoption.
We decided to hang out around Atlanta Saturday evening, which included a terrible meal and service (although fabulous Messy Sundae dessert) at a restaurant across from the hotel. We then ventured to Roswell for what became a private screening of Firehouse Dog since we were the only patrons. We killed time prior to the screening by playing Skeeball for a few. There were so many experiences just withing those two hours that I would have to write an entire other blog post about them.
Sunday, we treated ourselves to sleeping in since we all had pet sitters and haven't known what sleeping in can be like in quite some time. We decided to take a detour home and visit the Georgia Aquarium. What a great experience that was. I had no idea what to expect, and was thoroughly impressed, though I had a difficult time differentiating their version of "rescue" from my version of "dinner."
The trip home was much shorter than going up, but I won't say that our driver had a lead foot. It was all safe and sound, and that's what mattered. Of course, there was so much to be done when I got home, including calling someone over to fix the kennel that Carolina chose to tear apart during my absense.
All in all, it was a great trip, and a much-needed mini vacation.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
We Are Not a Shelter, and I Do Not Get Paid
I don't know how many times I have to reiterate this. Animal rescue is a very tough business to be in, but even tougher when you have limited space and no income.
I wear a lot of different hats and have lots of people to communicate with on a daily basis. I also work full time as a web programmer, work part time as an animal care worker at Animal Control, and am enrolled full-time through Duquesne University. Basically, I don't sleep. So it is a little frustrating when people are pushy with me. Just today I had an email from someone that had sent us some hand-made bedding for kittens. I had already written her that we didn't have any at the time, but appreciated the gift and hoped to use them later. Instead, I went to using them for our very young puppies (I did try it with Sia, but she much preferred her litter box). So imagine how disheartened I was today to get an email demanding me to return the items to her because they were not being used as specified. Our supplies are always limited and we use evertyhing that we can. It is probably my fault because I didn't overwhelm her with gratitude. I had assumed that my simple thank you and acknowledgement was enough. But it wasn't. So I took the one away that Dixie had been using, placed it in a plastic bag, and put it in a box to be returned. We were blessed last month to have Peggy donate a bag of baby blankets, so although it is larger than I wanted for Dixie (didn't want to smother her), it did provide a comfy alternative.
Why is it so hard for people to do nice things without great expectations in return? We always send a hand-written thank you to our donors, and I like to think we are very approachable. But geez, can't we get some consideration for our time? Everyone who works with us does so for their love of animals; none of us receive any montetary compensation. We answer emails on our own free time, which is already limited by work, school, and family life. Sometimes, we have to prioritize how/when people are contacted. We have a secretary that returns all voicemail, an adoption coordinator who handles all correspondence for adoption, a foster coordinator to handle some of the intake and veterinary requests, and a TNR coordinator that handles all correspondence relating to our feral cat program. That leaves all other correspondence to me, which can be anywhere from 80 to 200 emails a day. So yes, it may take a day or so or longer to get a response from me, but I really do the best I can.
And as for us being a shelter, I really don't know how best to explain this. We are not a shelter. We do not have a physical facility that you can drop in anytime you want. We're a foster home organization. The animals live with us in our homes. Again, this means our free time is given up to provide veterinary care, socialization, training, and rehabilitation. So yes, you have to have an appointment to meet one of our pets. And when you do arrive at my house, do not expect Martha Stewart to live here. It is me and the dogs. If it is a long week like this one, there may be laundry in a basket waiting to be folded that has been sitting for four days, dog fur that hasn't been vacuumed in a week, Cutters Point frappe cups stacked on the coffee table, and maybe even a Pizza Hut box on the end table. Or even a hair dryer and wet towels in the corner from the last round of baths.
So please, cut me a little break, will you? I am only one person, and I am really doing the best I can. If you disagree, come spend one day with me and see just how much one person can accomplish in 24 hours, or take a proactive approach and become a volunteer.
I wear a lot of different hats and have lots of people to communicate with on a daily basis. I also work full time as a web programmer, work part time as an animal care worker at Animal Control, and am enrolled full-time through Duquesne University. Basically, I don't sleep. So it is a little frustrating when people are pushy with me. Just today I had an email from someone that had sent us some hand-made bedding for kittens. I had already written her that we didn't have any at the time, but appreciated the gift and hoped to use them later. Instead, I went to using them for our very young puppies (I did try it with Sia, but she much preferred her litter box). So imagine how disheartened I was today to get an email demanding me to return the items to her because they were not being used as specified. Our supplies are always limited and we use evertyhing that we can. It is probably my fault because I didn't overwhelm her with gratitude. I had assumed that my simple thank you and acknowledgement was enough. But it wasn't. So I took the one away that Dixie had been using, placed it in a plastic bag, and put it in a box to be returned. We were blessed last month to have Peggy donate a bag of baby blankets, so although it is larger than I wanted for Dixie (didn't want to smother her), it did provide a comfy alternative.
Why is it so hard for people to do nice things without great expectations in return? We always send a hand-written thank you to our donors, and I like to think we are very approachable. But geez, can't we get some consideration for our time? Everyone who works with us does so for their love of animals; none of us receive any montetary compensation. We answer emails on our own free time, which is already limited by work, school, and family life. Sometimes, we have to prioritize how/when people are contacted. We have a secretary that returns all voicemail, an adoption coordinator who handles all correspondence for adoption, a foster coordinator to handle some of the intake and veterinary requests, and a TNR coordinator that handles all correspondence relating to our feral cat program. That leaves all other correspondence to me, which can be anywhere from 80 to 200 emails a day. So yes, it may take a day or so or longer to get a response from me, but I really do the best I can.
And as for us being a shelter, I really don't know how best to explain this. We are not a shelter. We do not have a physical facility that you can drop in anytime you want. We're a foster home organization. The animals live with us in our homes. Again, this means our free time is given up to provide veterinary care, socialization, training, and rehabilitation. So yes, you have to have an appointment to meet one of our pets. And when you do arrive at my house, do not expect Martha Stewart to live here. It is me and the dogs. If it is a long week like this one, there may be laundry in a basket waiting to be folded that has been sitting for four days, dog fur that hasn't been vacuumed in a week, Cutters Point frappe cups stacked on the coffee table, and maybe even a Pizza Hut box on the end table. Or even a hair dryer and wet towels in the corner from the last round of baths.
So please, cut me a little break, will you? I am only one person, and I am really doing the best I can. If you disagree, come spend one day with me and see just how much one person can accomplish in 24 hours, or take a proactive approach and become a volunteer.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Humane Euthanasia in Chatham County
I have dedicated my life to helping homeless animals in our community, most of which I pick up from our local animal control. Because I had always only seen things from my brief trips in to evaluate animals or bring them home, I may have had some narrow-minded thinking about how things should be done. However, after having worked the last six weeks part time as an actual shelter worker, a lot of my thinking has changed.
There is a strong movement against gas chambers in Georgia, I think quite a bit of the storm comes from people who have yet to witness the process first-hand. While I agree no one wants to think of animals having to be gassed, I think there is a gross misunderstanding of the actual process used at our animal control. I cannot vouch for the process elsewhere, but from what I witnessed during my time at animal control, and actually being a part of the process, I believe our euthanasia process is more humane than most give credit.
The process seems to be a rather simple one: tranquilize the animal, put it in the cage, place it in the chamber, turn it on, and walk out. But that is just the physical part. Everyone who works at the shelter cares for animals. We spend five days or longer getting to know them, trying to talk people into adoption, holding them, giving them medicines when needed. But when their time is up, we are the last kindness they get to know. I watched as one by one, each animal succumbed to the tranquilizer. They did not know we were picking up their bodies, they didn't know that we were placing them with others, they did not know they weren't coming back.
I have only witnessed one lethal injection in my time, and it wasn't quick, and it didn't seem to be as painless. The animal was aware something was going on, and struggled to get free from me as I held on, trying to offer comfort. It was a medical need to act humanely. But having to hold the animal so close as the life drained, drained me just as well. I could not imagine trying to use this process on some of the animals at the shelter, the ones that take two to three people to get off a truck and into a pen safely, others that are foaming at the mouth, bite cases.
I don't think there is an all or nothing humane solution in euthanasia. So instead, why not focus on prevention? How about a low-cost spay/neuter clinic, free spay days, or more microchip clinics to keep pets out of the shelter in the first place? If all we do is focus on the end, we do not solve the problem that brings the pets there in the first place.
I understand that my position counters those who are working around me. It may very well lead to my being ostrasized within our local animal welfare community. But I've never been one to give in easy to group-think and hope my position will open up others to alternative ideas.
There is a strong movement against gas chambers in Georgia, I think quite a bit of the storm comes from people who have yet to witness the process first-hand. While I agree no one wants to think of animals having to be gassed, I think there is a gross misunderstanding of the actual process used at our animal control. I cannot vouch for the process elsewhere, but from what I witnessed during my time at animal control, and actually being a part of the process, I believe our euthanasia process is more humane than most give credit.
The process seems to be a rather simple one: tranquilize the animal, put it in the cage, place it in the chamber, turn it on, and walk out. But that is just the physical part. Everyone who works at the shelter cares for animals. We spend five days or longer getting to know them, trying to talk people into adoption, holding them, giving them medicines when needed. But when their time is up, we are the last kindness they get to know. I watched as one by one, each animal succumbed to the tranquilizer. They did not know we were picking up their bodies, they didn't know that we were placing them with others, they did not know they weren't coming back.
I have only witnessed one lethal injection in my time, and it wasn't quick, and it didn't seem to be as painless. The animal was aware something was going on, and struggled to get free from me as I held on, trying to offer comfort. It was a medical need to act humanely. But having to hold the animal so close as the life drained, drained me just as well. I could not imagine trying to use this process on some of the animals at the shelter, the ones that take two to three people to get off a truck and into a pen safely, others that are foaming at the mouth, bite cases.
I don't think there is an all or nothing humane solution in euthanasia. So instead, why not focus on prevention? How about a low-cost spay/neuter clinic, free spay days, or more microchip clinics to keep pets out of the shelter in the first place? If all we do is focus on the end, we do not solve the problem that brings the pets there in the first place.
I understand that my position counters those who are working around me. It may very well lead to my being ostrasized within our local animal welfare community. But I've never been one to give in easy to group-think and hope my position will open up others to alternative ideas.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Just $10 to Save a Life
It doesn't seem like much, but $10 can really mean the life or death for a pet. How so? Imagine your pet finds itself in the grasps of a local animal control facility. They have 3 to 7 days, sometimes more, most times less, for you to reclaim them. But how do you know they are there? If your pet has a microchip, animal control workers will scan your pet, get the id number, and give you a call to reunite the two of you.
So where does the $10 come in to play? Many vets charge between $30 to $60 for your pet to be microchipped. If you have multiple pets, this can be a huge expense. So we started offering low-cost clinics three years ago using the 24PetWatch program. So for just $10, you can have piece of mind that your pet will be reunited with you rather than counted among the millions of homeless pets euthanized each year.
Yesterday, we held a low-cost microchip clinic at Tybee Island's Memorial Park (thanks to Tybee City Council for their help). Pet owners brough 103 pets to us, 83 dogs and 20 cats. We never got to sit down, and Dr. Charra and Anne of All About Pets Mobile Vet even stayed late to get everyone chipped. But most astounding was that the pets were not all from Tybee; in fact, only 28 were. The rest came from much farther away: Midway, Guyton, Bluffton, Hilton Head Island, Pooler, Springfield, Bloomingdale, Richmond Hill, Garden City, Collins, and Savannah. It really brought home that what we are doing makes a huge difference for these pets, so much so that we are going to add more clinics this summer instead of just one a quarter. We just have to find more businesses to allow us the space, and a few more vet techs to give up their time.
So where does the $10 come in to play? Many vets charge between $30 to $60 for your pet to be microchipped. If you have multiple pets, this can be a huge expense. So we started offering low-cost clinics three years ago using the 24PetWatch program. So for just $10, you can have piece of mind that your pet will be reunited with you rather than counted among the millions of homeless pets euthanized each year.
Yesterday, we held a low-cost microchip clinic at Tybee Island's Memorial Park (thanks to Tybee City Council for their help). Pet owners brough 103 pets to us, 83 dogs and 20 cats. We never got to sit down, and Dr. Charra and Anne of All About Pets Mobile Vet even stayed late to get everyone chipped. But most astounding was that the pets were not all from Tybee; in fact, only 28 were. The rest came from much farther away: Midway, Guyton, Bluffton, Hilton Head Island, Pooler, Springfield, Bloomingdale, Richmond Hill, Garden City, Collins, and Savannah. It really brought home that what we are doing makes a huge difference for these pets, so much so that we are going to add more clinics this summer instead of just one a quarter. We just have to find more businesses to allow us the space, and a few more vet techs to give up their time.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
A Mouth I Don't Have to Feed
It is amazing to me the hearts my volunteers have. They are the people who have come to know me in a way any person off the street would never imagine. Some of them have seen me through rough times, others have been there to share in our glory. So imagine my surprise today when Joan and her hubby Mike showed up with a special treat just for me.
Working at animal control, it was not uncommon to have someone come to the gate with a box, usually with kittens or puppies inside. So my surprise when Joan and Mike visited me at the nail salon (I haven't been since last May and looked rather awful) turned from excitement to grave concern when I saw Joan holding a white box. My first question to her: "Is it alive?" (Nothing surprises me anymore, really.) All she would say is, "just open it." So I did, very cautiously, and errupted into laughter and relief when it turned out to be a little Siberian Husky... stuffed animal. Joan and Mike had been by Build-a-Bear earlier and built me Artic, a gray Husky with beautiful blue eyes. He even barks at me when I hold his paw. Artic came complete with a birth certificate, and a "Stuffed with Love by Joan & Mike" line. I can't begin to say how touched I am. I've been a little sad since baby Tyler was adopted last week, so it's fun to be holding Artic in my lap while worked tonight. And best of all, he's not on medicine, he won't wake me up to go out at 5 am, and he doesn't have to be fed any special food!
Working at animal control, it was not uncommon to have someone come to the gate with a box, usually with kittens or puppies inside. So my surprise when Joan and Mike visited me at the nail salon (I haven't been since last May and looked rather awful) turned from excitement to grave concern when I saw Joan holding a white box. My first question to her: "Is it alive?" (Nothing surprises me anymore, really.) All she would say is, "just open it." So I did, very cautiously, and errupted into laughter and relief when it turned out to be a little Siberian Husky... stuffed animal. Joan and Mike had been by Build-a-Bear earlier and built me Artic, a gray Husky with beautiful blue eyes. He even barks at me when I hold his paw. Artic came complete with a birth certificate, and a "Stuffed with Love by Joan & Mike" line. I can't begin to say how touched I am. I've been a little sad since baby Tyler was adopted last week, so it's fun to be holding Artic in my lap while worked tonight. And best of all, he's not on medicine, he won't wake me up to go out at 5 am, and he doesn't have to be fed any special food!
Monday, April 9, 2007
Pet Insurance: To Buy or Not To Buy
My friend Telli caught me online as I was getting ready for my fabulous TV interview this morning and told me that the TODAY show was going to have a segment on pet insurance. Unfortunately, it took too long to come on, and I had Mickey on leash and out the door as it was starting. I told her that we give a pet insurance policy as part of the adoption process, though it now costs $1. She didn't realize that, which means I didn't explain it to her when she adopted from us late last year, oops.
Anyhow, before I go sounding like a paid infomercial, let me say that I carry insurance on my beloved dog, DaVinci. Like our adopters, I got his policy as a gift with his adoption, and decided to continue it. It costs me a bit over $200 each year, which I pay out of my tax refund. I like to think I provide adequate care for my pets, but since I live paycheck to paycheck, there's no way I could afford for something major to happen to my Vinnie bear. Given his natural lack of grace, it makes me feel better to know that I can provide him care when he needs it.
Now, how do you choose the insurance policy that's right for you? The choice was made for me. ShelterCare by PetHealth Inc. has been providing us with insurance policies for our adopted pets for several years. I've had the opportunity to meet their director in person, as well as several of their staff. So, I feel confident using them for my personal pet. They also made a major announcement a few weeks back that their policy would cover expenses relating to care needed from the pet food contamination.
There are many options to choose from. Your best bet would be to do a Google search and get information from several sources. But my point remains: pets are a part of your family. You have insurance for you and/or your family members, so why not your beloved pet?
Anyhow, before I go sounding like a paid infomercial, let me say that I carry insurance on my beloved dog, DaVinci. Like our adopters, I got his policy as a gift with his adoption, and decided to continue it. It costs me a bit over $200 each year, which I pay out of my tax refund. I like to think I provide adequate care for my pets, but since I live paycheck to paycheck, there's no way I could afford for something major to happen to my Vinnie bear. Given his natural lack of grace, it makes me feel better to know that I can provide him care when he needs it.
Now, how do you choose the insurance policy that's right for you? The choice was made for me. ShelterCare by PetHealth Inc. has been providing us with insurance policies for our adopted pets for several years. I've had the opportunity to meet their director in person, as well as several of their staff. So, I feel confident using them for my personal pet. They also made a major announcement a few weeks back that their policy would cover expenses relating to care needed from the pet food contamination.
There are many options to choose from. Your best bet would be to do a Google search and get information from several sources. But my point remains: pets are a part of your family. You have insurance for you and/or your family members, so why not your beloved pet?
Extreme Make-over: Home Edition - Puppy Style
I just love watching the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition every Sunday. A few years ago, I drew up the plans of what I hoped to build for the rescue after watching several episodes. Tonight, I decided to bathe Mickey before I went to bed, so he'd be clean for his stay at the vet the next few days for his heartworm treatment.
Let me start off by saying that Mickey is a wonderful dog. He's very good, usually, for me. He loves to be near me, have my attention. For this reason, I thought I could take on an under 40 pound husky on my own in the shower... I was wrong. He's lean, and determined. His fur really should probably be shaved down so new, healthier fur can grow, but instead, I went for a full shampoo. I used almost an entire bottle, as Husky fur is very thick. I underestimated that, despite him being lean, anything I put on him he could turn into bathroom decor... and he did. And the hallway. And the kitchen. The floors are now cleaner, too, since I had to wipe up all the shampoo paw prints and water he traced throughout the house.
The good news is that we finally came to an understanding and after thirty minutes of negotiating, got all the shampoo out of the fur. The bad news is his part of the negotiations did not allow for a blow drying, so instead, I had to put more towels down on the floor in the kitchen for him to dry himself. Ugh. But at least I'll feel less like the vet will want to call doggy DFACS on me tomorrow since he at least smells a little better. It's a darn good thing he can't talk though...
Let me start off by saying that Mickey is a wonderful dog. He's very good, usually, for me. He loves to be near me, have my attention. For this reason, I thought I could take on an under 40 pound husky on my own in the shower... I was wrong. He's lean, and determined. His fur really should probably be shaved down so new, healthier fur can grow, but instead, I went for a full shampoo. I used almost an entire bottle, as Husky fur is very thick. I underestimated that, despite him being lean, anything I put on him he could turn into bathroom decor... and he did. And the hallway. And the kitchen. The floors are now cleaner, too, since I had to wipe up all the shampoo paw prints and water he traced throughout the house.
The good news is that we finally came to an understanding and after thirty minutes of negotiating, got all the shampoo out of the fur. The bad news is his part of the negotiations did not allow for a blow drying, so instead, I had to put more towels down on the floor in the kitchen for him to dry himself. Ugh. But at least I'll feel less like the vet will want to call doggy DFACS on me tomorrow since he at least smells a little better. It's a darn good thing he can't talk though...
Sunday, April 8, 2007
What is a Microchip?
Coastal Pet Rescue will hold another low-cost microchip clinic this coming Saturday, 1 to 4 pm, at Memorial Park on Tybee Island. We've had some questions recently regarding the clinic, so I decided to make a post that will hopefully answer them and encourage people to bring their pets.
How big is the microchip?
The chip itself is only the size of a grain of rice. The needle, therefore, is larger than the standard needle they would get with their annual shots.
Does it hurt them?
It pinches. Most of them react to the pressure they feel from the insertion of the chip. It is very quick, and we do use Lidocaine gel to numb the skin as much as possible. Some dogs will act as if nothing is going on; others will show you just how great their drama skills can be.
Where do you put the chip?
The chip is inserted between the shoulder blades just underneathe the skin.
Does it GPS them, so you can see where they are?
No, this isn't Lojack. The chip is essentially a bar code, much like what you see on products you purchase when grocery shopping. The scanners read the chips like the scanners at the grocery check outs. So someone must find the pet and take it somewhere to have it scanned for a chip. Coastal Pet Rescue maintains three scanners and has gone numerous times to scan found pets. Only once has a chip been found, but it was never registered correctly.
What information does it carry?
The chip itself does not carry any information other than the barcode. An ID number displays when the chip is scanned by a microchip reader. The person scanning calls a registry database with the ID number to get the owner's information (there are several registries: HomeAgain, AVID, 24PetWatch, PetLink). The owner is then called to reunite with their pet.
How do I register my information?
Coastal Pet Rescue submits registration forms from its clinics directly to 24PetWatch. The information on the form includes the owner's name, address, three phone numbers, the pet's name, date of birth, breed, age, sex, neutered status, date of last rabies vaccination, special medical needs, veterinarian's information, and an alternate emergency contact name and number. At the time your pet is microchipped at our clinic, you will receive a tear sheet with information and 24PetWatch's website. You have the option to register your pet that same day online or by phone for free. Once your pet is registered, you may use 24PetWatch's online tools, such as uploading a photo or adding additional information.
What do I do if I move or change my number?
24PetWatch does not charge you to change your information. This is the only way a microchip will truely work for your pet. When you have a change, you may login online and update it yourself or call their 800 number.
Why does Coastal Pet Rescue charge on $10 for this service?
We started doing the microchip clinics over three years ago because we found people were not doing them through their vets, mainly because of the cost. 24PetWatch is a program designed for shelters and rescues to make microchipping pets affordable and keep them from euthanasia. We do the clinics as a public service; this is not a fundraiser.
My pet never goes out of the house, so why should I do this?
Maybe your pet always lives indoors, but what happens in the event you have a sitter or friend that accidentally lets the pet out? Or how about if we have to do a hurricane evacuation again and your pet gets away? The microchip provides a permanent identification that will help your pet to be reunited with you, even if it travels thousands of miles away from home.
How big is the microchip?
The chip itself is only the size of a grain of rice. The needle, therefore, is larger than the standard needle they would get with their annual shots.
Does it hurt them?
It pinches. Most of them react to the pressure they feel from the insertion of the chip. It is very quick, and we do use Lidocaine gel to numb the skin as much as possible. Some dogs will act as if nothing is going on; others will show you just how great their drama skills can be.
Where do you put the chip?
The chip is inserted between the shoulder blades just underneathe the skin.
Does it GPS them, so you can see where they are?
No, this isn't Lojack. The chip is essentially a bar code, much like what you see on products you purchase when grocery shopping. The scanners read the chips like the scanners at the grocery check outs. So someone must find the pet and take it somewhere to have it scanned for a chip. Coastal Pet Rescue maintains three scanners and has gone numerous times to scan found pets. Only once has a chip been found, but it was never registered correctly.
What information does it carry?
The chip itself does not carry any information other than the barcode. An ID number displays when the chip is scanned by a microchip reader. The person scanning calls a registry database with the ID number to get the owner's information (there are several registries: HomeAgain, AVID, 24PetWatch, PetLink). The owner is then called to reunite with their pet.
How do I register my information?
Coastal Pet Rescue submits registration forms from its clinics directly to 24PetWatch. The information on the form includes the owner's name, address, three phone numbers, the pet's name, date of birth, breed, age, sex, neutered status, date of last rabies vaccination, special medical needs, veterinarian's information, and an alternate emergency contact name and number. At the time your pet is microchipped at our clinic, you will receive a tear sheet with information and 24PetWatch's website. You have the option to register your pet that same day online or by phone for free. Once your pet is registered, you may use 24PetWatch's online tools, such as uploading a photo or adding additional information.
What do I do if I move or change my number?
24PetWatch does not charge you to change your information. This is the only way a microchip will truely work for your pet. When you have a change, you may login online and update it yourself or call their 800 number.
Why does Coastal Pet Rescue charge on $10 for this service?
We started doing the microchip clinics over three years ago because we found people were not doing them through their vets, mainly because of the cost. 24PetWatch is a program designed for shelters and rescues to make microchipping pets affordable and keep them from euthanasia. We do the clinics as a public service; this is not a fundraiser.
My pet never goes out of the house, so why should I do this?
Maybe your pet always lives indoors, but what happens in the event you have a sitter or friend that accidentally lets the pet out? Or how about if we have to do a hurricane evacuation again and your pet gets away? The microchip provides a permanent identification that will help your pet to be reunited with you, even if it travels thousands of miles away from home.
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Pet Identification: Why Not?
This is another repost from my personal blog this past January. The info is updated to reflect our next microchip clinic.
Identification for a pet seems so simple, yet too many pets go without. We see them every week at Animal Control. They have collars, but no I.D. or rabies tags or microchip, and, unfortunately, only five days to be reclaimed. I look into their faces, see them wag their tails, sit on command, give their paw and clamor for affection. It is all affection they should be sharing with their owners, who, for whatever reason, never came to animal control to see if their pet was there, or never brought a flyer with photo identification so they could be called. They don't know what their fate is in five days, but they have a sense that they aren't supposed to be there, nor do they want to be. Sometimes, we're the last friendly pat on the head or scratch behind the ears they get. We just don't have room for them all, but neither does animal control. They do what they can, allowing licensed rescues to take animals out for adoption, but that won't save them all.
In an effort to lower euthanasia rates at animal control, Coastal Pet Rescue began offering low-cost microchipping clinics to the public three years ago. Before we started the clinics, we asked area vets how many of their clients were getting their pets chipped. The number was very minimal, and that means an unnecessary increase in the homeless pet population. Overwhelmingly, it seems cost was a factor. I know some vets were charging $30 to $60, but it's not all their fault. Avid and HomeAgain charge registration fees, and then charge you again to update the information. Subsequently, too many times contact information isn't updated and the pet can't be reunited. I would rather spend $100 to see that my pet never ended up in a gas chamber, but not so many other folks share that sentiment. I've even been in the office when an owner was notified their pet was there and they told animal control to keep it. It makes me sick to see how little value is given to the life of a pet.
Coastal Pet Rescue's next microchip clinic will take place Saturday, April 14 from 1 to 4 pm at Memorial Park on Tybee Island (next to City Hall). For just $10, pets will be microchipped with a 24PetWatch microchip. There is no cost for updating information after registration, and 24PetWatch provides online tools to help reunite your pets when they get lost. Additionally, the chips can be read by any scanner at shelters, rescues and animal control facilities.
It's just $10, $10 to keep a pet from a tragic end. It doesn't seem that inconvenient to me.
Identification for a pet seems so simple, yet too many pets go without. We see them every week at Animal Control. They have collars, but no I.D. or rabies tags or microchip, and, unfortunately, only five days to be reclaimed. I look into their faces, see them wag their tails, sit on command, give their paw and clamor for affection. It is all affection they should be sharing with their owners, who, for whatever reason, never came to animal control to see if their pet was there, or never brought a flyer with photo identification so they could be called. They don't know what their fate is in five days, but they have a sense that they aren't supposed to be there, nor do they want to be. Sometimes, we're the last friendly pat on the head or scratch behind the ears they get. We just don't have room for them all, but neither does animal control. They do what they can, allowing licensed rescues to take animals out for adoption, but that won't save them all.
In an effort to lower euthanasia rates at animal control, Coastal Pet Rescue began offering low-cost microchipping clinics to the public three years ago. Before we started the clinics, we asked area vets how many of their clients were getting their pets chipped. The number was very minimal, and that means an unnecessary increase in the homeless pet population. Overwhelmingly, it seems cost was a factor. I know some vets were charging $30 to $60, but it's not all their fault. Avid and HomeAgain charge registration fees, and then charge you again to update the information. Subsequently, too many times contact information isn't updated and the pet can't be reunited. I would rather spend $100 to see that my pet never ended up in a gas chamber, but not so many other folks share that sentiment. I've even been in the office when an owner was notified their pet was there and they told animal control to keep it. It makes me sick to see how little value is given to the life of a pet.
Coastal Pet Rescue's next microchip clinic will take place Saturday, April 14 from 1 to 4 pm at Memorial Park on Tybee Island (next to City Hall). For just $10, pets will be microchipped with a 24PetWatch microchip. There is no cost for updating information after registration, and 24PetWatch provides online tools to help reunite your pets when they get lost. Additionally, the chips can be read by any scanner at shelters, rescues and animal control facilities.
It's just $10, $10 to keep a pet from a tragic end. It doesn't seem that inconvenient to me.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Where have all the homes gone?
This is a repost from my personal blog this past January, but with recent intakes at Animal Control, I felt it very appropriate to once again reflect upon the subject.
Each week, I take two to three trips to our local animal control. I'm appalled at the number of pets with collars but no id, no microchip. I spend time with them, determine where I can fit them into our rescue. I know they had homes, they had to. Several of them have looked recently groomed; others are well-mannered and starving for attention. They came from somewhere, but no one has been to look for them. They have five days, five days in which I make phone calls and send emails to see if we can give them a second chance at life, something they deserve. Sometimes, people say yes. I go back to get that one out, holding my head as high as I can to try and distance myself from the sad eyes of the others I had to say "not today." I fill out the paperwork, dog tugging at my arm, eager to smell freedom and feel love. I open the backdoor, and 90% of the time, the dog is in before the door is all the way up. The panting and tail wagging ensue, and we venture to my home and a new life: a good bath, a clean place to sleep, fresh food and water, and a new hope. Then we wait. We wait in hopes that someone else will have compassion and open their hearts to a pet in need, give them a chance to know the love of a family and a permanent home. It doesn't doesn't happen fast and for some pets, it just never happens.
For every pet that remains in our foster care, another is turned away. We don't even have enough foster homes for all the emails and phone calls we get each day, let alone all the pets at animal control. Just this week, I received an email from a person who was under great "hardship" because she didn't have her two dogs spayed and neutered and didn't like having to pay to care for them plus their seven puppies. They had to be gone immediately; it was too much for her to handle. She wanted to bring them to us. I replied that we didn't have the room but that since she needed an immediate solution, she could take them to the humane society. What was the reply I got? "Thank you so much for your lack of interest and help. The humane society would only be used as a last resort." A last resort to what? The "hardship" could have been prevented at a much reduced cost than what she is paying now. Do I think she will regret giving her pets up? Probably not; so few of them ever do. I've heard it all: had a new baby, can't have pets; moved to a place that won't allow them; new love interest is allergic; 12 year old child is suddenly allergic to a cat they've had for 15 years, etc.
This is not a job that gives great recognitions or pay; we don't get paid for the rescue work we do, yet so many people assume so. We don't get a lot of pats on the back for what we do; we get hateful emails accusing us of not doing enough. So what do we get? Lots of kisses from the animals we help and thankful hugs from new families that adopted. But mostly pride in knowing that we gave something of ourselves for a greater good. Sure, I don't get a full 8 hours of sleep each night, and I would like to have a bedding set that still had all its filling and no patches from being ripped apart, or maybe even blinds without teeth marks. However, these are trivial when compared to saving the life of another animal.
Each week, I take two to three trips to our local animal control. I'm appalled at the number of pets with collars but no id, no microchip. I spend time with them, determine where I can fit them into our rescue. I know they had homes, they had to. Several of them have looked recently groomed; others are well-mannered and starving for attention. They came from somewhere, but no one has been to look for them. They have five days, five days in which I make phone calls and send emails to see if we can give them a second chance at life, something they deserve. Sometimes, people say yes. I go back to get that one out, holding my head as high as I can to try and distance myself from the sad eyes of the others I had to say "not today." I fill out the paperwork, dog tugging at my arm, eager to smell freedom and feel love. I open the backdoor, and 90% of the time, the dog is in before the door is all the way up. The panting and tail wagging ensue, and we venture to my home and a new life: a good bath, a clean place to sleep, fresh food and water, and a new hope. Then we wait. We wait in hopes that someone else will have compassion and open their hearts to a pet in need, give them a chance to know the love of a family and a permanent home. It doesn't doesn't happen fast and for some pets, it just never happens.
For every pet that remains in our foster care, another is turned away. We don't even have enough foster homes for all the emails and phone calls we get each day, let alone all the pets at animal control. Just this week, I received an email from a person who was under great "hardship" because she didn't have her two dogs spayed and neutered and didn't like having to pay to care for them plus their seven puppies. They had to be gone immediately; it was too much for her to handle. She wanted to bring them to us. I replied that we didn't have the room but that since she needed an immediate solution, she could take them to the humane society. What was the reply I got? "Thank you so much for your lack of interest and help. The humane society would only be used as a last resort." A last resort to what? The "hardship" could have been prevented at a much reduced cost than what she is paying now. Do I think she will regret giving her pets up? Probably not; so few of them ever do. I've heard it all: had a new baby, can't have pets; moved to a place that won't allow them; new love interest is allergic; 12 year old child is suddenly allergic to a cat they've had for 15 years, etc.
This is not a job that gives great recognitions or pay; we don't get paid for the rescue work we do, yet so many people assume so. We don't get a lot of pats on the back for what we do; we get hateful emails accusing us of not doing enough. So what do we get? Lots of kisses from the animals we help and thankful hugs from new families that adopted. But mostly pride in knowing that we gave something of ourselves for a greater good. Sure, I don't get a full 8 hours of sleep each night, and I would like to have a bedding set that still had all its filling and no patches from being ripped apart, or maybe even blinds without teeth marks. However, these are trivial when compared to saving the life of another animal.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Animal Control and Care in Chatham County
As is mentioned on SavannahPets.org, there is a new facility in the works for Chatham's animal control. Members from animal control, the humane society, county commissioners and the architects travelled to another county to check out their facilities last week. What they got were more ideas of how a good shelter can help to decrease euthanasia rates in our county. Since I do the paperwork for that every day, let me tell you, there is a lot of room for improvement. So, what would I like to see changed? Having spent the last four weeks working part time, here are some of my suggestions:
1. An adoption counselor on site. There is no reason the public shouldn't be able to come and do an adoption of a pet from animal control. Yes, there needs to be some screening in place, and definitely policies for spay/neuter, but why not keep them alive as long as we can?
2. Segregated areas for bite cases. Each day, at least one person has to walk through the kennels looking for their pet. We always have a least one bite case being held for ten days, and recently, they have been anything but friendly. I consider it a safety issue, as well as a well-being issue. These animals project their constant barking/aggression towards the animals around them. Even if they are placed in the pens with the fiberglass dividers, it can still unnerve one of their neighbors.
3. Lighting. The kennels are so dark and dreary. It's a very sad place to have to walk through with someone who is searching hard for their missing pet, and in many cases, it's harder to see identifying marks. I know animal control is not known as a cheery place, but I don't see a reason why we can't try to make it a bit more inviting to the public coming through.
4. Segregated areas for puppies/kittens from adults, and for that matter, sick/injured animals from general population. I know it is a lot to ask, but just take one walk through our kennels right now. Our cat room is littered with cats full of upper respiratory infections, and while healthy cats may be moved away from them, they all still share the same air and possibility for contraction. The same goes for puppies as I keep hearing about the number of parvo cases increasing at our local vet offices, though only know of one pup recently pulled from animal control that was positive (which would be our very own Chipper).
5. Educational opportunities for the public. When people are coming to reclaim their pet, why not have a packet of information available with a contacts list to help them keep their pets out of animal control? We do low-cost microchipping, and I try to remember to put flyers out for our upcoming clinics. Instead, I should have flyers up there about microchipping year round since we can do appointments. I don't mind driving if it can help save a life. Additionally, we really need spay/neuter awareness. Most of the pets come in are not spayed/neutered, and many have been giving birth in the kennels recently.
6. Exercise areas. We have two areas where pets can be taken out to be leash walked or showcased to a potential rescuer/adopter. Wouldn't it be great if these babies could all get the chance for some exercise, especially if it may help them bide their time?
7. Standards of Procedure for Medicating and Euthanizing severely sick or injured animals. Our goal should include providing humane care for the animals upon their arrival. Many times I have walked through and had to make special requests to have animals sent to the vet for care or euthanasia. This would be great to be able to do this on site. We do medicate as we can, but there have been several cases where the animal was so injured, it needed to be put down on arrival. Instead, we have to send it to another vet and let them make the call, taxing their resources on top of the animal control officer's that just delivered the animal to the shelter and did the paperwork. (In the last week, two puppies were brought to animal control by concerned citizens that both had to be put down at the vet.)
8. Automated phone answering. With all that goes on in the kennels with the numerous daily intakes, the phone is often missed. I feel like our outgoing message is too long. Instead, give options, such as press 1 for hours of operation and location, 2 for instructions on reclaiming a pet, 3 for bite cases, etc.
9. Lost and found service. We need a better way of getting the public to understand how to use animal control for lost and found. Often times, a flyer is dropped off, and the owner doesn't return after two visits. It's hard to clearly identify a pet from a black and white copy, in particular for the number of cats we see every day. This would be where offering microchipping and information on id tags and collars would be very appropriate.
10. Customer service training. I will admit, the guys at the shelter work hard, and deal with a lot of BS on a regular basis. We need them to do a lot of the dirty work. But there should be a friendly front person to assist people in and out of the kennel, make their experience less stressful, and provide as much information and options as possible. I'm not saying it has to be a woman, but someone with good people skills and tact.
I could keep going on and on, but I do need to sleep as well.
1. An adoption counselor on site. There is no reason the public shouldn't be able to come and do an adoption of a pet from animal control. Yes, there needs to be some screening in place, and definitely policies for spay/neuter, but why not keep them alive as long as we can?
2. Segregated areas for bite cases. Each day, at least one person has to walk through the kennels looking for their pet. We always have a least one bite case being held for ten days, and recently, they have been anything but friendly. I consider it a safety issue, as well as a well-being issue. These animals project their constant barking/aggression towards the animals around them. Even if they are placed in the pens with the fiberglass dividers, it can still unnerve one of their neighbors.
3. Lighting. The kennels are so dark and dreary. It's a very sad place to have to walk through with someone who is searching hard for their missing pet, and in many cases, it's harder to see identifying marks. I know animal control is not known as a cheery place, but I don't see a reason why we can't try to make it a bit more inviting to the public coming through.
4. Segregated areas for puppies/kittens from adults, and for that matter, sick/injured animals from general population. I know it is a lot to ask, but just take one walk through our kennels right now. Our cat room is littered with cats full of upper respiratory infections, and while healthy cats may be moved away from them, they all still share the same air and possibility for contraction. The same goes for puppies as I keep hearing about the number of parvo cases increasing at our local vet offices, though only know of one pup recently pulled from animal control that was positive (which would be our very own Chipper).
5. Educational opportunities for the public. When people are coming to reclaim their pet, why not have a packet of information available with a contacts list to help them keep their pets out of animal control? We do low-cost microchipping, and I try to remember to put flyers out for our upcoming clinics. Instead, I should have flyers up there about microchipping year round since we can do appointments. I don't mind driving if it can help save a life. Additionally, we really need spay/neuter awareness. Most of the pets come in are not spayed/neutered, and many have been giving birth in the kennels recently.
6. Exercise areas. We have two areas where pets can be taken out to be leash walked or showcased to a potential rescuer/adopter. Wouldn't it be great if these babies could all get the chance for some exercise, especially if it may help them bide their time?
7. Standards of Procedure for Medicating and Euthanizing severely sick or injured animals. Our goal should include providing humane care for the animals upon their arrival. Many times I have walked through and had to make special requests to have animals sent to the vet for care or euthanasia. This would be great to be able to do this on site. We do medicate as we can, but there have been several cases where the animal was so injured, it needed to be put down on arrival. Instead, we have to send it to another vet and let them make the call, taxing their resources on top of the animal control officer's that just delivered the animal to the shelter and did the paperwork. (In the last week, two puppies were brought to animal control by concerned citizens that both had to be put down at the vet.)
8. Automated phone answering. With all that goes on in the kennels with the numerous daily intakes, the phone is often missed. I feel like our outgoing message is too long. Instead, give options, such as press 1 for hours of operation and location, 2 for instructions on reclaiming a pet, 3 for bite cases, etc.
9. Lost and found service. We need a better way of getting the public to understand how to use animal control for lost and found. Often times, a flyer is dropped off, and the owner doesn't return after two visits. It's hard to clearly identify a pet from a black and white copy, in particular for the number of cats we see every day. This would be where offering microchipping and information on id tags and collars would be very appropriate.
10. Customer service training. I will admit, the guys at the shelter work hard, and deal with a lot of BS on a regular basis. We need them to do a lot of the dirty work. But there should be a friendly front person to assist people in and out of the kennel, make their experience less stressful, and provide as much information and options as possible. I'm not saying it has to be a woman, but someone with good people skills and tact.
I could keep going on and on, but I do need to sleep as well.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Intruder in the House
Crazy Dog Lady. Husky Lover. Mutts R Us. I'm always associated as a dog rescuer. Well, normally, that's what will be found in my house. But few people know that when I started in rescue seven years ago, I was really a, gasp, cat rescuer. Yep, I always had a cat or litter of kittens (or two) at home, and only one dog once I got out of college. So imagine the shock to my pack when the cries they heard from the carrier coming through the door this afternoon was not the typical howl of a Husky puppy, but the cries of an annoyed Siamese kitten. 
Yes, the cries of a ticked off kitty. This is a sound I have not heard in many years. Sia, as I am calling her, is a little confused by her new surrounding, though I would call it a considerable upgrade from her cage at animal control. I think she is going for some sort of kitty meowing record, as her mouth hasn't shut since she got home. Guess I know how my dad must have felt when I was a child.
Yes, the cries of a ticked off kitty. This is a sound I have not heard in many years. Sia, as I am calling her, is a little confused by her new surrounding, though I would call it a considerable upgrade from her cage at animal control. I think she is going for some sort of kitty meowing record, as her mouth hasn't shut since she got home. Guess I know how my dad must have felt when I was a child.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
How YOU Can Change a Life in 10 Minutes or Less
In response to a question posted on our volunteer forum, I've come up with a short list of things you can do to help Coastal Pet Rescue without giving up too much time:
1. Pick up an extra bag of pet food or a toy when you do your monthly shopping for your own pets. (Copy paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies are also welcome.)
2. Visit CoastalPetRescue.org once a week to see our pets for adoption and forward info to your email list.
3. Send us a donation through PayPal (donations@coastalpetrescue.org). We know how to stretch our funds, and even $10 can help us buy food for a foster pet for a few weeks.
4. Purchase a gift card at WalMart, Pet Supermarket, or Pet Smart and drop it in the mail to us.
5. Post a link to our adoptable pets page on your website or blog.
6. Add our website address to your email signatures to show you support Coastal Pet Rescue.
7. Use GoodSearch.com for all your search engine queries.
8. Ask businesses you use if they support animal welfare. Suggest that they make a contribution to Coastal Pet Rescue to continue to receive your business.
9. Cut out and mail us coupons for free or low-cost pet products (PO Box 30462, Savannah, GA 31410).
10. Stop by any of our events and let our volunteers know you appreciate the work they are doing.
1. Pick up an extra bag of pet food or a toy when you do your monthly shopping for your own pets. (Copy paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies are also welcome.)
2. Visit CoastalPetRescue.org once a week to see our pets for adoption and forward info to your email list.
3. Send us a donation through PayPal (donations@coastalpetrescue.org). We know how to stretch our funds, and even $10 can help us buy food for a foster pet for a few weeks.
4. Purchase a gift card at WalMart, Pet Supermarket, or Pet Smart and drop it in the mail to us.
5. Post a link to our adoptable pets page on your website or blog.
6. Add our website address to your email signatures to show you support Coastal Pet Rescue.
7. Use GoodSearch.com for all your search engine queries.
8. Ask businesses you use if they support animal welfare. Suggest that they make a contribution to Coastal Pet Rescue to continue to receive your business.
9. Cut out and mail us coupons for free or low-cost pet products (PO Box 30462, Savannah, GA 31410).
10. Stop by any of our events and let our volunteers know you appreciate the work they are doing.
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