February 15, 2011
February 14, 2011
And the happy ending!!
The German Shepherd, who had a LOT of people worried sick, gave herself up.
Read about the shy gal HERE
February 13, 2011
Walking For The Sled Dogs
The whole horrific ordeal was not just news in BC Canada, but it became known to the world within minutes, nay, seconds of hitting the web. Walks and vigils, vast amounts of hand written letters and online petitions were soon to follow.
Here in my small town of Hope, a walk was organized and people with their dogs turned out today. While we walked there were cars, trucks and semi's going down the highways and roads honking, waving and giving us the thumbs up. Beyond heart warming. Here's a few photos...
I almost put that black Mastiff X puppy and the Sable GSD puppy in my pocket and took them home though!
HOPE STANDARD ARTICLE
February 09, 2011
Henry has L.I.C.
L.I.C. : animal reacts and immediately is struck down.
L.I.C. example: ……………………
L.I.C. : Lovin’ Induced Coma
Within just a matter of seconds this pupper can be lovingly stroked, and he is putty.
* not the exact photo of Henry in a L.I.C. as it’s impossible to pet him, hold the camera, and take the photo. But, you get the idea. The photo above is from THIS POST.
February 07, 2011
German Shepherd Escapee
The Beginning…
Approximately 1 month ago, a local SPCA adopted out a female German Shepherd. 2 days after adoption the dog escaped/got loose from her adopters. They informed the SPCA, and the SPCA took the appropriate measures with the limited resources they have. They sent out staff to see if they could catch her. She proved to be a crafty little girl, and dodged them at every turn.
People in the neighbourhood were concerned, and rightly so. They began leaving food out for her, and trying to befriend her. She ate the food, but chose not to be friends. And, that’s a German Shepherd….that is the way of this breed, they are wary of people they do not know. Oh, they can be friendly, to a point, but that’s it. They are not a breed that makes friends just because a human wants them to..
The Middle…
A well meaning woman started a Facebook page to bring awareness to her. After reading the messages posted there a theme started to develop…..bashing the SPCA. I made my first post at that point. I said that perhaps we should keep the focus on the German Shepherd. I left, went back later that evening to see if the dog had been caught. Sadly, she hadn’t been. And hmmmm, my post had been deleted and I was booted from the group. How weird. I had no way to contact the page *owner* to ask why. Then anyone else who came up with suggestions, other than chase her down and bash the SPCA, was booted and comments were immediately deleted. It became apparent that only people who offered up pats on the back and “oh you are such a saint, an angel” to the person who started the page were allowed to post.
In one breath the woman was setting the SPCA on fire, the next she was pleading for people to allow them to do the work they know best. But, these past few days she’s been gathering a group of people together to meet and catch her. Bizzarro world, to say the least. Through past experience with trapping a stray GSD who had been on the run for near 3 months, it is vital, paramount, that only one feeding station be set out and used. But, nope, not this woman. She has to interfere consistently with the SPCA.
During all this time the SPCA did their job, with what they had available to them. They set humane traps, laden with food, cruised the area and during off hours members were out looking on their own time.
Yesterday I went out to the area with a friend, who had been there previous with another friend, walking and driving the area to see if we could spot the dog. We didn’t. As she had before, we asked everyone we ran into if they had seen her, but nope. (*unrelated to the dog, I do have a big smile story at the end of this post though!) We each went to our separate homes, checked a few hours later if she had been found yet, and lo and fucking behold, if my friend and I weren't posted on the web page as bat shit insane women who were aggressively stalking the dog. WTF? In reality we were idly and calmly strolling around with one of my GSD’s Ticket, trying to spot her.
Some people just have to be the star of the show don’t they!
The End…
So far, there is no ending to this poor love’s ordeal. I hope it is happy, I hope she isn’t spooked and leaves the area, I hope she isn’t hit by a vehicle while being chased by this group of wing-nuts. Say a prayer, wish upon a star, send her good juju, think positive, whatever you so choose, that this girl allows herself to be helped.
* As we were slowly cruising, trying in vain to spot the dog, we noticed an RCMP car behind us. The lights on top of his car started and we pulled over. ID’s were requested, given, checked and returned. He asked us why we were in the area, and when we told him, he wished us luck and said goodbye. In retrospect, we did look like we were casing out the neighbourhood, skulking out our next *hit*. Driving around in a monster cube van with baseball hats pulled down ( it was pissing rain outside ) did indeed look suspect. Soooo, if anyone in North Burnaby is reading this, you’re RCMP freakin’ rocks!! ( I’m partial to the RCMP as my Dad is a retired member. I love them. )
February 03, 2011
Dumped Food = Wasted Lives
I was reading a rescue website that was pleading for donations of dog food for a large group of puppy mill survivors and it took me to an experience I recently had…..
Before I quit my employment at Saints, one of my jobs was to organize the dog and cat foods and treats/cookies that were donated. I organized them into 2 groups…one group was Royal Canin Medi-Cal of which consisted of Gastro, Mobility, Hypoallergenic, Dental, Weight Control, etc. all of which can only be bought at a Veterinarian office. Royal Canin, if you don’t know, is wicked expensive. The other group was everything else.
Along with buying bags of kibble for their own personal animals, well meaning people would also buy bags for Saints animals. They would either personally drop them off, or leave them with the store and once a week or so the director, or someone else, would pick them up. Along with those well meaning individual people, were the stores themselves that donated vast quantities of food.
Excellent, right? But at least 1/4 to 1/3 of those donated bags would be trucked off to the local dump.
Why? Because (A) there was simply no more room to store them and/or (B) it was not premium food.
Why was the extra kibble not being given to other rescue groups and/or community food banks? Because, and I’m paraphrasing here from the director of Saints, “if people knew that Saints could not use all that was donated they would not donate again.”
That mentality didn't make any sense, at least to me.
So, people spent hard earned money to buy bags of food to donate. Then some cash donations were being spent on paying the handyman to take it to the dump. WTF.
I was disgusted that animals had to die for the food to be made that she was ordering to be dumped. When I approached the director about the deaths of other animals being in complete vain, and offered up the solution that it be taken to local food banks she hummed and hawed and said she would get back to me about the idea.
3 weeks before I quit my employment at Saints my desk was covered in paperwork. Phone calls were made to local community groups such as food banks etc. that welcomed donations of dog/cat food.
It’s been quite some time since I left that employ, and according to a volunteer there, nothing has changed. Food is still being dumped.
I know that the S.P.C.A.’s and Animal Control and City Pounds frequently donate their overstock to the local food banks and private rescues, so why can’t that large sanctuary/rescue do the same?
