Learning to love goodbyes

I'll start on a really high note: Angus found his forever home!!! (So did a few others...but his is so very exciting to me...more on that to come)

Last week was a crazy week.  I didn't end up getting in to walk dogs on Wednesday, as per the norm, because Ty got in a [thankfully] minor crash on his motorcycle that morning, and it kind of put the day into a totally different schedule.  I am very grateful for the fact that he wears the appropriate safety gear, and would remind any other motorcyclists to ALWAYS do the same...he went down less than a mile from our house.


Anyway...off that soapbox.


Friday was a great day though.  I spent some time with Noel.  Remember the cute little face, oh so sad, that greeted me on orientation day?  Well, she's still there, and still as cute as ever.

She was very focused on the treat in my hand, and I was very pleased that her paws were all down, so I wasn't able to capture the grin that she has developed in the last few weeks.  


I also spent some extra time with Zander.  He's having some struggles out at the Okay Corral...he is a barker, and they try really hard to minimize that out there.  Get one going, and let it go, and before you know it...well, 10 dogs barking at the same time is just the beginning.  As soon as he's out of that kennel though, Zander is just a big old mushball...he's not nearly as interested in walking as he is laying on your lap and being fed treats...so we try to get a little bit of both of those things done.

Saturday brought some good updates...Merlin the boxer found a forever home!  A number of the little guys have as well...January's adoption numbers are quite high, thanks in part to the special that EHS has on adult animals.


I got to meet another great lab mix, Hunter.  I thought I was in for a challenge when I first took him out, as he almost pulled away from me...however, there was actually a reason!  Hunter is housebroken, and as such, reallllllllly needed to go to the bathroom.  As soon as he had taken care of his business, he trotted along, right at my hip.  He is a big boy, or rather, will be, as he could use to gain a few pounds.

 He is very sweet, and one of those awesome dogs that will do just about anything for a treat.


The highlight of Saturday, though, was the hour-plus that I spent with Angus.  He was having a tough day...he's had a few of those lately.  There are more noisy dogs out at the Okay Corral than what I've seen in my few weeks, and Angus seems to be stressed out by that.  Angus stressed equals Angus drooling...and he looked like Hooch from Turner and Hooch when I got to him.  I took him out for some ball time, and some love time.  When we got to Mark's Park, the Jolly Balls were out (Jolly Balls are huge...they're usually used as a horse toy).  I've not seen Angus with these before, and it was HILARIOUS.  Both of the balls had holes in them, so he could get a good grip on them.  I would kick one across the pen, he'd barrel over to get it, and run right over it in his eagerness to play.  Then, he'd pick it up, and shake it like crazy.  The best part, though, was when he stuck his head in one...not his muzzle, not his top jaw, his WHOLE head...and then proceeded to run around like a big dork...straight into me.  We played like this for about a half an hour, then Angus was actually played out...he stopped bringing the ball back and instead just laid on it.  So, we vacated the park for another dog, and went for some cuddling time.  Angus laid right in my lap, and we sat that way, relaxing together, for another half and hour or so.

I also took him to Good Citizen class on Saturday, which was awesome to see.  It is so cool that so many people are willing to work with dogs over and over to help them learn their manners.  It was also really great to see certain dogs interacting/ignoring each other.


I snuck in an extra day this week...Sunday was a community outreach at PetSmart in Escondido.  I took Angus.  He spent 3 hours lounging in my lap.  Mike, another volunteer, had Murphy.  Murphy was picture perfect, and anyone who came to say hi, well, he offered a paw for a shake.  I hope it will lead to him finding a forever home soon.  Noel was there as well, and she was trying her darndest to get everyone's treats.  The coolest thing to see, though, was Joy.  Out of the shelter, she was a completely different dog.  No pulling, no planting her paws, no barking...just a big, cuddly lap pit bull.  I'm not sure we'll get any adoptions from that event, but it was great visibility for the shelter.


As I brought Angus back to the shelter, a family was coming out of the dog area.  They were asking a few questions about a dog, and I leaned in: "If you guys want to meet an amazing dog, the big boy I just put back is it."  They would have never met him; they had already picked a few to interact with and were headed back to the lobby.  However, they walked around to Angus' kennel, and I gave them as much information as I could.  It felt great, and I could tell that they appreciated how much I had to give on him.  They had their three year-old and chihuahua with them for interaction, and went to go "try out" Angus first.  I left before they got out there, but later last night, I jumped on the EHS website, and Angus was gone!  I confirmed this morning...a forever home for my big old BlackAngusSteak dog.  It was an awesome kind of sad to feel...I knew I wouldn't likely see him again, but I knew he was with a home that he would love.


Today, Lena was gone also...YAY!  We're hoping this one stays...she's been returned once.  I played with Polly today for a while...she is such a goofy-looking dog, but is so amazingly sweet.  She launches herself around Mark's Park.  She'll run from one end to the other, then jump up onto whatever stand is nearest to you so that she can give a slobbery kiss, get a treat and some rubs, then takes off again.

I had to put both pictures in; the first you can see what I was talking about with her eyes and underbite, but the second shows you her adorable smile...she is just such a happy dog.  I hope that someone will look beyond her initial oddness to take her home soon; over one hundred days is a long time for such a loving dog to be in the shelter.

I also got to play with Alex today.  He is the cute pup I met at training that literally bounds his way around...I don't know that his front legs actually bend (they do, he just doesn't feel the need to; he PRANCES!).  Alex and I had a great walk, then cuddle time, then some Mark's Park craziness.  This big little guy needs a home soon; he is so very stressed by going back in that he drops to his belly and slides along...he doesn't fully plant, because he can tell that you want him to go, and he is SO eager to please, but it takes some work to get him to his kennel.  I hope that the friend I'm sending this week will be a good match...I'll update you all on that as soon as I know!

I am out of town this week, and as such, do not get as much time with the pups.  Saturday will be my next walking day, and I hope to find some more relieved "sadness" in the absence of dogs who have found forever homes.

For your viewing pleasure:

Noel
Zander
Hunter
Polly
Alex

Rain, Rain, Go AWAY!

It seems the rain messes with everyone's routines, including mine blogging!  It has been a unique and rewarding last few days.

Friday was the calm before the storm; a gorgeous sunrise, a calm morning, and plenty of exercise and love for the pups.  It was my first full walk with Murphy, and again, I cannot reiterate how amazing this big boy is.  He has warmed up so very much since I first met him.  He has quickly become a favorite among the women volunteers, and the men that are calmly working with Murphy on his own terms are saints.  I know I have mentioned his size, but as we were enjoying some quite cuddling on Friday, I snapped this comparison:

  
I know I have small hands, but still...holy cow!  Murphy has so much love to give, and I am thrilled to see him warming up and sharing it, both with those he is comfortable around, and with those who make him nervous.  Murphy is a constant reminder of second chances, forgiveness, and the will to do your best.  I know that men make him nervous; you can see an immediate change in him.  However, he cautiously pushes himself, almost hoping for the best in everyone.  It is so magical to see his reaction when that faith is rewarded, and the male volunteers show him that not all men in his life will be bad.

After walking Murphy, I spent some more time with Angus the ball dog.  Here was one of my most challenging moments so far.  Angus and I have an understanding...he knows I will throw the ball, but he knows that I will ask him to follow some guidelines in return.  As such, he now joyfully runs back to wherever I wait, drops the ball, sits, and waits for me to throw it again.  I make sure that he is rewarded with as many good throws and behind-the-ear scritches as I can give.  Friday, though, our time was cut short.  Angus is now attending the Canine Good Citizen class.  The volunteer that is working with him requested to take some time practicing with Angus, after he and I had already begun our adventures in Mark's Park.  This does not bother me at all; I am thrilled to see that she cares so much as to want to help him learn as much as she can.  My challenge was that Angus did not want me to leave.  Even when the other volunteer had a ball in one hand, and a big, juicy treat in the other, Angus kept trying to follow me out of Mark's Park.  She tried throwing the ball for him and having me "sneak" away, but as he came running back and saw me outside of the gate, he dropped his ball and stood there watching me.  "He really loves you!!" she shouted at me.  It was so hard to walk away.

This was an eye-opener for me in relation to my cautions and worries about volunteering.  Here I was, thinking I was going to be so attached as to be begging to bring a dog home, and instead, I'm finding a dog attaching to me.  Angus is a good boy, but he cannot come home with me.  I know my little pack, and Carlie would not really do too well with his ball-loving self, and Edward gets "short dog syndrome" around boys that are a lot bigger than him.  So what can I do?  I suppose the solution is in the balance...it is just as important for me to give my time and love to all the dogs; not just the ones that readily return it.  My other take from this is that all volunteers are different, but bring love in their own ways.  For Angus, my goofiness in running all over Mark's Park with him, throwing the ball and then moving myself as if to trick him, well, that just clicks with his sense of fun.

This concept was reinforced on Saturday morning for me in the opposite direction, as I found myself with a shivering chihuahua sitting in my lap that refused to walk on her own...but I'll get to that in a minute.

Saturday the rain began.  And so did "Rain Protocol".  The dogs are brought out for a quick potty break, then put in crates next to their kennels while the staff cleans.  Instead of the change of scenery that the Okay Corral provides, it's just a crate.  Very few of the dogs are pleased with that disruption of the routine.  Once all of the dogs have gotten a quick potty break, we start the walking.  However, because of the rain, volunteers have to stay close to the building (in case of sudden downpour) on their walks.  Also, the interaction areas and Mark's Park are only for sitting under cover.  Muddy dogs are a tremendous difficulty for the staff at the Humane Society, so they have this rain protocol for volunteers to aid in keeping the mess down.  The final portion of this is that there is a lot more structure and order to taking the dogs back in.  The kennel staff are cleaning, so often, a dog gets put in a different kennel temporarily, and the volunteer leader coordinates with them on which dogs come out when.  Not as flexible as a sunny day at all, but I understand the reason why.

"Rain Protocol" is the reason Alice ended up in my lap.  She is a little brindle chihuahua, and was scared of the sound of the rain on the tarps overhead.  I ended up sitting on the ground, with her in my lap, shivering.  Here is where I reflected on what I had learned with Angus.  There are volunteers a-plenty that prefer the small dogs.  They know how to put them at ease, how to get them to play, and how to hold them (a lot of them want to be held...all the time...).  I am not one of those.  Small dogs such as Alice frustrate me...I have always viewed them as large rodents that are very noisy.  But as I sat there with Alice, I paused for a new perspective.  She had needs for affection as well, just with a different approach from the big, snuggly pit bulls.  Next thing I knew, I was sitting on the ground, and Alice had climbed up onto my lap, curled into a ball, and stopped shivering.  Every one of those dogs has their own unique personality.  I have always lumped the small dogs into a category that forces them into a certain expectation, while allowing the bigger dogs to have their own set of needs, wants, and likes.  Alice taught me that little dogs might not be too different, as she pushed her little head into my very delicate behind-the-ear scritches.  She also taught me that I should be taking pictures of all these dogs, as I didn't get one of her and she was adopted out, so I cannot show you the little pup that taught me such a big lesson.

The bulk of my Saturday morning was spent with my "bubblehead" Zander.  This big boy is also a volunteer favorite, for his affection "cup" runneth over.  I have learned that he is significantly more interested in cuddling and treats than walks.  Saturday, we did a quick potty walk, then spent almost 45 minutes sitting under the eaves, with endless petting for Zander.  He and I worked on "down" for a lot of that time, until Zander finally laid down, put his head on my lap (nose just inches from the treat bag) and gave a huge sigh.  I could almost hear him say "How about I just lay here and you put the treats straight into my mouth?"  So that's what we did.  Thank goodness my treat bag has so many kibbles in it; I didn't feel nearly as guilty about giving him that much kibble as I would have if it were, say, biscuits!!

Sunday is normally an off day for me.  This week, though, Heather put out an urgent call for extra hands on Sunday morning, as they did not have enough walkers.  There was a break in the rain, so dogs would actually get some walking time.  I was only there for about an hour, but got in some great ball chasing with Angus, some extra snuggles with Zander, and a quick walk with Lena.

Today was back to the rain routine, even though the showers hadn't started yet.  I got to spend some time with Polly.  I have to laugh at Polly's description on the EHS site.  Polly is a special dog, with a very unique look.  She's a pit mix, but her eyes are a little offset from the "standard", and her bottom jaw is smaller, resulting in an overbite look.  Neither of these things get in her way, healthwise, but I know that they are a big part of the reason that Polly has been at EHS for over 125 days.  As an owner of a googly-eyed dog whose tongue regularly sticks out of his mouth, seemingly beyond his own control, well, I have a special place in my heart for dogs like this.  Especially when midway through our walk, Polly showed me her "sit", and then upon receiving her treat, rolled onto her back for belly rubs.  She could not get enough. 

   
Polly is an amazing dog; she walks very nicely, is a champ in the Canine Good Citizen class, and loves the other dogs (additional plus: she ignores the cats that we walk by every morning).  She has such a big heart, and really needs to find a special place with someone who will see her looks as just another loveable feature of this amazing girl.

I also got to spend time with another little dog today, who was a good reminder of what Alice had taught me on Saturday.  Skipper is not at all like Alice.  He is a little bit older, and a little more independent; he is quite content not to cuddle, but instead to take a slow easy walk with his nose more or less glued to the ground.  He is eager to take in every thing that he can smell, but not in any sort of rush to do so.  

Finally, a dog that I know will be gone as soon as he is recovered from his altering: Merlin.  Merlin is a big boy, but is so amazingly well-behaved.  He walked right next to me for the potty walk, then sat with his head on my lap for some snuggles before he went in for surgery today.  Because Merlin looks like a dog that people recognize (boxer), he will probably get adopted fairly quickly.  That's purely my opinion, but I have seen two beagle mixes and a basset hound mix find their way out within just a few days.  Merlin's a sweetie, and will be a good companion for anyone who knows how much love a boxer can give.  I learned that with my sister's boxer, Brock.  They are so playful and loving...and if Merlin is anything like Brock, they love sleeping in!

These amazing dogs continue to impress me.  I am trying to take as much from each of them as I can.  And I cannot wait to see more of them find forever homes.


Here is everyone's info on EHS:


Murphy
Angus
Zander
Polly
Skipper
Merlin

More empty kennels, please!

I had to update today...it was definitely a good day!  When I arrived, Heather, the lead, was coming out of the shelter with a huge smile on her face.  "Six empty kennels!!!" she exuberantly shouted to me.  

Mary Ellen came over and gave me a big smile as well...she explained that they will head into a slower period for the next 6-8 weeks, and then the kittens and puppies show up.  But between Monday and today, there were a number of adoptions.  One of the great ones to report: Michelle found a forever home!  I knew it wouldn't take too long; she was such a cute little girl.  But as scared and in need of love as she was, I am so glad that she was not there today.  (Betty, Beatrice, and Star have all been adopted as well)

But, there were also some new faces today.  One of them was Lena, and that was who I spent time with today.  Lena is a big, fluffy mix of who knows what.  My theory is she's an Australian/German Shepherd mix.  Lena was very nervous; today was her first day moved over to adoptions from the Animal Control facility.  I volunteered to take her out on a walk to see what we could learn about her.  She has a green dot for "easy" status, but was pulling quite a bit.  I decided to take her over to Mark's Park for some off-leash time, because it seemed like she wanted to run.

I was wrong.  As soon as she was off-leash, Lena bounded a few steps away, then nervously came back to me.  This continued for a few minutes, even as I walked around the space.  At most, she got about 20 feet away, then came sprinting back and nuzzling my leg.  Her tail was never tucked, so she didn't seem frightened, she just really wanted some people time.

So that's what we did.  We walked a little bit, and after those few minutes in Mark's Park, Lena was right by my side...almost no pulling.  We went to the picnic tables in the clearing, and that's where I discovered that upon scratching, Lena's butt will walk itself.  Let me explain...."booty scritches", as we call them at home, are small, medium-pressure scratchy-rubs right above the tail.  My dogs love them...I think it mimics a flea bite in some ways, because Edward often flea bites my arm when I give them to him.  So I try them out on a lot of dogs; most love it.  Lena was one that "love" does not cover.  When I began scritching, her hind legs and rear end started making their way closer to me, even though her front half wasn't really moving.  It was hilarious.  And when I stopped, Lena dropped to her back and smiled, hoping for some belly rubs.  I delivered, of course.  So we continued in this pattern for about five minutes.  It was tremendously fun for both of us, I must say.

It was this interaction that makes me believe she's got some Aussie in her.  She is so people oriented, but not towards quite everyone yet.  You can tell she's an Aussie trying to find her family, and as loyal and loving as that breed can be, she seems confused without it.  I hope that Lena will find a home quickly, because she strikes me as a fish out of water without one.  As a side note, I used to think that no dog could have a fluffier tail than Edward, until we got Carlie.  Then I thought, no fluffier tail than Carlie's.  I have been proven wrong once again:

That thing is amazing!

I also got to spend some more time with Joy today.  She's such a lover, and all of the volunteers know it.  She also works all of us...she will offer her belly for rubs to anyone and everyone that will look her way...and we all stop to give them if our hands are free.  I truly hope that she can find a pit-friendly home that will give her the love and devotion that she deserves.

Lena can be found on the EHS website here.

Joy is still up there, found here.

As a reminder, EHS has a special through January on adult animals: $25 adoption fee. 

Settling In

I apologize for the lapse...I think my aim will be to update at least once a week, though I know it will be best if I can more often, especially for locals to San Diego, since I'm "featuring" pups.

Saturday I was set to go to the Canine Good Citizen class, which is a little bit later than I usually go in.  I had committed to showing up at 8, but sure enough, I was up before the sun again (without an alarm, even!) and figured I'd go for the early stuff.

Saturday was a gorgeous day, and I'm glad for that.  Sad to say, EHS does not have evening walks on Friday and Saturday nights, so the pups are raring to go when you get in the following mornings, as most have not been on a long walk since the prior morning.  This was challenging to see on one main level for me.  Several of the pups are house-trained...and they view their kennels as "inside", so don't generally do their business in there.  Unfortunately, on Saturday (and Sunday) mornings, it's usually been too long for those guys to hold it.  I cannot express to you the look of shame that most of the house-broken pups have when you walk up and they haven't been able to hold it.  It's pretty heartbreaking.  But, they also show a completely different level of joy when you take them out...off the charts!

Saturday was a great day, that start aside.  Because I didn't have to get back to go to work, I got two walks in...and they were longer play times than normal.  First up was Joy.  Joy is a pink-nose pit, and is pretty special.  She has a collapsed trachea, so cannot be walked on a collar, and is also on a no-treat plan right now.  This poses a big challenge, as the easiest way I've found to coax most of the dogs where I want them is with a few well-timed kibbles.  Luckily for me, Joy is almost as happy with a belly rub as some of the others are with treats.

We took our time wandering around the grounds.  We did the big walk loop, and then went into one of the interaction areas.  Joy went nuts as soon as the leash was off...I have never seen a pit bull corner so fast, nor so low to the ground!  I swear, she was doing her best imitation of drifting around that pen!  Finally, we settled on a bench for some cuddles...most of the volunteers know and love Joy, because she will stay as pictured below for as long as you are willing to keep petting her:

Joy brought exactly what her name says in every moment we shared together.

Next up was Mimi Swee Swee.  Yes...a thoroughly ridiculous name.  Very few of the volunteers call her by her full name; everyone pretty much just knows her as "Mimi".  But, if the "Swee" is short for "sweet", it becomes a significantly less ridiculous name, because that is exactly what Mimi is.  She's a big girl, but so amazingly gentle...even with her treats!  You can tell she's excited, and the first treat, she sort of leaped after, but after one reminder, she was so patient and careful.  Mimi walks perfectly.  She is so very treat-oriented that it is incredibly simple to distract her from other dogs, birds, you name it...just show that big face a treat, and she goes straight to sitting and watches your every move (with some chop-licking, of course!)

Mimi loves playing with rope toys...she shakes and shakes and shakes...but doesn't really tug.  As soon as you ask for it, she'll bring you the toy, and when you've got a hand on it, one firm "Drop" will get her to do just that.  Mimi and I played fetch with that thing for almost 20 minutes...stopping only for some snuggles.  She reinforces for me the love that pits can share...a few scritches under the collar and she was in heaven!!


I didn't end up going to the class on Saturday.  I was having way too much fun just playing...I will be attempting to do so in the future though.  One thing that struck me on Saturday was the different group of volunteers.  During the week, it has been a small group, maybe 6-7 each morning.  Saturday there was a small army.  It was so wonderful to see.  It also became apparent to me that, while I might really enjoy the class, it's 9:30am time is a little more palpable for some volunteers on a Saturday morning than the 7:00 herding to the Okay Corral.  So, I may just continue with that.  We'll see...this is about where the need is, and not about what I think I want to do.


Today was an interesting challenge.  It rained overnight in Escondido, but thankfully was not raining this morning.  Had it been, the routine shifts a bit, and the dogs get less time out, since the Okay Corral isn't really equipped for a lot of rain.  I brought coffee for everyone; I figured on a cold, wet morning, it would be a good way to warm up some already warm hearts.


There were more volunteers than I was expecting today...the rain doesn't create chaos in all of San Diego County, apparently!  We had the dogs out pretty quickly, so I had time for two quick walks.  I first got to take out Zander, one of the bigger boys.  He was quite the character...I don't think he got farther than a foot away from my treat bag, even when we went into Mark's Park!  It made for a new challenge in walking...Zander didn't pull ahead; he turned into my hip every few feet, sticking his nose towards my treat bag!  About ten minutes into this, I realized I could probably get him to go forward a little bit better if I put a treat in my hand, and held it in front of his nose, and sure enough, we got forward progress!  Zander is also a big loveable, cuddler.  We spent some quality time with pets and scritches before he went back to the Okay Corral.  I personally don't think it will take him much longer to be adopted out; he's got so much personality!

My last walk today was Samson.  It took about 90 seconds to realize that a walk was not what would benefit Samson...and we headed to Mark's Park for some off-leash running.  Samson's eagerness to chase tennis balls rivals that of Angus, so that was how the time was spent today.  Samson is young, and you can see in his play.  He would come back with a tennis ball, drop it, and then do what Tyler and I call "bug butt" as he tried to decide if the ball in my hand that I was about to throw was more interesting than the one in between his paws.  It went both ways :)

Samson wasn't big on snuggling the way some of the other pups were, but I convinced him I was worth it with a few treats and a well-placed scratch under the collar.  Note to self - do not get any manicures this year...my short-trimmed nails seem to be just right for most of the pooches scratching desires!


I would like to end with some awesome news.  I mentioned meeting Murphy on my first walking day.  Murphy is the big boy that I think was used for bait.  He is still timid around the male volunteers, but for the gals, he lights up.  His smile is so wonderfully enormous, and it is amazing to see the difference that just a week has made.

Big kudos to the volunteer who got this picture up on the EHS site...it so wonderfully captures Murphy!!  While he has his challenges, I truly hope that Murphy goes to a single woman who loves walking, or even jogging.  He is a dream on the leash, and I can guarantee all my female friends that NO ONE will bother you with this guy next to you (seeing as how he'll stand about hip-high on an average woman!).

The first week has flown by, and I feel like I've been doing this forever, in the best possible way.  I wake up on walking mornings so energized...before the alarm by a few minutes today!  My only regret is that it has taken me so long to take the jump into doing this, now that I know the amazing feeling I get every time I turn down the driveway to EHS.


As usual, the dogs I've already fallen in love with can be found on the EHS website:
Joy
Mimi Swee Swee
Zander
Samson
Murphy




One final note today:  I am adding a link on the side to the Escondido Humane Society's wish list.  Not everyone can give time, or take a dog home, but there are lots of other ways that you can get involved.  If you are not local to Escondido, I can guarantee you that your local shelter will have similar needs, so please call them and see what you can do!
    

 

Make your own luck

You know it will be a good day, despite superstitions, when the sky is clear, the sun is just peeking up, and the thermometer reads in the mid-50s.  Friday the 13th has never really been anything but another day to me, other than the rare occasion that my little sister's birthday falls on it (September 13th baby).

I digress.

I'm getting into the routine.  Wednesday I went in for my first "solo" day; I was one of the first there, and Buzzy, the lead for the day, put me straight to work.  I am a creature of habit with certain things, and the fact that the process is the same every morning will help me with learning it faster.  First, dogs out to the Okay Corral.  Then, walks, socialization, and play time.  Because I am only in for about 90 minutes on MWF, I spend the first hour or so getting dogs out, then have been able to do 30 minutes of quality time with one dog.

Wednesday it was Star.  Star is a pittie mix (no surprise; most of the big dogs at EHS are) but to me looks like he has some boxer in him.  He has the most beautiful brindle coat, and amazing leash manners.  I sent a picture of him to my sister, who has a brindle boxer, and asked if she knew that her dog had a half-brother in Escondido.  

Star has been doing the weekly Canine Good Citizen class, and you can tell.  He sits, tries to shake, and even knows "wait" when being offered a treat.  We spent some time after our walk just sitting.  There is a field that has some picnic tables in it, and many volunteers like to go out there and let their pup just get love.  Star was a big fan of that...he stood his front paws on the bench so that he could be closer to me, and let me tell you, the under the collar scratches had this big boy almost falling over with happiness.  Wednesday was a good day.


Today was also a good day.  I'm getting to know some of the dogs already.  Today was also one of my first challenges with a dog...Michelle is a young mix breed; it's hard to tell exactly what she is.  I'm sure there's pit in there, but probably some sort of shepherd as well, and maybe even some beagle.  Anyway, Michelle is a young girl, and is post-op, so she still has stitches from her alteration.  As I brought her out of her kennel, she was ecstatic.  She was so happy to walk...at first.  As soon as we turned towards the Okay Corral, she sat down, and would not move.  I tried coaxing with treats, I tried petting and getting the stupidly high-pitch excited voice.  No luck.  One of the things we have been taught is that it's really important to let the dog get itself where you're going, and not to drag it.  I tried tricking her with a small circle away from the corral, and then a bigger one towards it, but every time we turned towards the corral, paws dug in and butt hit ground.  At one point, she even flopped on her back and just laid there, submissively begging me not to take her.  Unfortunately, that's not an option, but fortunately, Michelle is a younger dog, so I was able to pick her up gently, and carry her to the corral.  From there, I spent about 5 minutes coaxing her into her crate.  Again, really important to let them put themselves away.

That was a little disheartening to see her so resistant to getting put away, and to see how immediate the transformation from excited little puppy had been.

Fortunately, Mary Ellen, the lead, knows the right reaction to cheer up a volunteer, and I was walking Angus to Mark's Park, the big dog interaction area.  This is a big enclosed area where the dogs can be let off leash.  There are some agility obstacles in there if one is so inclined, but for Angus, more importantly, there were tennis balls.  A lot of them.

Angus is enormous.  There is no other word for it.  But, he is also very excited about playing ball.  When I was in college, our neighbor had a border collie who would chase a soccer ball until her paws would bleed, if you'd let her.  As I threw tennis ball after tennis ball for Angus, I was reminded of that pup...he was so unbelievably joyful.  I moved throughout the area, picking up balls and throwing them every different direction for him.  As gigantic as Angus is, he is just as eager to please, for every time he got to me, the ball was dropped perfectly at my feet, and he would wait anxiously for me to throw another.  

After some quality ball chasing, Angus and I sat and enjoyed the sun together.  As I was petting him, I realized the full size of this dog...I had both of my hands on his head, touching, and they barely covered the width of his head!!  And yet, here he was, one paw on my lap, leaning in for more and more love.  It was a different experience from just walking, and the feeling I got for having given him this break was wonderful.  So was the walk back to the corral; Angus was contented, and stayed right by my side, not a single pull.  Angus only needed that ball, and he couldn't have been happier.


I am excited for my first Canine Good Citizen class tomorrow morning.  Thus far, this experience has been so incredibly worth it, and I am eager for the lessons I will continue to take from each dog I get to know.  Angus reminded me about the simple pleasures today, and I aim to bring his exuberance to the things I do as well.


Star's information is not on the EHS page right now...he is already on hold for pickup!  Angus' is however, right here.  Michelle's is as well...the sooner she can get out, the better for that girl.  Find her here.


As a final note, Tyler claims I have put in my first request to bring a dog him by sending him Padre's information...what can I say?  Rascal and Edward have given me a soft spot for Queensland/Aussie types :)  Padre won't be at the shelter long, but if you want to have a daily "SQUEEEEEEEEE" you can check out this baby here.

Beginning a thousand miles

Today, the walking began.  EHS does a great job of making sure the volunteers are well-equipped and comfortable before they go off on their own.  What that translated to today was a review of what was discussed at orientation, and then some time shadowing a team leader (someone who was been with the Humane Society in the dog walking program for a while).

Because I took part in the morning walking, the biggest task is getting all of the dogs out of their kennels so that the staff can clean.  EHS has this great outdoor area that they call the "Okay Corral" that has short-term kennels that you can put the dogs in.  From there, the walking takes place.

My team leader, Pam, took her other trainee and me inside to Murphy's kennel.  Murphy is fairly new to the shelter.  He has a yellow sticker on his info, which means he's okay on the leash, but has some challenges.  Murphy is enormous, easily over 80lbs of pure muscle.  He stood there calmly as we approached, which is somewhat unusual as far as I can tell (most of the pups jump and go crazy because they know they're going out).  When Pam opened his door to leash him, he began shaking.  He stood his ground, and was trying to be a good boy, leaning slightly towards us, but clearly frightened of what would happen when he got out.  That's when I noticed that Murphy's head and rear legs are all covered in scars...some newly pink, some older where the fur just doesn't grow any more.  There's no way of knowing for sure, as he was picked up off the street, but I think Murphy may have been some sort of bait dog.  My heart broke.

But, with some treats, coaxing, and gentle voices, he came out and walked aside us out to the Okay Corral.  Murphy's card indicated that he's not good with cats, kids, other dogs, or livestock...as Pam put it, "Looks like he's gotten himself into some trouble."  Yet, even with those warnings, he was showered with love from Pam.  Slow movements, calm voices, and the occasional treat...Murphy was actually quite easy to walk out to the pens outside.

After Murphy was settled in, we ended up grabbing Alex.  Alex could not stay out in the Okay Corral because he kept escaping from the crates out there.  He didn't ever really go anywhere, just didn't want to stay in.  So the four of us went out for a loop together.  Alex is also pretty new, so Pam didn't know a lot about him.  However, as we walked, it became apparent that at some point, somebody cared enough about Alex to teach him leash manners.  He didn't pull.  He stayed right by Pam's side, and occasionally would look up, just to be assured he was a good boy.  Alex was a dream to walk.  When we saw the other dogs, he got excited, but there was no aggression; he was practically play-bowing to dogs 15 feet away!  

Alex is like so many of the other pitties out there.  He came alive when Pam would pet him, tell him he was a good boy, and rub his giant head.  Kisses abounded, as well.


Pam was sure to tell us about exercising caution with dogs when having this kind of interaction.  You never know what can happen with some of these pups, and your role is to protect them.  It was drilled into us at orientation, but again today...if the dog bites you, it has to get put down.  Don't let your carelessness, inattentiveness, or lack of knowledge be the reason that a dog dies.  Period.  The humor for me was as much that Alex did not stop licking Pam the entire time she was giving us this information.

My first solo walk was Beatrice.  She is a six month old beagle mix of some sort.  She did not want to stop jumping, and the volunteers are to work very hard to discourage that behavior.  Pam suggested I take her to one of the interaction pens to see how she did off leash and with toys.  As soon as I squatted down to take Beatrice's leash off, she stopped jumping.  She was ecstatic to have me at her level.  So I stayed there.  I tried throwing some toys; we got maybe two or three half-hearted ball chases in before I realized all she wanted was to be pet.  So I sat in the pen, and gave all the love, affection, and booty scritches to this little gal that I possibly could.

As you can see, she didn't even want me to stop petting her long enough to get a decent picture!


We walked a bit too, but I found that she would start jumping again after about five minutes.  So I'd sit back down with her for a few moments, and then we'd get another few minutes of walking in.  We didn't cover much ground, but it was amazing to see how much more mellow Beatrice was when we got her back to her kennel.


Pam reassured me that, as cute as Beatrice (and her almost-twin sister, Betty) is, we'd pretty much be guaranteed that she'd be gone soon.  That gave me moment for pause.  I found myself wondering if anything could ever change that.  Beautiful Beatrice, so full of puppy love and cuteness, would not be around long.  But scarred up, shaken Murphy, with so many special considerations?  What about him?  How can you teach the average dog adopter that Murphy has just as much to give as Beatrice?  I suppose that's where the volunteers come in.  It will be my role to help in that as much as any of the other amazing people there today, who all arose before the sun to go walking dogs not their own.


Pam asked the pups she had not met yet the same question: "What's your story?"  As I looked around at the other volunteers, I thought of the way we each had our own reasons for being there.  Mine has as much to do with how things turned out with our Samantha.  But the other walker training with me was there for something to do since she was out of work.  And each of the other walkers had their own particular reasons as well.  We had the words to tell each other.  The pups grinning at us, as we trotted them along the walking loop, well, they don't have that luxury.  So it is our job to learn as much as we can in the time we share with them.  We won't always be able to speak to where they've come from, but we can tell you what happens when a rabbit scurries in front of them, or when another dog barks from a distance, or what happens when you rub just the right spot behind the left ear.


Murphy, Beatrice, and Alex are all at the Escondido Humane Society, awaiting forever homes.  Murphy's info is here, Beatrice's here (and her sister, Betty, here), and Alex's here.


EHS is adopting dogs out in January (over 7 months old) for only a $25 adoption fee.

Day one...and it begins.

Today was my orientation for volunteering at the Escondido Humane Society.  I jokingly posted to my FB last night for bets on how long it would take me to start begging to bring home another pup.

No surprise...everyone said it would happen today.

So, I am pleased to quell the naysayers, and report that I have not started begging...yet.  I did only see about 20 dogs today though...

I'm going to be sharing my experiences as I go throughout this minimum six month commitment.  I want to share this with as many people as I can, because local animal shelters can always use more dedicated volunteers.  I had my qualms...anyone who knows me will attest to the fact that I am passionate about my four-legged friends, probably more so than I am about most of my two-legged ones.  I am also stupidly affected by the helplessness I feel when I think about the sheer quantity of dogs and cats that I cannot help, despite my best intentions.  Ty will tell you...there have been more than one evening where I have been in tears as the vastness of the problem overcomes me.  And don't get me started on the Sarah McLachlan commercials...

I give you this background for a specific reason.  I am terrified of what the next six months will do to me emotionally.  But, I have decided that it is more important for me to take a chance that what I gain from this experience will be greater than the pain that it causes.  I want to bring you along on this journey with me, because I want you to understand that if I, a bleeding-heart animal lover, can do this, so can you.

So, orientation.  Simple, crowded, and pretty easy to handle.  The volunteer coordinator that led my orientation did not mince words about the fact that some days would be really hard.  But she also reminded us that our hours, our energy, and our love would help these dogs shine, and be more likely to find forever homes.  That's what I'm going to have to focus on...every time I'm there.  Because as soon as we went to learn the procedure for getting a dog out of the kennel for a walk, I was greeted by Noel:

She is adorable, she was fairly mellow (all things considered), and she wanted nothing more than to lick you to death.  I have a soft spot for pitties, having experienced the love that they can offer.  So it was quite the challenge to see her smile upon our group's arrival, and her dejected sulk when we walked away without her.

I steeled myself for the fact that I would have to learn to celebrate the times when I do get to take pups like Noel away from the kennel for a bit, and resolved to get myself back to running shape even quicker, because many of the dogs at EHS look like they would love to race up the hill next to the shelter with me.

I aim to update weekly.  I am excited for my first day of actual dog-walking, and cannot wait to report back.  Please feel free to share this link with anyone you know that may have a desire to help.  For me, time was more abundant than money, so this was my way of getting involved.  For you, though, it may be something else, and I would encourage you to call your LOCAL* shelter to see what you can do.

Noel is up for adoption at the Escondido Humane Society, by the way...and I'd encourage anyone with some love to give to go check her out here.

*I cannot stress enough how important it is to give locally.  While national organizations can help bring awareness to the need, it is the local shelters that benefit the most from your time and money.