All Dogs Welcome

The Gulf Oil Spill was 22 months ago and “old news” to most everyone but us.  That is when our troubles started.  Many of our large donors lost their businesses or had to cut down just to survive, other individual donors lost their jobs and moved away or moved in with family while others just couldn’t donate anymore to survive.  When the donations stopped, we had over 149 dogs at the shelter.  We went to BP for help.  They gave us 1/3 of what they were supposed to give us and that is how we stayed open 8 of the 22 months.  When we asked them to please give us the amount due to give us time to get our dogs adopted, they stated that we should be glad we got what they gave us and that we should just put our dogs down since most of them are over 5 years old.  In their words, “why don’t you just put them out of their misery and you out of yours”.  

Our shelter is very large and we have adopted all the dogs except 34 and we are trying to keep our shelter doors open long enough to at least find homes for those we have left.  Our power bill, water bill, food costs, etc. haven’t gone away even though we have lowered the number of dogs.  The power, water, phone, internet access, gasoline for the van that we take the dogs to the vet along with auto insurance required by the state, cleaning supplies, medication for the senior dogs which includes medication for joints & arthritis and for the thyroid & diabetic dog, vaccinations, monthly heartworm & flea preventatives, are still there along with our dogs have no way to relieve themselves without being physically taken outside to potty.  We are fortunate that they are all potty trained and they must go out every 4 hours from 6am until 10pm 7 days a week… so we have to have kennel techs to not only take them out but to clean their stalls, feed them and keep clean water down for them and to answer phones & show the dogs to people who come to possibly adopt them.  Dogs are no different than people.  They need to relieve themselves several times a day as well as drink water and eat.  There are 4 kennel techs who are not there at the same time but one is there at all times from 6am to 2pm another from 2pm until 10pm and we have to have them there 7 days a week so they work shifts and change out to always have someone there with the dogs.

We are out of funding.  Our dogs only chance for a home is to keep the doors open long enough for them to get a home.  Since most are over 5 years old, it is much tougher to find them a home. It breaks my heart for someone to come in and enjoy playing with one of them and then saying “well, I’m going somewhere else because this dog is too old”.  We had someone do that very thing last week.  The dog they looked at was so proud to have a chance for a home that she played just like a pup with their 2 year old lab.  She put her front paws and head down with her rear end sticking straight up and played with this younger dog to the point that we couldn’t believe our eyes.  The husband wanted to give her a chance but the wife did not.  Princess would have given them all she had for a chance at this home.  She hasn’t had a chance for a home before this.  

If we could get monthly donations of $10 or $20 per month that will allow us to know how much we will have each month and if there are enough of them, it would allow us to keep the shelter open and we can at least save the dogs we have by buying time for them to get a home and if enough was donated monthly we could take in new dogs as we adopt out those we have and save more.  There is no where for our dogs to go other than the local pound if we can’t keep the shelter open and since they are mostly over 5 years old, they will be put down because they are harder to adopt.

I had known for quite a while that I needed a pet.  I had been alone and wanted a dog to love--a dog that especially needed to be loved, perhaps more than most.  I believed it would be best to adopt a dog from one of the local shelters.

During a lunch break at work one day I was browsing online, not particularly looking for a dog that day but somehow, suddenly, staring back at me on the computer screen was the face of a dog.  I immediately knew this was my dog!  He was a light reddish color with floppy ears, a terrier mix of some sort and they had named him Lil Pete.  He wore a little red bandana around his neck.  His story was a sad one.  I read that he was 9-10 years old and recently had been rescued from a kill shelter.  His life had been spared, but the only life he had known was one of terrible abuse and neglect.  Well, Lil Pete, all that is changing today!  You have yourself a home where all you will know is gentle love and kindness.  Never again will you be mistreated.

I called the shelter immediately to inquire as to his availability.  Yes, Lil Pete was still there and he was available.

It was still early enough in my lunch hour to make a hurried trip to the shelter to see Lil Pete.  Rather than inquire as to his kennel location, I wanted to find him myself.  I searched rows and rows of kennels, finally discovering the small dog rows and there was Lil Pete!  He was lying on the concrete floor, head on his paws.  I spoke to him to get his attention.  He wouldn't look up.  I tried again, telling him he was leaving this place and we would be best friends forever.  Sadly, Lil Pete never moved or looked up at me.  He was the saddest dog I had ever seen.  Other dogs in the kennels bark and jump and at least look at you, but not this one.  Not Lil Pete.

I told him I would be back to take him home and went to the adoption window to tell them I would adopt Lil Pete.  Since my lunch hour was almost over I had to return to work.  They would be closed when I got off work so I would have to wait until the next day at lunch to take Lil Pete.

That evening I visited the local pet supply store and bought a collar, leash, doggy clean-up bags, treats, toys, food bowls, and a new blue camouflage print bandana.

Despite my employer's disgruntlement, I took the afternoon off on the following day so I could adopt Lil Pete and spend time with him.

I excitedly drove back to the shelter, went through the adoption process, paid the fee, and Lil Pete was brought out from his kennel to me. 

"Don't let him near your face," I was told.  "He may try to bite."  We took off the red bandana and put on the new blue one.  I took him in my arms and asked if they would please take a picture as this adoption might someday make a good story.   They took the picture and I left with a little dog in my arms who immediately got his new name.  "Come on, Timmy.  We're going home."

Timmy trembled for the entire 30-minute drive home.  He was terrified.  He sat on the console between the front seats facing backwards, his head tucked under my arm.  I spoke gently to him and stoked him as lovingly as I could.  "It's ok now, Timmy.  You will see.  It's ok now.  You are safe."

This October Timmy and I have been together for three years.  He never once tried to bite me.  He has learned he no longer has to flinch when I reach down to pet him.  He doesn't have to panic any more when he hears footsteps behind him or when he sees a broom.

Timmy is still a very shy dog, but he has come to a level of trust he never had before.  It has been a growing relationship that is still growing.  He is becoming more willing to accept strangers.  Best of all, Timmy has learned that he is lovable.  I don't think there is anything more valuable than that in this life.

"Let's go, Timmy!"

You can also visit Timmy on his You Tube Channel.