Craigslist Dogs

Since I am having some mild insomnia this morning, I've been awake far earlier than usual (I usually sleep ten minutes past all reasonable and responsible limits.)   I've been getting a lot of housework done and also catching up on e-mails.   There was an e-mail from Glen Highland Farm highlighting their rescue year and there was a section that I found to be very interesting.  GHF has rescued many border collies from Craigslist, from people who wanted a BC but could not possibly handle one.  And I think that is incredible.  And yes I said rescued.

Some backstory: Perri is from Craigslist.   There are a lot of dogs on Craigslist, and they aren't people selling their litter of backyard bred dogs.  They are puppies that people can't handle, dogs that people want to rehome because they are moving, dogs with behavioral problems, dogs who aren't getting along with the new baby.   I don't know why people put their unwanted dogs on Craigslist instead of taking them to a shelter or a rescue.  I suspect that there are many reasons.   I truly believe that some people want to see their dog into a good new home personally rather than surrendering them to a shelter.  I believe some people want to charge an "adoption fee" to make back some of the cost they originally spent on the dog, that is not an option when surrendering to a rescue.  As crappy as that seems to me, like reselling a used car, I would much rather see people charging money for their rehomed dogs than the "Free to a Good Home" dog.  Free to a Good Home dogs on Craigslist are at risk for ending up in the wrong hands very quickly.  I used to have a manager at work who would send angry e-mails to anybody listing their animal for free.  If I personally see any dog offered for free, I try to send the link to a rescue - breed specific if possible - so that somebody can get the dog out of there and safe.

I feel silent judgement from people because Perri is from Craigslist.  I have never claimed that I rescued Perri, and I never will.  I think people see her "fancy" coloring and think I bought her from a backyard breeder.  No.  Perri's prior owners purchased her as a puppy from a dog day care manager who also operated her own doodle/poodle puppy mill* and they listed her on Craigslist at 5 month old for behavioral issues. (chicken tormenting/killing.)  Her listing was very simple.   A photo of solemn stoic Perri looking down at the ground away from the camera and the text, "5 month old female standard poodle puppy.  Does not get along with chickens."  

Perri on Day One.

Other rescues are saving Craigslist dogs, too.  In fact, when Perri had her Canine Good Citizen test seven months after she came to live with me, I started chatting with another standard poodle owner who was waiting to test her poodle.  I remember how beautifully he was groomed, and how I admired him - I still had so much to learn about poodles.  When I told the owner the circumstances of Perri coming to live with me she was shocked.  "You will not believe this but I volunteer for a local poodle rescue and we were literally driving to get the 'Chicken Dog' because we always try to get poodles off Craigslist so they don't end up in the wrong hands...and she was gone when we got there.  We have always wondered what happened to her."  

She was so happy to see the Chicken Dog in a home who cared enough to train Perri and bring her to a CGC test!

There are so many dogs in rescues.  But there are also so many dogs on Craigslist.  Rescues are becoming stricter and stricter about their adoption requirements - Michelle on Team Unruly wrote an excellent post about that subject, "Not Good Enough".  I am personally Not Good Enough. (No fenced yard, crazy work schedule, not all unecessary vaccinations up to date.)  I know more and more people who want to adopt a dog who are also Not Good Enough.   They want to help a dog in need, they don't want to buy from a breeder - but for whatever reason, they are Not Good Enough.  So, I tell those people to check on Craigslist.  Those dogs need help too, and the money isn't going into a puppy miller's pocket.

*Perri's "breeder/miller" has since been shut down for filthy conditions.  I often do google searches trying to get more information about Perri's past, but often come up empty.  I did find one site with reviews of Perri's breeder and more than a handful of poor reviews state that their dogs have separation anxiety, general anxiety, and fear issues.  Just like Perri.

Found a Geocache and Some Kittens ...

Today's story is not about dogs.  Today's story is a rescue story about kittens!

I got off of work early because we were slow today and so Perri and I went out to the River Trail for a walk and some geocaching.  We found four caches and walked about a mile, returned to the car.  I got some coffee to warm up and set out to drive to a section of the river trail a few miles away where there were more geocaches.  That was the plan.  The plan was derailed because I stopped at Ganshahawny Park on our way there.

We stopped for this geocache.  It was about 250 feet from the car, so I left Perri behind to go grab it.  I was almost at Ground Zero when I heard little tiny meows.  I turned to see two tortiseshell kittens running towards me, crying at the top of their little lungs.  I laughed and said hello to them.  I found the geocache.  When I knelt down to sign the log they were all over me, crying and pressing into me.  They were shivering, and hard.  And since they were very much attracted to me and not afraid of me, it was absolutely obvious that they would be coming with me.

I had nothing to feed them, so I put a handful of Charlee Bears on the ground and they ate it in about negative one seconds.  They were happy to approach me so I scooped them both up and plunked them into the plastic travel crate inside of my car with more Charlee Bears.  (A wave of gratitude for keeping crates in my car!)  I posted a photo of me and the pale faced kitten on Facebook and I started thinking, 'What am I going to do?"  Taking the kittens home and fostering them was out of the question.  Husband Vince has decreed No More Animals.  So of course I called him right away and got threats and a very stern NO.  I vaguely remembered an animal rescue being quite close to the area, but could not find it when I searched on my smart phone.  I drove out to the area where I remembered it being and decided to stop at a vet clinic that I saw.

There were four ladies on staff and they all felt that the kittens were one million percent adorable, and they all seemed to have the same issue that I had: their husbands would kill them if they brought home another animal.  They did confirm the rescue that I remembered, and that it was a cat-only rescue.  But it might be closed for the weekend.  They also suggested Diane's Pets.  Diane's is where I recently had Ein's dental surgery, it is where I had Perri spayed.  Diane's provides vaccines clinics and affordable vet care to the community.  They also regularly visit kill shelters "down South" and bring death row pets up to Pennsylvania for adoption.  They screen prospective homes.  I wanted these kittens to go there!  A quick phone call, and the kittens were accepted.  Their luck had just changed for the amazing!  I was so grateful that I found a place that would take them that I knew and felt comfortable with.  Kittens though they are, there are so many unwanted cats in the shelter system and I could not have surrendered them anywhere that there would be a chance that they would be euthanized.  (Although truly, cute kittens at Christmas-time have a very low chance of euthanasia, no matter what.)

The kittens are already posted on Adopt A Pet!  They are called "Kittens in the Woods" and they were found by a good samaritan.  Love it.  (Perri was not interested whatsoever in being a good samaritan poodle.  She growled relentlessly at the kittens and did not appreciate their little arms coming out of the crate holes and batting at anything they could reach.  She barked endlessly when I removed them from the crate and took them into Diane's Pets.  Ridiculous poodle!)

WC Rally Trial @ Oakes K9 and a Rescue Transport!

Ein and I went to the K9Jym yesterday for a double World Cynosport Rally-O trial.  This was the first time I have gone to a trial with only Ein, specifically to do Veterans - and I must say it was a relaxing experience!  We will be doing so again in November.

The courses were nice, with a lot of heeling and not a lot of sits and downs.  Some Veterans courses still do have a lot of that and it can truly be fatiguing for older dogs, even with the reduced amount of signs..  Ein is a young Vets class dogs, some of the dogs he was competing against were 13 and 14 years old!  I love seeing the seniors out in the ring and I hope so very much that Ein and I are doing the same when he is that age.

I was lucky to get both of Ein's ring times on video.  Don't make fun of our "formal tennis ball retrieve"!

Ein earned a 209 on the first run and a 205 on the second.  There were about ten dogs in the Veterans class in both trials, wow!  That is the largest turn out I have seen yet.  Ein earned a third place in the first trial.  We had to leave before the ribbons were handed out after the second trial, so I don't know.  I do believe that 205 took us out of the ribbons though.

All Vets who qualified received a free bandana.  The tie-dye one had to be ours!

I also made Ein wear a ram halloween costume and participate in the little costume parade that was held between the two trials.  Poor Ein!

The reason that we had to leave was...my first rescue transport of this year!  Shame, shame, shame.  This dog was being transported from Ohio to her adopters in New Jersey.  She was a sweet, ten year old Pomeranian named Josie.  The driver before us was too sick to drive, so me and another drive split that leg in half and both ended up driving a little extra.

We dropped Josie off* with the next transporter in line.  The drop off point was at a Whole Foods, which I have never been to before.   Ein and I walked around the parking lot, found the shopping center's geocache.  We visited Orvis as well, and Ein shunned both the clerk and his dog treat.  He ate the treat when the poor guy went back behind the counter.   Typical Ein!  He would schmooze treats from anybody at a rally show, though.  After that I posed Ein in front of a pink pumpkin outside of Whole Foods (who am I to resist an invitation from the store to take a photo and post it on social media?) and back to the car he went while I browsed the store.  Busy day!

(*With rescue transports, it is highly discouraged if not forbidden to have personal dogs along for the ride, and for good reason.  However, both Ein and Josie were crated and separated from one another for the entire duration of the ride.)

Heartstrings.

I see probably hundreds of homeless dogs across my Facebook feed per year.  It makes me feel powerless.  As I have started trialing more, I have started transporting less.  In fact, I don't think I have even done a single rescue transport this year.  Vito was my last foster dog and that was definitely last year.

And I have a confession to make.  I love senior dogs.  If it was not for my Husband With Common Sense I would probably have two oldies hanging out on my couch until their time ran out at all times.  So when a local rescue that I love posted that they needed a Forever Foster for a senior golden mix named Heaven with terrible hips, I felt those familiar feelings.  Those "I have got to foster this dog" feelings.  I haven't been this obsessed with a dog since Vito.

All I know is that a vet said that Heaven is 10, maybe older.  She has terrible hips.  She lived with an elderly couple and was fairly neglected, before being turned over to a kill shelter when her owners could no longer care for themselves, much less her.  She became very depressed and developed a UTI.  She was transported to Pennsylvania.  Heaven has continued to be depressed by the kennel environment and this is apparently a very common condition for senior rescue pets (though certainly not exclusive to their age group.)

My mind went absolutely wild.  The things we could do to work on her rear end strength.  Her confidence.  Her comfort level.  She would have a totally stable routine at my home.  Soft couches, soft beds.  I begged and begged Vince until he said...not yes, but the sought after "Not NO."  I emailed the rescue for more information.

And then later today I saw a comment on Heaven's original thread - she was meeting with a possible foster tonight.  And another commenter was also interested in stepping up.  And that all made me feel so happy for her.  And so grateful for this rescue and their network of people who might open up their homes and hearts to a senior dog that needs them.  I love that.

I felt a little relieved that Heaven had (probably) found a foster.  And if not, they have my e-mail.  I also felt a little sad.  I would love to do "retirement fostering."  And I will, someday.  Right now with three dogs it would probably be exhausting to extend myself to give a fourth the love and attention that she needs.  I would certainly manage.

I always think of Someday.  Someday I might get a border collie or english springer puppy from a Real Breeder who Cares About Their Dogs.  But that someday also includes rescue dogs.  It has to.  And I hope that those rescue dogs are semi-long term senior dogs who just need a couch to snuggle into after a not so awesome life.  I might not be moving animals into "Forever Homes", I might not be saving a lot of lives.  But I might be making a difference in a few old dog's lives, and that would make me very, very happy.

Jet Transport

This is Jet!  Jet is my (probable) last transport of 2013 and what a bundle of energy!  Jet was being transported to his forever home in CT this evening, he will arrive at midnight.  He has come all the way from Texas where he was being fostered.  He spent this past week in Ohio with a temporary foster between transports and began his journey Home this morning.   Jet is only about a year old and he was freaking pumped.   He was absolutely sweet and loving but he pulled like a freight train and moved so fast that it was hard to not feel tired just looking at him!  I was grateful that I have a crate in my car!   He alternated settling down with whining and thumping around - his new family will have their hands full at midnight tonight that's for sure.  As you can see, he had on two different collars and my own slip lead - we did not want this guy to take off running and never be seen again.  Happy travels, Jet!

Prissy Transport

My work schedule rearranged at the last moment this week and it left me with Wednesday free.  So when I got an e-mail about a dog needing a ride to La Mancha Animal Rescue, I offered to take her there Wednesday (the rescue is not far from the training center where me and the dogs train, after all.)

Prissy was seized in a hoarder "bust" and turned over to Pregnant Dog Rescue since her abdomen was very swollen.   Once she had settled in, however, the foster realized that she was simply in heat and not pregnant.   Prissy got along well with dogs larger than her, but there were several occasions of attacking the foster's two small chihuahuas.  And since the foster had two mommas with litters and one pregnant dog about to give birth, she was just a *little* bit busy and had no need of the additional "dog drama".

So, La Mancha took her!  I was happy to help get her there.  Another transporter had kept Prissy overnight and she met me in the late afternoon for the hand off.  Prissy did not want to get out of the car, she was afraid.  This is typical of dogs that are in hoarding situations since they receive little if any human attention.  I crawled into the car, picked her up and put her into the crate inside of my car.  She seemed very happy to crawl into a safe and enclosed spot and was quiet for the entire 90 minute ride to the rescue.

La Mancha rescue is a sprawling farm that takes in not just dogs and cats but livestock animals as well.  They keep their dogs in a kennel run and the set up is much like a regular shelter, but the dogs get a whole lot more attention and a relaxed environment when they are walked.  Regardless, I couldn't help but feel sorry for Prissy when I put her into a large cage on the floor.  A dog like her would do best in a foster home.  I was told to look for updates on the Facebook page, and I am sure that the rescue will do right by this little girl.  Hopefully she comes out of her shell and finds the home that she deserves.

Rescue Transport - Fritz/Max/Bingo

It has been since April since I have done a rescue transport, wow!
Today's three lucky dogs were all from Ohio and heading to Almost Home Rescue.

This is Fritz, eight months old and such a love - he was abandoned when his owners moved away and neglected to take him with them.
He is a "leaner" like Molly, either that or crawling between my legs while I was trying to walk.  He had zero interest in peeing or pooping at the rest stop and apparently not the stop before.
We were not out of the parking lot before I heard a very wet sound and smelled urine.   Oops!
Hey, I'm sure it was a hectic day for him.  
Fritz is available for adoption, click for his Petfinder.com page!

This is Max, two year old hound mix - he was a stray.   Max was definitely the calmest of the three dogs and had those soulful hound eyes that totally melt your heart.   His expression reminded me a lot of my sister's sweet beagle.
Max was a good rider and totally coopertive.   While the other two were wrestling at the drop off site, Max was happy to pose for adorable photos like this!
Max is available for adoption, click for his Petfinder.com page!

Last but not least, Bingo.  10 months old and this was the most still photo I had of him - gotta detain the youngsters for static photos!
He was also a stray, found in a nursing home parking lot.
Bingo is available for adoption, click for his Petfinder.com page!





We dropped the pups off with a nice volunteer from Almost Home.  Before she left we chatted about dogs and let Bingo and Fritz burn off a little energy in a wrestling match.   How cute!

When he wasn't playing, Fritz loved laying like this in the grass.

 

Sweet Pea Goes Home!

First rescue transport in a while!  I found myself with a free afternoon, and a little beagle who needed a ride to meet her new family.

Sweet Pea

Sweet Pea was pulled from a West Virginia shelter just before she was euthanized.  Now she will be living in the lap of luxury in New Jersey, spoiled rotten!  Her new mommy got in touch with me after driving home with her and told me that Sweet Pea had just finished munching down on a hamburger.  Good for her!  On to a much, much better life, old girl.

Vito Goes Home!

Vito and I went on the best road trip of his life today...we went to meet his new family!

He snuggled on my lap for a little while.

Took a nap.

Took a super nap!

Vito's tail went into a wagging blur when he saw his new people, and I handed him into his daddy's arms while his mommy kept exclaiming how CUTE he is.  Vito was all, "Don't I know it?"

I am SO happy for Vito.  He is going to be spoiled rotten and live the good life, just like he deserves.

It's weird to not have my little chihuahua donut curled up next to me, or trying to steal my food, but I do not feel sad.  A foster dog is a lot of work, and my lifestyle was not suited for the emotional needs of a chihuahua.  I was simply not home enough for Vito - and knowing that he has gone to an absolutely perfect situation makes me completely happy and at peace.  Puppy mill to the lap of luxury - GO VITO!

Chihuahua in a Sweater

Vito the House Dog

Vito is an exceptional little dog.  Resilient.  He is so optimistic about humans, he can't get enough.  The tail still has not stopped wagging.  He has not had an accident in the house since that first day home.  He is a true joy to foster.  He has wormed his way into my husband's heart for sure.

Project Liberty II

And where did Vito come from?  Vito is an ex-breeder chihuahua, one of 32 dogs taken in by Castaway Critters rescue and brought to Pet Bath and Beyond groom shop for clean up this past Saturday.  When puppy mill dogs can no longer breed, they are "disposed of" by the miller.  That is why these dogs are so lucky.  Instead of being eliminated in whatever horrific and thoughtless way that is easiest, the miller gave them away to rescue.  I do not know the ins and outs of how this arrangement came to be, but it is the second time that the rescue had the opportunity to help puppy mill dogs in this way.

No puppy mill was shut down here.  Tragically, the conditions these dogs were kept in are completely legal.  Food, shelter, water are needs.  Grooming, love, and respect are optional.
However, instead of being killed for the crime of having their bodies used up by greedy humans, these dogs were given a second chance.  A chance to live as dogs were meant to live.

The dogs were unloaded , triaged, and given names and temporary collars, crate after crate.  They were placed in ex-pens until they could be sent to their appropriate grooming area.  Since these were mostly male dogs, things got a little rowdy!  There was a lot of humping and marking going on, and it was a chore to keep the area clean and tempers from flaring.

I didn't go in expecting to foster.  But someone asked me for a dog whose nails needed to be dremeled.  I picked up a random chihuahua and passed him to the groom room.  I glanced back at him a little bit later and saw what looked like a snarl.  I was worried he was going to bite the groomer.  I realized it was a GRIN.  His tail was wagging.  I ended up bathing and blow drying him, and soon I didn't even want to put him down.  His tail would NOT stop wagging.  I begged and pleaded with my husband to foster him...and now he is curled up in a ball beside me while I type this.  From cold, heartless puppy mill to snuggled up by a warm fire.

I was asked to take photos, and here they are.

My man Vito on the right!

This breeder takes his job VERY seriously.  He spent all his time humping the other dogs!

Ewok Dog!