Fur Ball September 25, 2009 - Daisy's story

The Fur Ball was a great success!

For one of the live auction items, we played this video and then asked the crowd to raise their paddles to give $500, $250, $100, or $50 to take home nothing but the feeling of knowing you're supporting a good cause. This "item" earned us about $12,000 and two individuals donated $1,000 each!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHYv3VN2Zuw&feature=youtube_gdata

If you missed the Fur Ball, it's not too late to make a donation in honor of Daisy.

Fern - 9/19 /09 - 2 Days After Rescue

I stopped by the shelter to visit Fern this morning. She is doing well. The catheter and wrapping have been removed from her left leg and she is finding it much easier to move around. She is very happy to have visitors! We put a soft e-collar on her, as she shows a little too much interest in licking her sutures. She has plenty to eat and drink and very soft blankets to lie on.

CCHS is accepting donations to cover the costs of Fern's surgery and care. If you send a donation, please write "For Fern" in the memo line. To make a Pay Pal donation, use the link for Fern donations on the CCHS homepage: http://www.cuhumane.org

Michael Vick - As it Stands Right Now 8/14/09

I had made a vow that my next post would consist of only "Good News," but I just have to opine on the Michael Vick/Philadelphia Eagles thing. I'll be brief.

No, I'm not surprised that he has been signed. I don't know much about professional sports, but I imagine there are many NFL players with criminal records. If they let wife-beaters play, they're going to let guys play who committed cruelty to animals. If we have a beef with the consequences for Vick's crimes, we should be looking at cruelty and dog fighting statutes and the applicable penalties for those crimes. We should be lobbying for tougher laws and more vigorous prosecution. Expecting a money-making enterprise like the NFL to penalize Vick for life is not realistic. And, although it might feel good to voice outrage at the Eagles' decision, it is ultimately not productive.

What will outrage me is if what I heard from Vick today is accepted as a suitable expression of remorse. So far I have heard him refer to a "horrible mistake," "a pointless activity" and regret that he "risked so much at this point in his career." These pronouncements fall so short of what I want to hear that I am finding it hard to suppress a major rant . . .

We've all made "horrible mistakes" and engaged in "pointless activities" that got us into trouble. But do those words explain away electrocuting a dog in a swimming pool? He regrets that he risked his career? Are you kidding me?

What I want to hear, what I hope to hear on Sunday night's 60 Minutes, is something more like this: "I am mortified when I look back on the dispicable acts I committed. I cannot imagine what possessed me to inflict such pain and suffering on innocent animals. I am working with a therapist to find out why I lack empathy for living beings. I hope someday, when I have figured out how I could have behaved like such a monster, I will be able to help others avoid taking that path. I have nightmares in which I hear dogs screaming. I wish I could take back the agony I caused those dogs." That's the kind of thing I want to hear. That's the kind of thing I sure hope Wayne Pacelle (HSUS President) heard before he agreed to work with this guy.

Being sorry for "risking his career" and engaging in a "pointless activity"? That's an adequate expression of remorse? Come on.

Parking Lot Heroes - Warning: Graphic Content

This weekend, temps here in central Illinois were in the low 90's and the humidity was high. Anybody with 1/2 a brain would know that you can't leave an animal in a car with no a/c running in the afternoon on day like Saturday. Three diners at Fazoli's in Champaign apparently don't have 1/2 brain between them.

Here's the story. My friend, C.L., spends a few hours at PetSmart every Saturday, as a rep for a high-end pet food producer. This Saturday, at 2 in the afternoon, she was getting out of her car near Fazoli's and saw three people get out of a Suburban and go into the restaurant. At the same time, she heard the bark of the puppy that was left behind. The Suburban was parked in the sun. They had left at least one window cracked. C.L., having more than 1/2 brain, immediately called Animal Control and waited by the vehicle. At 2:10, Animal Control had not arrived. C.L. had enlisted back-up from a Banfield veterinarian (Banfield clinic is located within PetSmart) and another colleague. One of them called the police. At 2:13 the puppy was in obvious distress; vocalizing and panting heavily. C.L. went into Fazoli's and confronted the puppy's people. She was incredibly angry and upset, but somehow managed not to curse as she informed them that they were killing their puppy over a plate of pasta. They replied that "everybody" leaves their dogs in the car.

When C.L. returned to the Suburban, the puppy was in the arms of the veterinarian, and they rushed him/her into the Banfield clinic for emergency treatment. The pup's temperature was approaching 104. (for adult dogs, 104 degrees is the threshold temp. for heat stroke; at 106 degrees the situation is dire). Initial procedures did not bring the pup's temperature down fast enough. After a cool water enema was administered, the pup's body finally cooled down.

Back outside, Animal Control had arrived and I believe the puppy owner was issued a citation and fine of $225. C.L. reported that the Animal Control officer was appropriately stern. When the puppy was fully stabilized, she/he was returned to the owner. I sure hope they learned a lesson.

Morals of the story?

(1) What's obvious to me is not necessarily obvious to everybody else. Sometimes I get so tired of repeating the "don't leave your dog in the car" message! I think, "surely, everybody already knows that!" Well, apparently not. Remedial as it is, the lesson still needs to be taught.

(2) Under certain conditions, it literally does not take more than 10-15 minutes for an animal to go into crisis due to heatstroke. Please - do not risk your own animal's life for the sake of convenience. And, if you see an animal in a situation that does not look good to you, contact authorities immediately. Don't wait until the animal is in distress -- it will be too late. And,

(3) There are heroes among us! Three cheers for C.L. and her colleagues who intervened to save this puppy's life. They were courageous and they made a difference.

Buddy

Protecting the Children? Seriously?

I got to the shelter early today - it was about 10 minutes to 7:00. No, I'm not a workaholic. Although I am indeed a morning person, I am usually home-based until 9:00. But today I had a morning appearance on WCFN, so I had to get to the shelter, select an animal to bring, and then get across town to the station in time for the live segment at 7:37.

I went into my office to fire up my computer and let the weekend emails pour in while I was gone. I hadn't been there a minute, when I noticed through the window that a woman had pulled into the parking lot. She was already out of her car and walking around with a little dog (looked like a Lhasa Apso to me, but I'm not too good at identifying the little breeds) on leash. She obviously had realized that I was in the building, came to the staff entrance near my office window, and knocked on the door. I checked my watch and wished I could pretend I wasn't there. But I didn't.

At the door, she said they (I assume she was referring to herself and her husband) got the dog from an elderly woman who could no longer keep him. They had thought he would be a companion for their dog, but the two dogs weren't getting along. I explained that we weren't open yet (as if she didn't know that, at 7 in the morning), and asked her to please return later. I explained that I had to leave shortly and that by 8:00 some staff members would be available to do a proper intake, take down pertinent information, examine the dog, etc. She resisted. And resisted. She assured me that she would come back after 8:00 to do the paperwork and provide the dog's vet records, but she really wanted me to take the dog. She said she could not bring him back later. She indicated that this had something to do with her children. She was not entirely coherent, but I realized later that she wanted to off-load the dog while the children were still asleep and planned to tell them that he had gone to live with a family where he would be the only dog. I wasn't really listening when she explained this; I just wanted her to agree to come back later. Why did I care what she told her children? I had someplace to be. And I had to be on time! I wanted the conversation to end. But when she told me that she had planned to leave him tied out in front of the building, I took hold of the leash. I didn't say anything after that; I was done.

Lucky for me, Dr. Stone arrived at about that time, and took care of the dog so that I could round up a kitten and head over to WCFN.

As you probably guessed, the woman never returned to do the paperwork. Our staff brought the dog over to Animal Control because he was not surrendered to us, he was abandoned. I didn't even have the owner's name, let alone her signature on a relinquishment form.

Naturally, as I drove across town (with Peanut, the adorable gray kitten), I thought of all the choicey things I should have said to the woman. I'm very good at caustic retorts when the moment has passed and I've had a few minutes to pull myself together. But it was too late, and probably for the best anyway. No use engaging in hostilities with someone whose mind is made up. Besides, I haven't walked a mile in her shoes. How do I know what was really going on?

As I put the pieces together though, and realized that this whole thing was about protecting the children from the experience of surrendering the dog, I got pretty annoyed. I'll admit right off the bat that I'm not a parent, so perhaps I don't know what I'm talking about. But why is it better to steal the dog away while the children sleep and tell them a lie, than to allow them the opportunity to say a proper good-bye to the dog and explain why surrendering him to a humane facility was the right decision for both the dog and the family? I don't get it.

She robbed her children of closure, as well as the opportunity to learn lessons about consequences and taking responsibility. Instead, her children will learn nothing. Except maybe that sometimes things you love disappear in the middle of the night. Good job, mom.

Our Best Efforts Aren't Always Good Enough

This is Whoopi. She is a German Wirehaired Pointer (mix), somewhere between 18 months and 2 years old. At this moment, I have my fingers crossed for Whoopi because she is scheduled to have a dog-dog introduction today with her potential new family's Boxer. I'm on pins and needles.

Whoopi has been with us a long time and we would really like to see her go home! She has been at the shelter since March 23rd. That's 15 weeks -- about 12 weeks longer than an average stay for a dog at our shelter. It's not that we mind having Whoopi around, but when a dog is with us this long we start to get a little anxious.

We have some pretty good ideas as to why Whoopi is taking a little longer than other dogs to place. For one thing, it's not uncommon for dark-hued dogs to stay longer at animal shelters than others. In addition, Whoopi is a medium-large, adolescent dog with a lot of energy. How many people you know want to take that on? German Wirehaired Pointers aren't as popular as say, Golden Retrievers, either. The good news is that Whoopi came to us with some training under her belt and we know she has it in her to be a very good girl, in the right home.

But let's get back to the "dog-dog introduction" for a moment. We require all dog adopters to bring any already existing dog family members to the shelter to meet their potential new "sibling" prior to finalizing the adoption. This is a pretty important step in the adoption process. The following story illustrates the point . . . sort of.

Week before last, a very nice dog was returned to the shelter, after about a week in his new home, with multiple -- and I mean MULTIPLE bite wounds on his face, head, and front legs. The incident had occurred on about the third day after the adoption. One of the resident dogs had attacked the new dog. The new dog did not fight back. The adopter's veterinarian put drains in a couple places on the injured dog's face/head and sutured a wound at the base of one ear. The adopters kept him for a few more days before realizing that the adoption would not work, and returning him to us.

By the day after his return, our veterinarian was able to remove the drains and we sent the dog into foster care with a very caring and responsible volunteer. On that day, we let the dog hang-out in the administrative office until his foster mom could pick him up. He still looked a mess, and was a little sensitive about having his head touched, but otherwise he was happy and affectionate. He is a really sweet dog.

So, you're probably wondering, as I was, what the heck happened?

No one on staff had any reservations about these adopters. They brought their dog in for a dog-dog introduction and it went fine. The staff told me that the adopters were devastated when they returned the injured dog to us; they were in tears. But, here's the twist. The dog that came in for the introduction was not the dog that inflicted the damage on the new dog. They had lied on their application about a second dog at home--they indicated that this second dog was deceased.

In the interest of full disclosure, I have to admit that they had obtained this dog, the aggressor dog, from us some years ago. That's why they didn't leave him off the application altogether; they knew we would have records of that adoption. Whether the dog had "issues" from the time of adoption or they developed later, I don't know.

It's more than frustrating when this kind of thing happens. All of our adoption requirements are designed to (1) minimize the likelihood of harm coming to our animals and (2) maximize the likelihood of a succesful permanent adoption. Yet we failed to protect this dog from harm and his adoption failed miserably. Not much we can do when people are dishonest.

We're frequently criticized for making people "jump through hoops" to adopt a dog. How do you think the polygraph requirement is going to go over?*

*This is a facetious statement. Please do not alert the media.

Catching Up!

My apologies to anyone who has been checking in only to find that I haven't posted to the blog . . . since the end of May! I promise to do better and post more often, now that the Garage Sale, the budgeting process, and my (too short) "staycation" are behind me.

The two pups pictured here are from Lucille's litter, pictured in my last post. The pups will be in foster care until they are 8 weeks old, at which point they will be old enough to be adopted. You can follow the litter at their blog, http://pupsispups.blogspot.com/.

We'd love to get adopters for the pups lined up before the puppies return to the shelter. That way, they can go virtually straight from foster care into their new homes and avoid the stress associated with a shelter stay. You can help by sending the link to "Pups Is Pups" to anyone you can think of who might be interested in a puppy -- or to anyone at all. Everybody likes to take a break from their daily activities to look at pictures of puppies on the web, right? And, I'll let you know when the LIVE Puppy Cam gets up and running again.

A couple other quick updates:

-The GIANT Garage Sale fundraiser was a huge success, raising a record-breaking $50,300 for CCHS. All thanks go to those who made it possible, the Planet's Best Volunteers. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

-The shooter of the cat in Mansfield has not been identified, and I doubt he/she will ever be held accountable.

Tonight, my heart goes out to friends and coworkers who have recently lost beloved animal companions, and other friends whose dogs are struggling with terminal disease. In empathizing with my friends, I feel a fraction of the heartbreak that they are feeling in full force. I feel it in my gut and in my throat. Like a muscle memory, it comes on without even conjuring actual memories of my own similar losses. But because it is not my loss right now, I can shake it off. And that's what I do, most of the time. That, and remind myself that life can change on a dime, and I'm NOT too busy to toss a toy for Daisy or run a brush over Calamity Jane.

On that note, I'll sign off for tonight. Li'l Rocky is ready for some cuddle-time in front of the t.v. I promise to post again soon, with some tales from the shelter.

Puppies Born in Foster Care Today

Lucille's first puppy was born this morning at about 10:00 a.m. So far, she has had seven. Follow the litter at http://pupsispups.blogspot.com.

The Garage Sale Chair and Vice Chair

I won't tell which is which.

Neat Stuff

Stack-O-Trunks

And Not-So-Neat Stuff

We donate fur items to the UI Wildlife Clinic.

Furs can be comforting for orphaned wildlife to snuggle in.

Inside the Hall on the Final Day of Drop Offs

You're looking down the main aisle - from East to West. That's the sporting goods department on the right and you can see some of the small appliances department on the left . . . it will all be much more organized by Friday. We've got 4 days to clean everything, price, and organize.

Outside Kesler Hall on the Last Day of Drop Offs

The building is filling up!

GIANT Garage Sale - The Drop Off Phase

This year, we have a huge collection of dolls. This is one of three Princess Diana dolls.

A teapot collection arrived yesterday. Look at this doggie pot:

Volunteers are working hard, but there is always time to enjoy a little love.

Update on Case 1

Keep in mind that I have no firsthand knowledge of the incident at Legends, and am only reporting what I've been told by a variety of individuals.

I believe that the following explanation of the incident is what was provided to the Police when they investigated: The goose charged the man. The man hit the goose with the golf club, and the goose backed off (positive reinforcement for the man's response). When the goose charged a second time, the man applied the same technique. Unfortunately and accidently, this second blow was fatal, breaking the goose's neck. Thus, the conclusion that no crime was committed.

I've been told that the US Fish & Wildlife Service briefly looked into the matter and upon learning the facts above, concluded its investigation.

I spoke with a representative of the Enforcement Division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, who said that he would follow up and obtain the status of any US F&W investigation. He essentially acknowledged that no penalty would be forthcoming if it was determined that the man acted in "self defense."

One Day, Two Cruelty Cases

Case 1 - Man v. Goose

At the Legends golf course in Champaign, witnesses observed a golfer club a Goose to death after the goose charged the golfer. When one of the witnesses reported the incident to Champaign Police, he was told that no crime had been committed and that the golfer "had every right" to kill the goose.

Contrary to the assertion of Champaign Police, Geese are a protected species in Illinois and it is illegal to kill or remove geese (or destroy nests or eggs) without a permit from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The incident has been reported to the DNR and I believe that an investigation is underway.

A concerned citizen who is also a regular patron of Legends spoke with a Legends manager today who had little to say other than that Legends bears no responsibiltiy for the incident. The manager also stated that a goose could "take a chunk out of your leg."

I don't doubt that the goose charged the golfer. At this time of year, Canadian Geese are tending to their young, and may become aggressive toward humans that come too close to their nest site or goslings. I don't doubt that it is extremely unsettling to have an angry goose try to run you off.

I have serious doubts, however, that the only recourse available to the golfer was to club the goose to death. In my opinion, this was a barbaric over-reaction.

Now that the deed is done, what's the remedy? Obviously, I have limited influence, but here's what I'd like to see happen in this case: (1) I'd like to see Legends post signs near nesting areas (a) warning golfers that geese will be protective of their young, (b) clearly stating that geese are a protected species, and (c) instructing golfers to report problems with geese to management; (2) I'd like to see the Champaign Police Department called on the carpet for its incredibly inept response to the report; and (3) I'd like to see the DNR vigorously investigate this incident and impose appropriate penalties upon the perpetrator, whose identity is known.

Resource: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/wildlife/directory_show.cfm?species=canadagoose

Case 2 - Man v. Cat

This morning in or around Mansfield, somebody shot a cat in the face with a pellet gun. The cat was treated at CCHS and the prognosis is good, although the pellet remains lodged in the cat's head. The pellet missed the cat's eye by about 1/8 of an inch.

At this time, I'm not fully aware of the status of the investigation of this incident by law enforcement authorities. I certainly hope that it is taken seriously and pursued with rigor. I will keep you posted.

What We Could Do With $4,300 . . . and what consumers can do when they're lied to

In a comment to my last post, someone mentioned a coworker who had purchased a dog from the Lucky Puppy for $4,300. I have previously not heard of their prices going that high, and I obviously cannot prove that they are getting over four thousand dollars for certain puppies. But just in case they are, let's consider what we could've accomplished with the $4,300 that was (allegedly) spent on that 8-pound "Tea Cup" Yorkie.

-$4,300 could subsidize 50 adult dog adoptions from our shelter.
-With $4,300, we could alter about 170 cats.
-We could treat 29 Heartworm-positive dogs.
-We could run a television ad to raise awareness about pet overpopulation.

You get the picture. $4,300 can do a lot of good. I realize that that $4,300 wouldn't have been ours anyway. How many people who decide not to drop that kind of dough on a puppy will turn around and give it to their local animal shelter instead? Less than one-in-a-million, I'm guessing. So I'll quit daydreaming about windfalls that aren't to be and move on to something more constructive.

I'n the past 18 months, I've talked to several individuals who bought puppies from puppy boutiques and were very upset to learn after-the-fact that the breeder identified on their paperwork was in fact a large-scale commercial dog breeder. Some of these people had gone into the store knowing about puppy mills, but believed the store employees when they assured them that the store did not acquire dogs from such places. Seems to me that lying to a customer who is about to drop a grand for a puppy might constitute "consumer fraud" or "deceptive practices."

Deceptive or unfair business practices and consumer fraud are of great interest to the Attorney General's Office (see http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers/index.html). Anyone who feels that a business in Illinois has been unfair, dishonest, or misrepresented the facts of a transaction, should report their experience to the Attorney General's Office. Here is a simple consumer complaint form: http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers/conscomp.pdf.

Complaints about a business can also be filed with the Better Business Bureau. Here is a link to the Central Illinois BBB: http://heartofillinois.bbb.org/Find-Business-Reviews/#middle-result. I've checked the BBB website and found that no complaints have been filed about the Lucky Puppy Boutique. This despite a number of complaints that have been relayed to me and other people that I know. View the store's listing here: http://www.bbb.org/central-illinois/business-reviews/retail-pet-suppliers/lucky-puppy-boutique-barkery-in-champaign-il-90006518.

If you talk to anyone who was unhappy with a pet-store experience (whether related to the purchase, the contract terms, or negotiating a return), please suggest they do something about it! Filing a report with a local BBB and/or the Attorney General's office isn't difficult.

See also: http://unluckypuppies.blogspot.com to report experiences with the Lucky Puppy Boutique.

Is This a Puppy Mill Dog?

Today a 5-month old puppy was surrendered to our shelter. According to the paperwork that the owner was given when she purchased the dog, the dog is a "Peek-a-chon." (Please keep in mind that this dog has not yet been evaluated for adoptability, and it is premature to start seeking adopters.)

Also according to the paperwork, the dog's breeder was Marsha Cox of Mar-Don Kennel in Chillicothe, Missouri. You can read notes from an investigation of Mar-Don Kennel conducted by the Companion Animal Protection Society in 2007 here: http://www.caps-web.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=169&Itemid=207&report_id=126

You can read direct quotes from USDA Inspection Reports on conditions at Mar-Don Kennel at the following link. (You have to scroll down a bit to find the section on Marsha Cox.) http://www.petstorecruelty.org/USDA%20Violations%20by%20Petland%20breeders.htm

Or, you can read actual USDA inspection reports, here:

http://www.petshoppuppies.com/inspections/43-A-0841_JAN-23-2003.pdf

http://www.petshoppuppies.com/inspections/43-A-0841_JUL-01-2002.pdf

http://www.petshoppuppies.com/inspections/43-A-0841_NOV-26-2001.pdf

Also according to the papers, I have surmised that at some point early in life, this dog was sold by Marsha Cox to Lonewolf Kennels, of Iberia, MO. Lonewolf Kennels is a USDA Licensed Class B dealer. You can read a little something about an investigation of Lonewolf Kennels at this website: http://savepuppymilldogs.com/pow.html (scroll down a little). A video is attached, which shows some auction footage.

The paperwork also shows that the dog surrendered today had been purchased by the relinquisher at the Lucky Puppy store in Champagin.

So you tell me . . . does the Lucky Puppy store obtain dogs from Puppy Mills?

Bo Joins the First Family

Like many other animal-welfare advocates, sure, I'm disappointed that the Obamas didn't adopt a shelter dog. I was already composing pithy ad campaigns in my head: "There's a shelter dog in the White House. Why not yours?"

But at the same time I have to admit, I'm kind of o.k. with First Dog Bo.

The way I see it, once you take inhumane breeders out of the equation, the most important thing to me is not where a person obtains a dog, but that they select a dog wisely so as to minimize the risk that the dog will ever be homeless or cross the threshold of an animal shelter.


I believe there is a such a thing as a responsible breeder. I own two purebred dogs (both formerly homeless) and their breeding is part of what I love about them. They are uniquely athletic, intense, and talented at what they were bred to do. I would not for anything wish for the extinction of these breeds. I am not alone. I know a number of people who have given many years of their lives to dog rescue and advocate for shelter dogs with great passion. Yet they also have a special fondness for a particular breed of dog . . . one that speaks to their soul, or touches their heart, in a way that no other dog does.

The Obamas were looking for a reliable family dog that produces minimal dander. They did some homework and determined that a Portuguese Water Dog would be a good fit. Bo was a PWD in need of a new home because things weren't going well between him and another dog in residence. The Kennedys had purchased a PWD from the same litter and had a relationship with Bo’s breeder (reportedly, Martha Stern, of Texas). The Obamas met the dog, and all went well.

Obviously, the Obamas could have adopted a PWD from a shelter or breed rescue group. Wayne Pacelle, HSUS President, has been quoted as saying that HSUS provided the Obamas with a variety of adoption options.

On the other hand, the Kennedys offered the Obamas a dog whose history was known. Yes, rescue dogs can be great dogs with confidence and a rock-solid temperament. But the truth is, you can’t know all there is to know about a rescue dog until months, or even years (in the case of some genetic issues) down the road.

The First Family needs a dog that is more “bomb-proof” than most. They need a dog that harbors no demons. Bo will have to play well with children, members of the press corps, and heads of state. I realize there are no guarantees with any dog, from anywhere. But it would be dishonest for me to deny the fact that obtaining a dog whose genetics and early history are known lessens the risk that a problem of health or behavior will later arise without warning. Note I said, “lessens” the risk, not “eliminates.”

Dog lovers and animal welfare advocates ought to focus on what the Obamas did right. They delayed getting a dog until a major life transition was completed. They did their homework. They considered Malia’s allergies and all that would be required of this dog before they obtained him. They welcomed a displaced dog into their lives at 6 months of age, when they could have purchased a PWD as an 8-week old pup. It seems to me they did a lot of things right in selecting Bo.

I’ll close with two final points. First, the suggestion that the Obamas should now adopt a second dog from a shelter to make good on their promise to do so is ridiculous. The desire to satisfy ones critics is a poor reason for obtaining a pet. Second, this would have been a different essay entirely had the Obamas obtained their dog from a pet store or any other mass-breeding commercial enterprise.

Myles

This is Myles, a "Welsh Terrier Mix" in his adolescence (we estimate his age at about 15 months).

To answer the reader's question (see comment 4 to the previous post) . . . There is nothing particularly remarkable about Myles' adoption and return. As in many cases, it just wasn't a good match. We still think Myles will make a great pet for someone, which is why he is back up for adoption.

A Terrier in his adolescence has a lot of energy and could easily develop some bad habits if under-exercised and left to his own devices. Wait. What am I saying? Most dogs will make pretty unacceptable choices if we let them do the deciding. After all, these are dogs we're talking about. At the same time, most dogs can learn the rules that make for a happy co-existence with humans, if we take the time and make the effort to teach them.

Anybody interested in adopting a Terrier or Terrier-mix would be wise to do some reading about the breed, if they've never lived with one.

A "perfect" adopter for Myles will be looking for a fun, energetic, effectionate canine companion. Myles will need daily exercise -- probably two long walks and some playtime every day. I would recommend crate-training Myles right away, for two reasons. First, his house-training is probably not rock-solid, and crate training is an excellent tool for house training. (For great tips on house training, you can't beat Patricia McConnell's book, "Way To Go!" It's an easy-to-read, one-issue book and only costs about $6.00. Availabe at CCHS or the CARE Center.) Second, having a dog who is happy to "go settle" in his crate can save your sanity - and your furniture.

Myles' adopters should also understand that he can't be given "run of the house" when they're not at home; at least, not at first. I made this mistake with my very first dog, Spooner, who I adopted as a one-year-old from a Minneapolis shelter in 1991. Spooner didn't have anxiety about being left alone . . . but she also didn't have much experience distinguishing between the things she was allowed to chew and destroy (dog toys) and the things she was not (the comfy chair).

Finally, I think that Myles and his new people (whoever they are) would really benefit from taking a dog training class together. It doesn't have to be anything "serious" -- a simple "canine companion" class would help Myles and his new owner(s) learn to communicate and establish the boundaries of their relationship. Many adopters assure us that they don't need a class because they've raised many dogs, or they "know how" to train a dog. We encourage it nonetheless. In fact, the most knowledgeable and experienced dog owners I know always enroll in a training class when they get a new dog. And, most professional dog trainers do as well!! It's an opportunity to brush up on your skills, learn new techniques, and spend some time interacting with your dog, one-on-one. It's especially good for adopters of adolescent dogs to enroll in training. These dogs are full grown and full of energy, yet they haven't learned impulse control or boundaries. A basic class can make all the difference to a successful transition from rambunctious teen to well-adjusted adult.

One final note on Myles . . . The staff tells me that he doesn't always present himself well while in his kennel at the shelter, but once you get him out and start interacting with him, he is a very likable dog. The Adoptions Staff enjoys spending time with Myles behind the front counter. I'm sure he will be discovered one of these days by his new "forever family."

Sasha Update

Sasha went home on Saturday afternoon and was returned to the shelter less than 24 hours later. While we're very disappointed that it didn't work out, we also realize that, unfortunately, this kind of thing "comes with the territory" when you work in sheltering.

Frequently, when I meet someone who has adopted a pet from CCHS, their story includes the phrase, "the staff tried to talk me out of adopting him." Sometimes, that's actually true. In those cases, the staff is providing the applicant with information in the hope that the applicant will realize that the animal they are considering is not a good match for them. Sure, we could come right out and say, "No, we'll deny your application for Fluffy, please select a different cat." However, by providing the applicant with information upon which to make their own decision against adopting Fluffy, the staff is attempting to avoid hurt feelings and guide the applicant to consider the factors that will lead him/her to select an appropriate animal for their lifestyle.

In many other cases, and particularly in those cases where the adoption goes through and the pet is still in the home years later, the staff was not trying to talk the adopter out of the adoption at all. In these cases, the staff was simply making sure that the adopter was provided with as much information about the animal as possible. Adoptions tend to fail when they are based on unrealistic expectations. Our staff is often in that difficult position of trying to promote and encourage adoptions, while also making sure that each adopter knows what they're getting into. Walking that line is not easy. Sometimes the attempt to ensure that an adopter's expectations are in line with reality comes across as an attempt to discourage the adoption.

So, what happened with Sasha? A number of things happened on the day she went home that made the transition into the adopters' home a little more difficult than we hoped it would be. However, the bottom line is that the adopters didn't quite realize how difficult it would be to manage this young pup's behavior. Pam tried to tell them. The staff tried to tell them. It seems to me that sometimes when people attach to an animal, an impression forms in their mind that is very hard to alter with cautionary tales and factual information. At the same time, I have to admit that Sasha probably showed behaviors at the home that the adopters did not observe at the shelter or with Pam. That is not surprising with a young pup, and especially not with a headstrong one like Sasha. Pam is an experienced dog trainer who knew how to be very consistent with Sasha so that Sasha was starting to learn boundaries and acceptable behavior. She is too young yet to know that "the same rules apply" in all situations.

Sasha's adopters are good pet owners who, no doubt, will make a wonderful home for the right dog. We hope they'll adopt from us again. As for Sasha, we'll keep working on her manners and use what we learned from this experience to help us make a good match. I'll keep you posted.

Some Dogs Are Worth A Little Extra Effort

This is Sasha. Sasha is just about 4 months old. She came in with some littermates, went into foster care, and when she was old enough, went up for adoption at the shelter. A very nice lady adopted her and had great hopes that Sasha would be a companion for many years to come. But, unfortunately, it didn't work out. What could go wrong with such a young pup, you ask? Plenty.

Sasha is not just any pup. She is a handful!! With loads of personality and 'joie de vivre' for days, it would be hard for anyone to keep up with Sasha. And on top of all that energy, Sasha seems to think it's o.k. to grab everything, including human clothes and body parts, with her sharp little puppy teeth. Ouch! You could barely touch this pup without getting caught in her canines. So what were we to do with Sasha?

The adopter had tried hard to make it work. She enrolled in training classes and hired experienced canine behavior consultant, Pam Wasson, for advice. But after giving it a good try, it became apparent that Sasha and she were not meant for each other.

When I learned that Sasha's adoption wasn't going to last, I was worried. I had spoken with Pam and knew that Sasha was a challenging puppy whose behavior might get worse if she moved back to the shelter. We take good care of our animals, but we can't provide them with the type of training and behavior modification that would be required to make Sasha into a good candidate for a successful adoption. Sasha needed an intervention if she was going to turn around, and she needed it NOW.

Lucky for us, and really lucky for Sasha, Pam is a volunteer in our foster program. For purposes of this story, we could call Pam, "Sasha's BFF." Pam agreed to move Sasha home with her. I was relieved! If anyone could convince Sasha that life is better when you behave yourself (and keep your teeth to yourself), it would be Pam.

Pam quickly learned a few more things about Sasha. Sasha sure was a bit of a "bossy pants." And Sasha barked for everything. And, there was that mouthiness and those teeth! But right away it became apparent that Sasha was much easier to train and manage when she had had a big long walk with Pam's dog Bruno. It's always nice to learn that a dog like Sasha is actually capable of settling down and functioning at a more relaxed level . . . it gives you a glimmer of hope. Pam also quickly realized that Sasha is a quick learner who enjoys human interaction and training. She was already house trained (many thanks to her first adopter) and retrieved like a pro! Obviously, Sasha had some really good traits and Pam became highly motivated to address her negatives so that she could go back up for adoption.

Pam and Sasha had their ups and downs. I'd talk to Pam in the morning and she'd tell me what a "good girl" Sasha is. Then we'd talk again in the evening, and she'd say, "Let me tell you what that bad puppy did today!" But progress was being made, and after Sasha had lived with Pam for about a week, Pam started bringing her to the shelter, hoping that she would meet a new family for Sasha. On Wednesday of this week, Sasha started residing at the shelter full time. We set up camp for her behind the front desk. Pam provided explicit instructions for the staff on how to handle Sasha to discourage her mouthiness and encourage good behavior. Everytime I walked by the front desk, someone was working Sasha on her "sits" and "downs," or she was napping! By this afternoon, we were all impressed with Sasha's progress.

By the end of the week we had really great news: Tomorrow Sasha is going to her new home!! She is being adopted by a couple that came to visit her several times at the shelter and discussed Sasha's needs at length with Pam. Pam will have one last meeting with Sasha and her new adopters after they take Sasha home. We couldn't be happier for Sasha and from what I've heard, Sasha's new "parents" are pretty happy too.

Sasha was more difficult than your average pup. She required extra compassion, extra time, extra effort, and extra patience on the part of many staff members and, most of all, her BFF, Pam. Like most of us, Pam works long days and get exhausted. But Pam is an inspiration and I'm grateful to have her as a friend and colleague. I'm grateful to Pam for her energy, her intelligence and insight, and her endless generosity when it comes to helping animals, the people that love them, and our organization. I know what Pam will say when she reads this last paragraph. She'll say, "Yeah, it was exhausting . . . but it was totally worth it."

How can anyone resist this face?

Being a “Humane Society” Is About More Than Being Humane to Animals

Since our print newsletter arrived in mailboxes late last week, I've received some nice comments on the "From the Executive Director" essay. So I thought I would share it here as well:

Being a “Humane Society” Is About More Than Being Humane to Animals

In common parlance, the term “humane society” is understood to refer to an agency that cares for animals. The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word humane as, “having the good qualities of human beings, as kindness, mercy, or compassion.” Humane societies traditionally focus their kindness, mercy, and compassion on animals, rather than humans. Our supporters tend to be people who feel an affinity for animals, and people who don’t feel that affinity support other types of charities.

While our organization’s focus certainly is on animals, it disturbs me a little that the impact we have on the lives of humans is often overlooked or diminished. My first 14 months on the job have shown me that helping animals and helping people are inextricably linked.

Many non-pet owners may not understand how it is that we are helping people. They’ve never spoken on the phone with a widow who is distraught because her failure to manage her dog’s behavior prevents her friends and family from visiting. Nor have they taken the call from the senior citizen whose cat is in dire need of veterinary care that he cannot afford. They’ve never shed tears with a father relinquishing the family pet because he lost his job and can’t afford the expense. It wasn’t until the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina that a broad spectrum of the population saw what happens when pet owners are given the choice of evacuating without their animals or staying in harm’s way with them. At the Shelter, we witness the human-animal bond being threatened and broken routinely. It’s not on the same scale as a natural disaster, but it is no less tragic.

We’re here to help animals. But when you’re consoling a pet owner on the phone, or standing across the intake counter offering a Kleenex, there’s no doubt that you’re in the business of helping people.

Providing spay and neuter services to low-income pet owners is another way that we help people just as much as we help animals. I must admit that our primary motivation for offering these services has been to reduce overpopulation of companion animals. But after working at the two high-volume spay/neuter clinics we held this year, I’m no longer sure that the goal of reducing pet overpopulation should trump the goal of helping low-income pet owners obtain basic veterinary care. Perhaps helping people should not be secondary to our concern for animals; perhaps the two have equal value.

We recently received a thank-you card from a woman who brought her cat to CCHS on Cat Nip/Tuck Day. She expressed her gratitude for the services provided to her cat--the vaccines and the micro chip equally important to her as the surgery. But she didn’t stop there. She went on to explain that experiencing the generosity of Cat Nip/Tuck Day had renewed her belief that there are good people in the world and, since that day, she had started being a kinder person herself. Did we help this woman’s cat? Yes. Did we further our cause of decreasing the cat population? Yes. But arguably the most profound effect was on the cat owner, not the cat.

Perhaps the most important way in which we serve the people of Champaign County is through our interactions with children. Last year, our Humane Educator, Clay Foley, was a guest in several first grade classrooms in the Champaign Unit Four School District. He was invited to those classrooms to assist the teachers in presenting lesson plans that he helped create and that had been accepted into the First Grade Curriculum. We also provide educational experiences for children through the Cunningham Children’s Home, the Juvenile Detention Center, the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum, and the Urbana Free Library. These humane education programs don’t simply teach children facts about animals. They use topics about animals to teach lessons about respect and kindness towards all living things, responsibility, fairness, and caring. The lessons young people learn through these programs will make them good people, not just good future pet owners.

Although our concern for the animals of Champaign County takes top priority and we are driven by a desire to do right by them, we should not be shy about the fact that we also serve the human residents of Champaign County. Humans, too, are deserving of kindness, mercy, and compassion and we live our mission when we extend our humanity to all living beings.

Hope for Smokey

When I pulled up to the shelter this morning, I was so pleased to see Smokey, a gorgeous Husky, jumping onboard of an Eastbound S.U.V.

Smokey had been returned to CCHS by a heart-broken couple who did not feel that they could cope with Smokey's separation anxiety. True Separation Anxiety is a very challenging behavioral problem to deal with and most people who adopt a canine companion are not prepared to handle an issue so intense. (Separation Anxiety rarely shows up when a dog is residing at the shelter, so we have no way of predicting the condition prior to adoption).

With a diagnosis of Separation Anxiety, Smokey's chances for adoption from our shelter were grim, but we couldn't give up on him. Phone calls were made and within a few days, a representative of Northern Lights Sled Dog Rescue came out to meet Smokey. A few days later, the Rescue made a commitment and today Smokey was on his way to foster care. We have our fingers crossed for Smokey and thank the good people with Sled Dog Rescue who have opened their hearts and their homes to this beautiful dog.

We are also grateful to the volunteers who drove Smokey to Indy this morning! It made my Friday morning to know that Smokey was on his way.

Frustrations on a Monday

Trying to reach someone at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations is an exercise in futility! The problem is not that you have to wait on hold, listening to obnoxious music or recorded messages thanking you for your patience. That, I could deal with. The problem is that you get a busy signal! All day long, everytime you call, a busy signal. And it's not due to a freakish system failure. This is just the way it is.

I know this from experience.

Meanwhile, the paper piles on my desk grew larger today, not smaller.

And so it seems like a good time to revisit a favorite poem of mine,

by Dilys Laing:

I put down my book

The Meaning of Zen

And see the cat smiling into her fur

as she delicately combs it with her rough pink tongue.

'Cat, I would lend you this book to study

but it appears that you have already read it.'

She looks up and gives me her full gaze.

'Don't be ridiculous,' she purrs. 'I wrote it.'

Random Notes on a Friday

A busy week comes to an end, and I look forward to spending some quality time with the pets at home. So often I'm not at home, and so often when I am at home my mind is swirling with work-related thoughts. It's hard to let go of the mental "To Do" lists, the ideas for making things better, the planning, strategizing, rehashing and self-judging. Do my dogs and cats know when I'm distracted? Do they feel short-changed when I'm physically present but not fully engaged?

I have this notion that when the weather warms up it'll be easier to make the transition from working to living. If I can come home and play with the dogs in the yard, or dig in the garden a little bit, I'll be able to let go of all that "stuff" and revel in the moment. That's what I look forward to on this Friday in February . . . with another weekend of snow and bitter cold in the forecast.

But, back to my original plan for this post . . . random notes on the week gone by. By the end of this week, we were getting lots of phone calls about a certain little puppy who had been in foster care until a few days ago. Apparently his foster mom had posted his photo on Facebook and sent it to some friends via email. Is this what it means for something to go "viral?" This little puppy's photo sure made an impression on a lot of people. I hope we can generate this kind of buzz for other animals in the future. Of course, this pup is a small mixed breed (Chihuahua/Pug?) and there is always a higher demand for the little dogs.

I'm grateful for two of our most dedicated and stalwart volunteers this week. A long time friend of our organization passed away earlier this month. She didn't have much when she died, but the people responsible for her estate knew that she would want our organization to receive the benefit of any valuable items she left behind, which included quite a large doll collection. H and M gave up an afternoon to sort through the belongings and move the valuable things to storage until our Giant Garage Sale.

Journalism students! This week, we received multiple requests for interviews from journalism students. They all want to report on how the economic downturn is causing more pets to be surrendered to our shelter. It's a compelling topic for sure, but as of this date, we don't have the data to back up any such claim. We have not yet seen an increase in owner-surrenders (compared to the same months in previous years). The top three reasons for relinquishment have always been, "cost," "no time," and "moving." While we've had a handful of relinquishers state that they were recently laid off, we don't have sufficient evidence to claim that more surrenders have been due to financial hardship than in the past. My fingers are crossed that this continues to be the case!

Donation income is actually a bigger concern for me than animal intakes. Our holiday mailer brought in less than we had hoped and when donations dropped off after January first, they dropped LIKE A ROCK. Nevertheless, I'm not going to despair. We had a very productive Development Committee meeting last Saturday and a number of things are in the works. This time of year is always slow for donation revenue.

To wrap up on a happy note . . . Boogie went home this week! I envision her curled up on the sofa with her new adoring people.

Now It's Chloe's Turn

It was nice to see Chloe behind the front desk this afternoon. Like Charlie, Chloe has been with us since October. Today she was eager to greet anyone who came up to the counter. Chloe was clearly having a blast today--playing with toys and enjoying the attention she received from staff and volunteers.

A Blue Dot for Charlie

I'm delighted that my first post on "More Blue Dots" is to celebrate Charlie's good fortune. Charlie, an adolescent mixed-breed dog, nearly black in color, had been at our shelter since October. At the end of last week, Charlie left the shelter for his new home with his new family. Our staff and volunteers had come to know Charlie quite well and we're all so very happy for him now.

Good luck, Charlie! I hope you have a long and wonderful life.