Humorist/Journalist/Author Bill Geist and his wife recently adopted a terrier mix and here is the report he filed for CBS Sunday Morning. For better or worse, it’s quite an accurate portrayal of what one goes through when bringing home a four legged friend…
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Martha Speaks
I have been a dog person since I can remember. My parents had a rescued Sheltie Shepherd mix named Foxy when I was born- one of father’s fraternity brothers from PENN (who he incidentally had dinner with this week) had found the dog after the 1971 earthquake and somehow convinced my parents, neither of whom had ever had a dog, to adopt him.
Foxy was awesome- smart, playful and ever-patient as I am sure I was not exactly a gentle or delicate kid. He along with the Woody–the puppy we got when I was 3– were my constant companion as a child. From that point on I was just drawn to all things dog…particularly dog rescue.
Kids & Dogs
But for normal kids how do they find out about rescue… what happens at a shelter… how to treat and properly care for dogs?
Today the answer is most likely an amazing show on PBS called Martha Speaks. The series and the books follow a family dog who eats alphabet soup and gains the ability of human speech. In addition to its mission of vocabulary development–always a good thing– the series aims to educate children 4-to-7 about shelter animals, and inform families on pet ownership and responsibility.
I love this show, and I’m particularly excited about its new season premieres on September 14th. Over the course of the new episodes, viewers will see a two-part episode that further explores Martha, the title character’s days as a shelter dog and other new episodes that present strong anti-littering/pet safety messages in a way that is accessible to kids. Here is a preview of the episode airing today
A woman named Susan Medaugh created Martha Speaks. The idea behind came one day over lunch with her then-seven-year-old son when he asked what would happen if he fed their family dog his alphabet soup. From there Meddaugh has educated and inspired so many kids and families about dogs. She is truly a role model for me. I hope the work I do with my book (The Complete Single’s Guide To Being A Dog Owner, Adams Media 2009) and this blog might make even a fraction if the impact she has had on helping to protect and cherish the dogs of this world!
Be sure to tune to your local PBS affiliate (even if you don’t have kids) today, September 14th!
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Ben Stein is far more than just a brilliant economist, writer, and icon of Pop Culture. He is also a dedicated animal lover and supporter of rescue work here is Los Angeles and around the world. Watch this video, listen to his message and hug your dogs! In this tough economic time, the love of a dog goes a long way…
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Yesterday I wrote about Bo Obama- the girls named him Bo– and referred to him as a rescue dog. I actually struggled with whether I should add the words “sort of” at the end of that statement. Ultimately I left it off and now I regret it.
While Bo was given back to the breeder, something that happens a lot with puppies (FYI a sign of a good breeder is whether or not they will take a dog back, so I am at least grateful that they found a decent ethical breeder) I realize that I don’t think their bringing Bo into the White House is in sync with what was promised– that they would rescue a dog. Sorry, but no matter how much I have been behind Obama, I can’t quite buy that a dog from The Kennedy’s chosen breeder should be consider a rescued dog.
Reports indicate that The Obamas will donate to the Humane Society, but to me actions speak louder than words, and in this case money. The donation is a consolation prize and while a nice sentiment, it will be but a blip on the Obama dog radar. Rather Bo will be around for a long time, and people will think in order to get a good, worthy dog they must get a breeder dog.
And lest anyone claim it was an issue of allergies, there are hundreds of dog dying in shelters around the country every day who are just as hypo-allergenic as Bo Obama.
I am sad and extremely disappointed in the example The Obamas are setting.
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According to news reports the Obama’s long awaited dog is on its way to the White House!
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It’s incredibly hard to know about an animal in need and or about to be put down and not do something about it. And some rescuers simply can’t say no. They become unable to create boundaries; venturing into what’s called hoarding or collecting. The distinction between these two scenarios is subtle, but generally hoarders become unable to care for their dogs while collectors maintain adequate hygene and care–but far from what a dog needs.
Schnauzer Poodle Mix at Collector
A rescue group I work with, Lhasa Happy Homes was called to help the nephew of one such collector deal with more than 80 dogs and 120 cats that his ailing aunt has in her “care”. The aunt recently had a stroke, and is now incapcitated leaving the close-to-200 animals in jeopardy.
There are Labs, Huskies, Poodle mixes, Pomeranians, you name it and they are all in desperate need of homes and or help. They have been relatively well cared for, and most are well socialized and all things considered are pretty healthy.
Click the picture to see some of the cuties and if you’re interested visit Lhasa Happy Homes or email them at lhasahappyhomes@aol.com.
To understand more about collecting, click here.
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In writing The Complete Single’s Guide to Being a Dog Owner, one of my goals is to take at least a tiny step in bridging the gap between rescuers and potential adopters. There are tons of dogs for adoption, tons of rescuers and tons of people wanting dogs, yet the adoption process can be challenging to say the least, and I hear about it from both sides…a lot.
Available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Border's
Potential adopters complain of difficult rescuers, and frustrating, dead-end, even sometimes demoralizing adoption processes and yet I also know the plight of rescuers. So along with the book, I am starting a series in my blog of DOG RESCUE FAQs; common questions about rescue answered to help both rescuers and adopters communicate more effectively. Because remember, it’s the rescue dogs who suffer when communications break down.
Applications serve many functions including creating a record of where the dog goes and to whom. But an equally important function the application process is to weed out less than serious potential adopters. If you’re not willing to put the effort into filling out an application, then what other somewhat-inconvenient things are they not willing to do? Having a dog is wonderful, but it is also a series of responsibilities; the first of which is filling out that application! Now that said, I know applications can be annoying. So if you’re filling out many applications, keep an electronic copy of your previously filled out answers; in case questions are the same from one app to the other, you can cut and paste your responses.
Rescuers do home checks not because they are nosy, but rather to make sure your home is dog ready. Many of the dogs we end up with have been runaways in the first place. Rescuers look for potential escape routes regular people probably wouldn’t notice, and they also look for other hazards- poisonous plants and or the precarious placement of precious items a new dog might knock over- dogs are often given back for destroying things. And finally, one big reason they do home checks is because sadly, people lie on their applications… a lot. They say their yard is fenced, it’s not. They say they live in a house; it’s a studio apartment. They say live alone; they live with their parents who are actually allergic and hate dogs. So it’s nothing personal against you; it’s usually a blanket protection policy.
Rescue applications often ask for your date of birth because, while age is not always a perfect indicator of where you personally are at in life, certain life stages are more condusive to raising a dog than others. Hello I just finished a book dedicated to helping younger, single people care for their dogs. So, if anyone does, I know young single people can be great dog owners. But it’s not always easy. Rescuers get so many younger people turning in dogs because they can’t handle or afford it. However, by communicating what it is about you that would make you better suited to care for a dog for the long term– you are in a stable job, or have the support of your family, or own your house, or will get pet insurance, and or you would live in your car rather than give up your dog– you will have a better shot transcending the age bias of some rescuers.
On the other end of the spectrum, rescuers are also a bit reticent to adopt a very young dog to older owners because while older owners can make the commitment and spend lots of a time with a dog now, dogs live 10-15 years and rescuers want to make sure that dog is taken care of for the rest of its life. To deal with this problem, I always encourage older owners to demonstrate what they would do with a dog in case they encounter an unexpected health problem. This can be a simple as providing contact information for who would take the dog in case of emergency or some dog owners even write out wills!
So that’s the first of my DOG RESCUE FAQs! I hope you find these helpful. I’d love to hear from you if you have a burning dog rescue question!
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Ranger
Last week my best friend Nell– we went to high school together–was perusing Adopt-A-Pet dreaming about getting a dog (she has wanted a dog but timing hasn’t been right) when she realized oh, I could look for a dog for Betsy; like an anorexic girl baking for her fat friend she dove in looking for the perfect dog for me (in this scenario I’d be the fat friend and she the anorexic- get it?)
Knowing that I wanted another Labbie, Nell sent me the profiles of three dogs- Adopt-A-Pet has a very easy way to share a pet’s profile. She sent a profile for a yellow lab, and two black ones. For some reason- I say divine intervention- only one came through and that was for an Adult Yellow Lab Named Phoenix who was up for adoption through one my favorite rescue groups: Molly’s Mutts & Meows. Okay, so with a friend’s group, good with cats, kids, dogs and on and on. He was so perfect it just couldn’t be real. And yet it was.
While I am friends with Molly, I also know rescues have rules and bylaws. It’s what makes them function and I respect and admire that. Besides, having been the one reading applications for mastiff rescue, I hated people who would not take the time to fill out an application. Just sending in a note saying I’d like to adopt so and so, doesn’t really impress rescuers. If you won’t sit down and do it, what else are you not willing to put effort into. So I immediately– and I mean immediately filled out the application. I wasn’t going to let anything get in the way of me getting this dog!
By the way though (good English, right?) being on the adoptee end of things for once in my dog life, I have a new perspective on how crappy it is to fill these things out and then never hear back from anyone, or worse be rejected. The apps ask all sorts of personal questions for good reason (so that the dogs don’t end up back in bad situations similar to the ones they came from) but for the potential adoptee putting some of that stuff on paper to be judged by a nameless faceless entity is kind of creepy and off putting. And to make everyone feel better I, who is arguably the craziest dog person ever, seem to have been rejected or at least passed up on by French Bulldog Rescue. Of course I’m glad that happened now, as I now have Ranger the Perfect one. But last week, I was a mess. I likened it to sending a Match.com prospect a picture of myself in a bathing suit and waiting for a call back. My mind went wild with rejection scenarios and I knew that it was probably a clerical thing, or that they weren’t interested in me because I rent. (Rescuers often prefer to adopt to homeowners because, well before toxic mortgages at least, homeowners were less likely to have to give up a dog due because they couldn’t find a place that took dogs) but it sucked nonetheless.
Anyway, I digress from Ranger (formerly Phoenix). Did I mention that he is perfect?
Thankfully I was able to be in touch with Molly’s group soon after submitting my application and we set up a meeting at the adoption Saturday. Andre (boyfriend) was out of town for the weekend so my mom and Dad came for support. My Dad is my number rescue supporter and fan and was eager for me to get Ranger. We arrived at least 30 minutes before we needed to, just to make sure no one else could stand in my way!
Thankfully we were the first ones there, even before Ranger arrived. There was another great dog there; a petit Aussie Mix with a gorgeous coat and a wonder demeanor who loves kitties, named Cheyenne. Seriously she is edible, and anyone looking for a great dog should check her out. But something in me said Ranger (then Phoenix) was my guy. Watch a Video of sweet Cheyenne below! 
But back to Ranger… about 15 minutes after we arrive, he came barreling into the park with his foster mom
He’s shorter than Bella was, and he’s built like a fireplug. 62 lbs of muscle and kisses wearing a big cone on his head (to keep him away from his recent neuter and the stitches on a cut he has on his foot); the goofy guy just made me smile and my parents melt.
Ranger with Me, My Mom & Dad and his foster Kelly!
I filled out the paperwork and followed the appropriate rescue procedures and away we went.
I miss my Bella sooooo much that I still burst into tears at least once or twice a day, particularly when someone sees me with him instead of her for the first time, but having Ranger around makes things quite a bit better. It’s a weird transition though; full emotion ranging from sadness over the loss of my girl and then guilt that I shouldn’t be loving another creature. But I guess that’s the price you pay for loving your dogs as much as i do, and I’m willing to pay it.
Thank you Nell; I love that this dog came from you and to Kelly (Ranger’s Foster Mom), Molly (Molly’s Mutts and Meows) and Karen Perkins (Fetching Companions Lab Rescue) who has been my rock through this whole process of losing Bella and finding Ranger.
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Five years ago my good friend Emily was on her way to school at USC when she saw a dog lying on the side of the street, under a freeway overpass. He’d clearly been hit by a car. Being dog lover, she stopped to see what she could do. With almost no help from anyone else- sadly people were literally stepping over the dog going about their business- Emily scooped him up and put him in her car. In a panic, she called me and within the hour we met at the California Animal Hospital trying to save his life.
Photo of Rusty that we sent to Dean
Coincidentally my family had lost our beloved dog Byron that very morning, and while our hearts were mourning the loss of Byron, we felt that it was Kismet finding this sweet guy. Now all we had to do is make sure he survived his injuries. After a few days in intensive care, the dog, now named Rusty made a miraculous recovery and came home to live with my parents.
After living on the streets for what must have been a while, Rusty had get over some anxieties and make some adjustments as he became a spoiled Rosenfeld dog. Rusty had never seen stairs before, had never seen his reflection in a mirror and even to this day he refuses to walk on anything but carpet. (In fact we have lovely runners throughout my parents house to accomodate his fear) But with lots of love from my parents and a few sessions with a great trainer, Rusty has now become the son my father never had.
I might be jealous if I didnt’ find it so adorable. Rusty is so connected to my father. Rusty sits and waits for him to get home, and won’t leave his side from the minute he walks in the front door until he goes to sleep.
So for my father’s birthday last year, I was lucky enough to have the most wonderful artist named Dean Russo create a Doggie Portrait of Rusty. He took the picture above and within a very short amount of time, and for a very affordable price, he created this…
Amazing Painting of Rusty (ink/acrylic on canvas)
Isn’t that amazing????? My Dad was over the moon about it, and he has proudly hung it in his study.
Dean’s work is not only gorgeous, but Dean has a huge heart. He donate his work to raise money for animal rescues on a regular basis.Go to his site, www.deanrusso.com and find out about how easy it is to get your dog’s portrait in living color!
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Click here to watch a sweet video about the rescue story of an adorable Airedale Terrier puppy named Oscar!
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