Veterinary Rescuer

A Toast to Foster Homes...

2012-09-23T16:50:00.000-05:00

Foster homes. They are a crucial part of animal rescue. They take in a homeless animal and house it until a forever home and family is found for that animal. Fostering an animal opens a cage at a shelter and helps to save a life. Foster families are extremely difficult to come by as few people believe they can handle housing an animal for an undetermined length of time, then watch it leave their home to go to another. When we don't have enough fosters, sometimes our staff and volunteers that usually function in a different capacity, step up to foster.

A few years back, I fostered a dog, Emmie. She was a Border Collie mix that came from a hoarder in another county.

Emmie

I was hoping she would fit into my family on a permanent basis, but my son was young and she did not blend with an aggressive two year old very well. She continued as our foster but I knew that a new home was still the best thing for her. I fell deeply in love with her as she had the appearance AND the personality of my first dog, Immy, the Special One.

Immy Yawning

Immy was that one dogin your life who gives you that feeling deep in your heart that you know you will likely never find again, that one dog that loves you in a way that seems human and nurturing. I think to her dying day, she believed she was my caregiver rather than vice versa. But the timing was wrong, so a new home was in the cards for her and the hand off would be difficult for me once this new home, the right home, reared its head.

My Adoption Coordinator at the time, Jill, had warned me that she was processing an adoption application for Emmie and this one seemed to be a great fit. She had discussed previous applications with me, and oddly, I was able to find reason to hesitate on adopting Emmie to other applicants, as I just felt they were never quite the right fit for her. Because I was her foster mom, I knew what her specific needs were, and was being quite picky about satisfying them. But Jill said this application glowed. The woman was perfect on paper, and her personal and veterinary references were outstanding. I had to come to grips with the fact that this woman might be "The One" for Emmie. But I was still hesitant to let her go. I dreaded the thought of watching her walk out the door for the last time. The thought of letting Emmie go, made me feel as though I was losing Immy all over again...and it was heartbreaking.

Sometimes in rescue, it is the strangest thing that makes you realize that things are right. Sometimes it is not a question on an application, or the kind words of a personal reference, or even a qualitative review of previous veterinary records that let us know that a person is the one for our adoptable pet. This was one of those times.

Jill walked into the surgery room one day while I was spaying a cat. She announced that she had a question for me and she wore an emotional yet knowing look on her face.

"Oh boy. What is it?" I responded, hesitant to hear the question.

Jill replied, "I was doing the phone interview with the woman who is interested in Emmie". My heart sank a little with these words. "Everything went well as far as our questions for her. When we were finished, she said she had a question for us."

Generally speaking, most of the applicant's questions are answered during the adoption process. These questions usually include, "Does she bark alot? Is she housebroken? What does he eat? Does he like dogs, cats or kids?" So why Jill was standing before me with a tear in her eye, and a smirk on her face befuddled me. What question needed to be addressed to me, and why this odd reaction?

Jill looked at me a moment longer. When she did speak, the words were,

"Does she like toast?"

I stared at her and numbly said, "What?"

"She wants to know if Emmie likes toast. She has toast every morning and is hoping that Emmie will sit with her and share it with her."

We both laughed and almost cried. This question sold me on this woman as being "The One" for Emmie. I looked down at the dog that was laying by my feet as I did surgery, knowing that my days with her were now numbered.

This question told me several things about Emmie's potential adopter. It told me that she was looking for a pet with whom she could share her life. It told me that she was not just looking for a pet, but was looking for a furry companion to share even the smallest of moments. It also told me that she did not want just any dog, but was looking for the right one, The One that would appreciate those small moments. This question told me that Emmie would have all the mental stimulation, physical stimulation, and emotional connection that I knew, as her foster mom, that she needed. This question eased my sorrow about watching Emmie go to a new home because now I knew this was going to be a great match.

Every once in a while, I will smile as the words run through my brain, "Does she like toast".

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A Tail of Two Kitties... Part 3

2012-09-11T23:43:00.000-05:00

(Part 3 in a 3 part series: Read Part 1 HERE, and Part 2 HERE.)

The phone rang at the animal clinic. The voice on the other end of the line was immediately recognized as one of our favorite clients. His voice had an element of concern, that told us something was troubling him.

"I found this kitten. Someone left it on my porch in a box. Obviously the person who left it is someone who knows me well enough to know I love cats."

He continued, "I was hoping you could take a look at it. There is something really wrong with it. It's head looks like it was hurt, and I think he is blind." The concern in his voice changed to worry.

"Bring him over, we will take a look." He thanked me with a sincerity that few people have when they speak these words, and I suspect he was half way in his car before the phone disconnected the call.

I told the staff another kitten was coming in to see us, and would likely stay with us. I was unsure whether this kitten would become an adoptable pet through us, or go home with the client. While this client and his wife have hearts of gold for their cats, they also have what many would consider a full house. As their veterinarian, I was confident that if they did add another feline to their furry family, that it would be well cared for. I also knew from conversations held previously, that they had no intentions of adding any more cats to their kitty crew.

Again, in preparation for what I was about to be confronted with, my mind started projecting possibilities of what might be going on with this kitten. I did this with emergencies too, in an effort to prepare myself for what I was going to see, and plan my action and reaction. Perhaps this kitty was suffering from a severe Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI). When kittens get these bad colds, their eyes often glue up and seal closed temporarily. It is possible the kitten suffered a trauma of some sort. I did not wish to think too long and hard about what I might see if that was the case, but the fact that the client wasn't overly distressed told me it was likely nothing too gory.

The bells chimed on the clinic door as it opened, and in walked the client with this tiny kitten. The kitten was all black, just like Tres, although his fur coat was shorter. He was also a male. He was quite comfortable being held and carried into the office. He did not struggle like a feral cat might if not used to human hands. As I picked up the kitten, I noticed several things right away.

The kitten's eyes were non-existent. The sockets were small, and shrunken in. This kitten was completely blind. The kitten's skull was horribly misshapen, like a partially deflated basketball. The jawline was off center. His lower teeth stuck out like an upside down vampire and when you held his jaw shut, the teeth did not line up properly. None of these injuries/malformations seemed fresh. The kitten had survived whatever the nature of the trauma, and despite the obvious changes in his physical appearance and function, he was thriving.

Tres, the kitten that was dealing with the recent leg injury, was less social than this tiny blind kitten whose personality leaped from his precious body. This new kitten was affectionate, friendly, playful, and full of mischeif.

All we needed to do for this boy was name him and vet him like he was a normal healthy kitten, because despite his handicaps (if you can call them that) he was a normal healthy kitten. Despite his vision impairment, and his malaligned jaw, he required no special treatment.

I suspect the changes occurred to his small body after a trauma that occured when he was a tiny kitten. His mother's nurturing helped him survive. While it is also possible that he was born this way, it is an odd collection of physical changes to exist together since birth.

We named our new resident "Smooshie", and quickly decided it would be good for Smooshie and Tres to become roomates. They were young and any socialization at this age is beneficial for their development. Fortunately, both kittens tested negative for viral testing of Feline Leukemia and FIV Virus.

Tres got a bigger apartment, and Smooshie moved in. There was a significant amount of hissing and spitting initially, but the two babies soon learned to like each other. Smooshie helped Tres realize that this was not a bad place to be. Tres came out of his shell and learned to trust us by following Smooshie's social graces. Before we new it, Tres was playing with toys, and running on three legs to greet us when we placed fresh canned food in their kennel.

Tres was adopted just a few weeks after his surgery. Smooshie is in a foster home, still awaiting a permanent family to love him. He uses the litter box like a champion, and finds his food and water bowls just fine, despite his vision impairment.

Our only regret is that we did not try to place the two kittens in the same home. This idea occured to us after Tres was adopted. But Smooshie, in his Smooshie-way, adjusted just fine to life without Tres, and is living with caring humans and canines in his foster home until his forever family steps forward.

I am certain that Smooshie was cared for by humans who raised him and realized that they could not keep him. He is extremely comfortable around humans, and a cat not used to human interaction would not behave in this hearwarming manner. Wanting him to be safely placed in a home, and realizing that he had special needs, these people decided it would be best to abandon him in a box someplace they believed would provide him with safety. I am grateful this plan happened to work out for Smooshie, but abandoning an animal, even with the best of intentions is an inhumane action. Bringing him safely to a shelter or rescue group who agreed to care for him, and donating towards his care would have been a wise decision. With shelters and rescue groups overwhelmed with the number of animals in their care, this may not have been an easy option, but perseverence, dedication, and responsibility would have paid off for Smooshie. Thanks to our client's sense of responsibility, Smooshie is alive, happy and healthy.

One of the things I love about animals is that they do not know the word handicapped, they just adapt. And they don't tease each other about their "adaptation". Honorable really.

Visit Smooshie and our other adoptable pets at www.jewellanimalhospital.petfinder.com .

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A Tail of Two Kitties...Part 2

2012-08-03T11:37:00.002-05:00

(Part 2 in a series, read part 1 Here)

We sedated the little kitten, and upon cleansing the wound removed hundreds of fly larvae and pupae that were eating away at his flesh. The arm had been snagged by something, perhaps a larger animal or the teeth of an animal trap, and severed it at the level of mid humerus. This kitten's luck is tremendously good. He could have been consumed by the creature that caused this injury or hemorrhaged to death as a result of it. Yet here he sat, with an horrific injury, but one that was being treated.

Surgical removal would have to take place at the shoulder joint, removing the remainder of the humerus and with it remove much of the infected bone and flesh. A line of stitches remained, holding together paper thin skin that looked healthy and pink.

He recovered from the anesthesia slowly due to his size and his malnourished state. Once awake, he came home with me and began eating right away. He would lay down next to his dish, and nibble the hard kibble which he seemed to enjoy more than the canned food, although adding kitten milk to the canned food made it just fine for him. My 8 year old daughter chose one of her ragdolls, and placed it in the cage so he would not be lonely throughout the night. We called his kennel his new apartment, and the staff named him Tres (pronounced Trace), Spanish for Three.

He slowly adjusted to getting around with three legs. His personality was timid at first, but soon a kitten emerged, playful and friendly.

Little did he know he was about to get a new roommate...

Then the phone rang at the clinic...

TO BE CONTINUED....

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A Tail of Two Kitties...

2012-07-27T16:36:00.001-05:00

It was the best of weeks, it was the worst of weeks.

A phone call came into our office about a kitten with a missing leg, would we take a look at it. It came from a family that helps us with our TNR (Trap Neuter Release) program in town, so I knew this kitten was a "stray" and that if an issue was present, it would be at our expense since the program barely covers spay/neuter costs at $25 per cat. Through the door comes a person with a carrier. A foul odor is emanating from the pet carrier in which the cutest 5-6 week old, long haired black kitten resides. The carrier seems inappropriately large for such a tiny resident, and the kitten is obviously scared by the jostling of the kennel and the noises to which it is unaccustomed.

We open the cage door and the kitten, tiny enough to be held in one hand, is so skinny. One leg is missing. When the phone call came in, I was unsure whether the arm was a congenital defect that was present at birth, a wound that occurred after birth and was old but healed, or whether it was a fresh wound.

As I handled this kitten, I could feel the heat and moisture in my hand that was coming from the wound hidden beneath the incredibly long fur with which this kitten was blessed.

The kitten in his new "apartment" with the doll my daughter gave him for company.

Being so young, and so skinny, sedation was going to be risky, but had to be done. Beneath the fur was a wound. The front left leg of this tiny kitten, had been ripped off from half way down the humerus. All that remained of this kitten's arm was a rotting stump of the remainder of the humerus bone and its overlying skin. The arm's muscles had all been stripped away. This baby was lucky it did not bleed to death at the time of injury.

The wound was old. There was no fresh blood, no fresh bleeding. The flesh was black, putrid, and the maggots were in their larval stage indicating the wound was at least 5 days old, or older.

TO BE CONTINUED....

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I Cannot Do It All...

2012-01-18T08:53:00.003-06:00

In animal rescue, we discover a lot about ourselves. But we also discover a lot about the world, much of which, we dislike and learn to resent.

We realize that the rights of animals are low on the list of priorities for those people who possess the ability to protect them, such as police, lawyers and prosecutors, politicians, owners. Many laws that are meant to protect animals, are shoved onto the back burner and other "more important" ones are pushed ahead. In some ways, I understand this, as we all make decisions and prioritize things in our lives. But animal care requirements are still in the dark ages. For instance, the laws of Texas, and I believe they are the first to make such a change, no longer consider dogs personal property with no intrinsic value. "Dogs have finally moved up in legal standing from just “personal property” with no additional value, to personal property with recognized intrinsic or sentimental value. It took 120 years, but the law finally figured out that people value their dogs more than your average inanimate household item. Dogs now are in the same category as irreplaceable family pictures, heirlooms, and other personal property with sentimental value."  Dogs are still considered objects, with no credit given to their ability to have feelings or feel pain, but this legal precedent at least recognizes the fact that we have feelings for them, at least as much as that photograph of Grandma holding the new baby of the family... Our question, "why is it taking so long to progress?"

We realize that some people just don't care about animals, as impossible as that may sound to us. How they can look into the eyes of an animal and not see their soul, not see that they can love, and feel pain... It is unfathomable to me and many, but it is the truth. These people can go about their day, and not bother themselves with reading my blog or visiting my office. I like to think they are dedicated to correcting other injustices in the world, as there are many out there.

We also realize that there are millions of people who do care about animals, treat them as family, yet do nothing about the injustice that is served upon them. "I could never do what you do" is my LEAST favorite quotation from fellow animal lovers, yet I hear it so often. This is a big source of frustration, and I have addressed it many times in my blog. Here is one of them: "Help Your Local Animal Shelter While On a Budget"

But the biggest thing we face is burnout. We submit ourselves every day to seeing things that hurt us. Animals abandoned, animals hurt, animals being treated like trash. We hear owners say the most repulsive things about why they need to "get rid of" this pet. We get yelled at when we have no room to take in an unwanted pet, or stray. They yell even louder when we request financial help with the intake of that unwanted pet. We are always expected to do it all for free and with a smile on our face. We watch as those we try to protect, get no protection from those who have the ability to make the necessary changes. We cry happy tears at adoptions and sad tears at our losses. We get tired, hurt, exhausted.

Until one day we struggle. We struggle to the point of needing a break, yet rarely do we take one, because if we do, who will fill in where we are needed?

I struggled as the death of my cousin was treated as insignificant. In the same state where a young man is facing felony charges for beating a squirrel with a hockey stick, my cousin's death is left unpunished, with no answers, and no punishment for inadequate investigation. I wondered why I fight for animals when there are so many injustices for people as well.

I struggled when a friend felt comfortable enough with me to reveal her past abuse, the likes of which have made me again question why I am helping animals when people also suffer. I am so grateful for her honesty and trust, and would not want her to take those words back. The point is that it opened my eyes to yet another injustice I have heard about, but I have never been a witness to until now, and it rocked me at the core. I recognize now that while I cannot change the past, I can be there for her when she needs me. I hope I am a strong enough person to do so.

So, why am I helping animals when at times the injustice of people creates so much pain in me that I could run in circles for days trying to outrun the tears?

I think I now know why. It is where my confidence lies.  It is where my background is concentrated. I cannot fix everything. I cannot change the world. But if I can inspire one person, then I have made a difference. Perhaps I have made that difference and inspired one person, but now I need to inspire person number two!

I have to leave the other missions to those who can prioritize them into their lives, and hope they step up to make the necessary changes. I cannot bring my cousin back. I cannot change the past of those I love. But I can and will be there for those I love when they need me, or at least I will try my best to do so. I am human, after all.

I realize I have to focus on the fact that my training makes animal care my specialty. If my life had led me down a different path, I do believe the intensity of my passion would be focused on whatever endeavor I took on. But in this lifetime, this is where I can make the biggest difference. Even when the difference I am making seems futile, and too small in the grand scheme of things.

When someone asks, "Why do you help animals when children/environment/elderly/poor suffer?", I have to say because this is who I am. This is what I know. This is what I have chosen. Or perhaps this is what has chosen me. If I could do it all, I would... (perhaps I should buy a lottery ticket so I can do it all? :) But I can't do it all. And if you are asking that question of me, you better be doing your share in whatever mission inspires you.

I guess I am saying something to all of you that have followed my blog, and noticed my absence. I am saying...

I am back... so brace yourselves!   :)

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Legal vs. Ethical Obligation?

2011-12-29T12:26:00.002-06:00

I was at an animal welfare meeting which was attended by veterinarians, shelter employees, rescue volunteers, as well as law enforcement personnel. The meeting was very educational, and also allowed people to ask questions regarding laws about which they needed more clarification.

Of course the topic turned to puppy mills. One of the topics discussed was the fact that licensed commercial breeders are required to have a veterinarian to "sign on" as the veterinarian for that breeder.

One veterinarian asked a question. " If we sign on as the veterinarian for a facility, does that make us legally responsible for what happens in that facility." The answer from our speaker was a simple no.

It was not just the answer that disturbed me. It was the fact that the question was asked. If you sign on to a facility, you are not just signing a paper. You, as an animal care professional, are attesting to the fact that the care in that facility meets your own animal care standards, which hopefully are not limited to the legal requirements. Veterinarians deal on a daily basis with the progeny of the dogs bred within these facilities, and small animal veterinarians make the majority of their income caring for the dogs who are now part of a human family, but once were the offspring of those puppy mill dogs that reside in cages for their lifetime. If veterinarians agree to sign on the dotted line, should they not be obligated to attest to the care of the animals residing within these facilities? Are the legal standards ALL they should consider when (and if) they do tour these facilities and decide to sign on th dotted line?

My answer to the original question is a bit more complicated.

"No, sir, you are not legally responsible if their standards are not kept within legal requirements. However, you are ethically responsible to sign on ONLY IF you know for a fact that their facilities meet legal requirements and your own ethical and medical expectations of how the dogs (parents of the patients for which you care and from whom you make a living) should be kept for their lifetime."

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The Last One is A Zinger!

2011-12-21T13:23:00.003-06:00

Eating supper, Connor turns and asks, "What is this?" I respond, "Kielbasa". "Killbasa?" He hesitates. "Does it kill people?"

We stop at Casey's to pick up a quick sandwich. Connor chooses a ham and cheese sub. When he unwraps the sandwich, he sees swiss cheese complete with holes. "Mom! It has real mouse cheese!" When I buy him swiss cheese from the store to impress him, he sees it in the fridge, and remarks, "Mom, we have real mouse cheese?!" I respond, "Yes". He looks at it, and finishes with, "That's gross."

A young girl who assists in Connor's classroom sees me at the grocery store. She says, "Connor is so cute! Today we watched a Garfield movie, but Garfield wasn't feeling well. So the Vet comes to see Garfield and feels his tummy. When he does, Garfield groans in discomfort. Connor says, "My Mommy would NEVER do that to a cat!"

We went to a chinese buffet. Connor insists on loading his own plate. I give him the plate and just follow him around. He sees what looks like long slender chicken legs and starts piling them on the plate. I look up because I had never noticed this item at this restaurant before, and start laughing when I see a sign that says, "Frog legs". Connor asks why I am laughing as he continues to pile them onto his plate. Laughing, I state, "Those are frog legs". He screams loudly, "EEEEEWWWW", tilts his plate back, as about a dozen legs slide quickly off the plate into the container from which they came.

Same chinese buffet, but years earlier. A tiny 3 or 4 year old Miranda and I are headed to the rest room to wash our hands. At the table in the back are two women speaking in what I can only assume is Chinese. Miranda stops dead in her tracks, flails her arms dramatically and pronounces, "Mommy, What ARE they talking about?"

Last night, 7 year old Miranda asked Daddy, "Is Santa Real?" Before Daddy can respond, Connor belts out, "Of course he's real! He's not a toy!"

I hope I made you smile!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!!!

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No Room At The Inn?

2011-12-13T21:12:00.006-06:00

Meet Mario!

Mario is an extremely personable kitten. He was found by one of our foster volunteers. She scooped him up and asked if we would take him into our adoption program. We immediately said yes, but found we needed to tend to an injured foot.

After examining him, we discovered that this was not a minor injury on his foot. It was a fracture. His rear foot was somehow broken and in need of stabilization. Fortunately for him, kittens grow quickly and as a result, the bones usually heal pretty well as long as they are relatively stable. Also fortunate is the fact that the weather quickly got cold after we took him in, and with his young age and his injury, I am certain he would not have survived the following weeks outside, unless there was a very attentive mother cat caring for him. No such mother was in the immediate vicinity when he was discovered.

He is healing very well. His leg is so tiny, I crafted a splint out of a tongue depressor, padded it with gauze, and wrapped it in tape.

For a local Christmas event, we brought Mario to meet and greet the public. He loved every minute of the attention he received! We decorated his splint to resemble a tiny candy cane. Had we done this sooner, we could have named him "Striper".

Mario is still looking for a loving home. Click here to learn more.

This leads me to one of the biggest struggles we have amongst the employees and myself at my clinic in regards to strays and owner surrenders.

Animal Shelters usually charge intake fees when they agree to take an animal into their group.  The fees are often minimal. We set our relinquishing fee at $35 which we believe is reasonable considering we are helping to ensure the safety of the pet that the people are leaving behind and providing it with necessary housing and veterinary care for the duration of its stay.

The biggest VIOLATOR of this rule is ME. I guess it is a good thing I am the boss, but I may have to fire myself!

We do have those people who give above and beyond our "relinquishing fee" and I thank goodness we have them. But this blog is not about them.

Owners of the pets needing to come into our rehoming service sometimes claim to have no money, despite the fresh pack of cigarettes in their pocket and the car they left running in the parking lot that is burning gas as they spend time arguing with my staff.  I want to believe these people are telling the truth. Times are hard for many right now, but I also know that in many situations, the animal is not considered a mandatory expense, especially in an emergency, despite the fact that our fee helps to ensure their pet's health and safety.

When it is a concerned citizen who found a stray or dumped animal, I am blissfully thankful to them for stopping to assist an animal in need.   More often than you would think, the concerned citizen refuses to help us finance the care of the animal since they found it and it was not their animal.  Sometimes these concerned citizens promise to come back later that day with the fee, but rarely do they actually make the trip back. I understand that if you found an animal, you may feel that the fee for the animal's care is not your "responsibility".   But I have some news for you. When you pick up an animal in need, the responsibility for that animal immediately becomes yours.  The next decision you make should ensure that animal's safety.  Whether you keep the animal, rehome it, or bring it to a shelter or rescue group, you are now the responsible party. If you put the animal back into harms way, it is you who are responsible for what happens to that animal. But many people will argue that point.  I fear that these sometimes heated discussions with our concerned citizens may deter them from helping the next animal in need.

A black and white rule is great for a staff to follow, but I have been in this world too long to believe that anything is black and white. The bottom line for most businesses is the bottom dollar. When I try to make finances a priority, not necessarily just for profit but to ensure that I can keep the clinic running and pay the staff to continue their efforts, I find myself being the one staring into the eyes of a dog or cat and telling the owner we cannot take the animal into our adoption program. As they walk out the door, I find myself wondering what is going to happen to the animal after they leave my clinic. I find myself wondering if that animal will be found abandoned in a field after wandering for three days. I find myself wondering if just one more animal in our care really would have hurt.

It is never easy to say no when someone asks for help with an animal. Saying no invokes a feeling of guilt and sorrow because animal rescuers really do want to help them all. If it is simply due to lack of room for the animal, I can only take those animals for whom I have room. When it comes to potentially having room, but having a person who is unwilling to assist us in our efforts, and follow our guidelines, it is extremely difficult emotionally to say no to that animal. The only one that will suffer as a result of a "rule" is the animal. Oddly, I am certain that if you were able to ask a dog for its last toy or kibble to assist its owner in need, the dog would give it without question.

I sometimes forget that I have expenses. These expenses need to be paid in order for us to continue our work. I have an eight year education, a building, and medical equipment to pay for, and a staff that deserves to make more money than they do currently. I will always find it difficult in both the rescue business and in the veterinary business to say no when an animal needs my assistance but the humans cannot or will not pay my fees.  I guess that is why I do what I do with the low cost spay and neuter programs, and our rescue work. But I am sometimes haunted by the eyes of those I could not help.

When I look at Mario, I see a pair of eyes we could help. And I am thankful for those.

But "no", is never easy.

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Retractable Leashes: The Good and The Bad

2011-11-26T19:38:00.001-06:00

Just a few years into my veterinary career, I was driving home from work. It was already dark out. As I drove down the road, I could see the silhouette of a person standing on a sidewalk appearing to gaze into the road. In the road, next to the curb, was a silhouette of a large lump. I could not make out much more than this, but was concerned enough about the scenario to pull over and stop my car.

I walked back to the unusual scene to discover the human form was a woman, probably in her late 40's, early 50's. Unfortunately, I also discovered that the lump in the road was a not-quite-full-grown Golden Retriever. In my proximity, I could now see that the dog was still attached to its leash, and the leash was still held in hand by the dog's owner. In most situations, maintaining control of the dog by leash is safe. But this leash was a retractable leash.

The woman was just standing there. I have no idea how long she had been standing there. She was definitely in shock. She was unsure of what she should do. Cell phones were hardly common at this time (dating myself, I know). She knew she could not lift this now deceased large dog and carry him all the way home. Yet she refused to leave him laying in the road. She just stood there, puzzled, shocked, still holding the leash as if her dog would get up and continue on their walk.

I explained who I was, and offered to help her lift the dog into my car so we could take the body back to the veterinary office, and place him in cold storage, giving her time to decide what she would like to do with it. Some people prefer to bury their pets on their property (not always an easy option with a large dog on the east coast). Others have their veterinarians take care of the remains. Still others opt to get the pet cremated and receive the ashes back.

As we moved the body of this ten month old dog, I was able to get the rest of the story. The two were walking down the street on the sidewalk, against traffic, as they did every night. The dog saw a car coming and for some reason decided that this car's headlights were worth chasing. He had never done this before, or at least was never ABLE to do this before, but tonight he charged after the lights. The woman thought the lock on the leash was engaged. It was either not engaged, or it broke under the force of the dog's charge. The dog ran straight into the road after its target, still on leash, and was hit by the car and killed instantly. The driver never stopped.

Retractable leashes are very convenient when used properly. They should be used away from roads, traffic, or hazards of any kind. Walk your dog to the park using a regular non-retractable leash. When you arrive at the park or other place that will safely allow more running space, then you can change over to the retractable leash. When changing leashes, never remove one leash until the other leash is safely in place. A choke collar should never be used with a retractable leash as it would maintain tension on the choke collar and defeat the purpose and function of the choke collar, and potentially constrict the dog's neck.

The woman came to me several months later with a new puppy. She became a client after my assistance was offered that night. She never used the retractable leash while walking on the road again. It was a tragic accident, but a lesson was learned by both of us that night. A lesson worth sharing.

A Life Anthem... Won't You Stand Up?

2011-11-24T15:20:00.001-06:00

Passion. You have to follow it, pursue it, and use it, in order to keep it. If you ignore your passion, you end up stagnant, uninspired, and quite possibly, lonely. We are born with passion, and I believe we are meant to follow it, regardless of what it is you are passionate about. If ignored, you will likely never become the person you were meant to be.

Some people are passionate about the arts, or human rights, or global warming. Some people are fortunate enough to dedicate a lot of time to their passion. Others squeeze it in between their jobs and their family time. The truth is, if you give yourself to your passion, even in small amounts, you will feel better about yourself, and become a better person as a result. It is not the amount of time you give, it is the fact that you want to give and you allow yourself to do so.

My favorite quote has been "Be the change you wish to see in the world." by Mahatma Gandhi. I wear a ring bearing this quote, and I have given a necklace bearing these words to a woman I respect in the animal welfare community. It applies not only to my rescue work, but to other aspects of my life as well.

I now have a new "life anthem". I could listen to it repeatedly, day in and day out. I could read, and reread the lyrics. The words, written by another, come straight from my heart, and they are my advice to every person, in order to find happiness, peace, bliss.

The song is "Stand Up" by Sugarland.

Here is a link to a video of the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwdOUW2abqI .

The lyrics from the video:

"The heart that beats

An incredible machine

made of blood and love

and hope and lust and steam.

Calling. Calling. Calling.

All the lonely people cryin’
It could change if we just get started
Lift the darkness, light a fire
For the silent and the broken hearted

Won’t you stand up
Stand Up
Stand Up
Won’t you stand up you girls and boys?

Won’t you stand up
Stand Up
Stand Up
Won’t you stand up and use your voice?

There’s a comfort
There’s a healing
High above the pain and sorrow
Change is coming
Can you feel it?
Calling us in to a new tomorrow

Won’t you stand up
Stand Up
Stand Up
Won’t you stand up you girls and boys?

Won’t you stand up
Stand Up
Stand Up
Won’t you stand up and use your voice?

When the walls fall all around you
When your hope has turned to dust
Let the sound of love surround you
Beat like a heart in each of us

Won’t you stand up
Stand Up
Stand Up
Won’t you stand up you girls and boys?

Won’t you stand up
Stand Up
Stand Up
Won’t you stand up and use your voice?"

Our voices are strong, but only if we use them. Our voices are heard, but only if we sound them. Our voices inspire, but only if we project them.

Regardless of the root of your passion, whether it is keeping the arts in schools, aiding the elderly, keeping history alive, assisting the poor, or animal welfare, to keep silent is the equivalent of watching the very things of which you are passionate die.

Find your passion, and engage your heart. Feel what it is like to make a difference, a difference only you can make. Feel what it is like to truly be alive.

"No one could make a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little." Edmund Burke

Seniors Do It Best!

2011-11-13T22:26:00.000-06:00

In shelters everywhere, the animals with the least chance for adoption, and often the least chance for survival, never even making it to the adoption floor, are the animals with the most years under their collar. The senior dogs and cats that end up in shelters, usually do not make it out.

There are those people who purposely seek out and adopt senior animals. These people have the most to invest, both financially and emotionally, and the most to lose. They invest a lot financially in these animals as senior pets are likely to develop health problems that require veterinary care. They invest a lot emotionally, because when you adopt a senior pet, you are not going to have that pet for ten years. If you were to ask a senior adopter what it is they lose by adopting a senior pet, you will not hear about the money or the time invested. You will likely hear that what they lose is their heart. They lose it by falling in love with that senior pet, and mourning their loss within just a few months or years of having been together.

Charlie/Buddy:

Buddy was a senior Australian Shepherd mix. He was in a high kill shelter in Missouri. I saw a photo of his handsome face and agreed to take him into our rescue despite his age. In rescue, people know what type of dogs/breeds/cats that people have weaknesses for, and that is how Buddy's photo ended up in my email box. When he arrived, his face was the same handsome face in the photo, but what was not seen in the photo or expressed in the email was the condition of the rest of him. The back half of his body had no hair. His tail also was devoid of hair, resembling the tail of a rat. There were warts all along his hairless back and rump. His teeth were chewed down and stained with metal (often seen when dogs are caged outside and chew on the the chain link out of frustration and boredom).

Buddy was going to be with us for a while and we knew it. He was gorgeous from the neck up, but his baboon butt was not going to help find him a loving home, and neither was his age. So we introduced him to my dogs and he was allowed to stay in the office area with us during the day, rather than in a cage. He was wonderful and we loved him. We discovered that his hair loss was due to undiagnosed thyroid disease, easily and inexpensively treated. We removed his warts when we neutered him. His new life was beginning, and he was enjoying it. His hair grew in thick and gorgeous for an old man.

For months he lived as an office dog. He was part of our family. Then along came a woman. She wanted our Buddy, and we were both skeptical and excited at the same time. We went through her application and it was wonderful. She came up to meet him. I went into the room to talk to her and I recall asking her, "Why our Buddy?" I had to hear the right answer, even though I didn't know what the right answer to that question could be. She looked me in the eyes, her eyes welled up with tears, and she said. "His eyes. I fell in love with his eyes."

As the adoption proceeded, we all cried and said our goodbyes. You can read a thank you note with a photo from Buddy's Mom (who named him Charlie) here. Our Buddy recently passed away due to kidney failure after three years knowing a loving family.

Remy

Remy is a Shih Tzu whose elderly human companion was placed in a nursing home. Her niece tried to care for him, but she simply did not have the time to give poor Remy, and she knew he was suffering as a result. Remy entered our rescue as a 10 year old dog with a heart murmur, and little chance of adoption, but we did not give up on him.

We tried to get Remy into breed specific rescue groups who could offer him a foster home, but they saw his age, and he was rejected. We gave him all of his medical care updates, including a dental which was greatly needed.

In another town, a woman was making the difficult decision to euthanize a senior dog she dearly loved. The very next day, the same woman saw Remy on our website, and she knew he was to spend the rest of his time with her.

Remy had the time of his life living with this woman, her other dogs and cats, and making friends at a retirement home which he visited weekly. He allowed the residents to hold him upside down and coo at him as though he was their baby. His heart touched each of theirs. Something that could not have happened had he not been adopted.

Remy's failing heart recently gave out after thirteen months with his new mom, but that heart was full of love to the very end.

Herkie:

Herkie was a stray in a neighboring town. He was obviously a senior dog with greying muzzle and obvious hind limb arthritis problems. He has a long wonderful story which you can read here: Herkie's Story . He was a friendly and sometimes youthful dog who carried a toy outside with him every time he had to go potty! Another rescue group offered us a foster home for him. While we would miss him, we knew that Herkie being in a true "home" setting would be best for him. He moved from Iowa to www.AdoptaLab.org in Illinois. His foster Mom did an amazing job with him as you can see if you read the above linked story, and we assumed that his foster home would be his life long home.

Then we got the message that a woman was going to adopt our Herkie. Herkie was again on the move, this time to New Jersey. She built Herkie a set of stairs so he could sleep in her king size bed with her. He went on vacations with her. He played in the yard with her as though he was a puppy.

After just five and a half months with his loving mother, Herkie's body succumbed to seizures and inability to walk on those arthritic hind legs. His mother stayed with him when he was put down, gazing into his eyes, and whispering "I love you" into his yellow lab ears. He knew the love of a forever family, even if only for a brief amount of time.

To the parents of Buddy/Charlie, Remy, and Herkie, and to ALL adopters and foster parents of senior and special needs dogs, this blog is your tribute. Your dedication and patience to the animals that have only a brief time left in this life is admired by all of us in rescue. Thank you for being there for our senior friends, and in that way, for being there for us.

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Iowa Mink Release Fails to Rescue

2011-10-10T00:38:00.002-05:00

As I write this blog, an FBI helicopter is humming above our small town. Many will lose sleep to that surprisingly loud flutter tonight if it persists into the wee hours of the morning. Our small town has fallen victim to domestic terrorism. The federal and local police are searching for the terrorists.

A local mink farm was broken into and 1200-1500 mink were released from their cages a few days ago in an attempt to "rescue" them.

http://www.kcci.com/news/29426211/detail.html

The culprits apparently tried to repeat the act tonight, as the law lay in wait for them. We will see what the news has to say tomorrow about this evening's incident. Meanwhile, the helicopter hovers above us, viewing our town in infrared and night vision scopes, and the residents text each other to lock doors and vehicles as the terrorists try to find a place to hide.

While I will never wear a mink coat, or admire anyone who does, I believe the people who attempted this rescue did so with very little knowledge about the repercussions of their actions. They have not saved a single life tonight.

Releasing mink who have spent their entire lives in cages into the wild in the middle of the night is an immature and unsuccessful attempt at making a statement. These mink are raised with water and food allotments handed to them. Few of them will survive and fewer will thrive following sudden abandonment just weeks before an Iowa winter rears its ugly head. Rather than running to freedom, the mink that remain loose stay on the property that they recognize as theirs, engaging in territorial fights, killing each other, one by one.

Many of the released mink were trapped by the farmer and volunteers following their release, and are now residing in cages with unfamiliar cage mates. Those mink who were housed together are now separated and housed with those whom they have not yet established a hierarchy. This is the equivalent of placing unfamiliar, scared, and aggressive dogs into a small cage (or ring, sound familiar?). The result is fighting and often death of one or more of the cage mates.

The actions of these people are equivalent to putting a band-aid on a slit throat. It is not pretty, will not help the victims, and will not win you any praise. If you want to make change, support the legislators trying to make that change. Educate the public. Decrease the demand, and the profit will decrease. All of these take time, but it is the only way to protect animals.

Acting out illegally, and causing the amount of stress you caused in these animals is not going to gain you any praise from me or from most in the animal welfare circuit. While we may or may not agree with your views about mink farming, your weapons should be words, not acts of cruelty. Acts like these cause a loss of respect for animal welfare and animal rights supporters by the general public. We come off being viewed as criminals, too uneducated to recognize the difference between saving one vs. protecting many.  We are viewed as unstable morons racing around screaming, "Let the pretty mink free"!

Rather than save a small group of animals, our actions should provide a blanket that protects all of them. It is equivalent to buying a puppy from a store because you feel bad that it came from a puppy mill. If you feel bad for puppies sold in stores, then you should try to get the store to discontinue selling puppies, not support the store by purchasing the puppy to "rescue" it. Pick up your pens, grab a dictionary and a thesaurus, and make a real difference by writing to your legislators and educating your friends, family, and the local public.

Why mink release is considered an act of domestic terrorism, I am unsure. I suspect it is because it is considered an attack on the agricultural industry and lies in the same realm as an attack on our food source, IE cattle or hogs, as may happen in an act of war.

If this is the interpretation, and is the reason why the federal agencies seem to be involved in catching "mink liberators", I think the government would be better off spending this time and money rewriting the laws that make up the animal welfare act, and better defining the animal industries and protecting the animals in their care.  Hogs are not mink are not dogs. They all deserve their own set of rules and regulations as their husbandry and produce is not similar.

Releasing a pathogen as an act of war in order to deplete our nations food source is an act of terrorism whose ramifications would be felt nationwide.   That, I do understand. Releasing mink from a farm, mink who are intended for the backs of the filthy rich is difficult for me to view as an act of terrorism. Their production is meant to support egos and vanity, while cattle and hogs support the nourishment of families. One is cosmetic and superficial, the other is a mainstay of life (unless your a vegetarian but the truth is that the majority of our nation is not). Mink release does not threaten our survival...

Although I would hate to hear that thousands of Iowans froze to death this winter due to an unfortunate delay in mink coat production.

If you really think about it,

Don't we look just as ridiculous wearing theirs???

"Cruelty is one fashion statement we can all do without."
~Rue McClanahan

"Behind every beautiful fur, there is a story. It is a bloody, barbaric story."
~Mary Tyler Moore

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***Special thanks to those of you who provided words of support and encouragement in reference to my preceding blog. I truly appreciate it, even though there were too many emails to respond to personally. Thank you. :-)

Where Am I?

2011-10-07T00:04:00.001-05:00

I am tired.

Having experienced some personal tragedies, as well as some rescue related tragedies and dilemmas, I am mentally and physically exhausted. I am shocked that I have let the blog set idle for this long, as it is my therapy, and my friend, but even now I am stretching to find something to write about. I feel as though I owe people an explanation of where I am and why I have been silent.

I am tired.

Rescue burns people out. It burns people out emotionally, physically, and financially. It can do so quickly. I am not at my breaking point, so do not interpret this as a retirement letter. But I am tired and our work seems futile in the grand scheme of things.

Rescue people learn to focus on the eyes of the animals within their care to keep them going on a day to day basis. I feel as though I cannot focus on that one face anymore. I am distracted. There is too much I cannot do, and the job seems undo-able. The scale of what needs to be accomplished in order to protect animals is astronomical and feels completely out of my hands as an individual. I feel like a salmon swimming up a never ending stream with a current so strong I cannot make it to the destination I seek. I feel my contribution is just an insignificant drop in that stream.

I am tired.

I am trying to focus on gaining my health back by working out, eating better, and having conversations with friends that are unrelated to animals and rescue. I am trying to focus on the few animals we have in our rescue without being intimidated and overwhelmed by the mass killing of dogs and cats in shelters, the over breeding of dogs and cats in mass production puppy mills, and the overall apathy and inaction of people who really do care about animals but justify their inaction with, "I just couldn't do what you do."

I am tired of being tired.

I will continue to write at some point, and I will continue to rescue because both of these are an integral part of who I am.

But I have to find the me who can be there for family, and friends, the me who can trust people, the me who is not cynical and depressed, the me who can smile and laugh sincerely, and the me who is not the automaton who seems to have taken over my life.

I have to find me.

If you see me anywhere, tell me to come home.

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Dog Holds Vigil by Soldier Companion's Casket

2011-09-01T10:29:00.003-05:00

Jon Tumilson was a Navy Seal. Jon Tumilson was an Iowan. Jon Tumilson is a hero. Jon was one of thirty soldiers killed in Afghanistan when the Chinook helicopter in which they were traveling was shot down on Aug. 6, 2011 by Afghani forces. He was 35 years old. A photo of his funeral has gone viral and become one of the most popular photos on the Internet being spread worldwide.

At the funeral, his family sat, grieving just a few yards away from the flag draped casket. One family member needed to be closer.

Jon's loyal Labrador Retriever, named Hawkeye, left the side of mourning family members to lay beside the casket of his hero and best friend.

The photo was taken in a small town in Iowa named Rockford, which is nestled in Floyd County, Iowa.

In an ironic twist, in the same county where a dog showed his unconditional love and loyalty for his human companion and his photo generated worldwide admiration, there are at least five Government approved puppy mills. Commercial breeders reside within the cities of Ionia, Charles City, and Rudd, all neighbors of the little town of Rockford, where Hawkeye stood vigil for his fallen companion. There are hundreds of dogs in Floyd County living their entire lives within a cage with little, if any, show of human affection. "According to the USDA, at least 23,000 adult dogs are kept in Iowa commercial kennels."

(Above Photos used as examples and not of Floyd County)

The love that Hawkeye showed to his hero has shown the world the true value of a canine companion. Dogs know and understand loyalty, unconditional love, and they mourn the loss of their companions, human or canine. Dogs are true companions, and not something to be kept in a cage for a lifetime of neglect and repetitive breeding. A dog's love and life long companionship are worth so much more than the money their puppies produce.

While Hawkeye has earned the privilege of leading the University of Iowa Hawkeye's onto the turf covered field during a football game, we must remember the hundreds of dogs within Floyd county, and the thousands in Iowa, and millions of dogs nationwide, who have never stepped foot onto grass or felt the wind blow.

Perhaps Floyd County and Iowa will open their eyes to the honor of being a dog thanks to the world's appreciation of Hawkeye's actions. But it is more likely the horrific lives of the commercial breeding dogs will continue to be hidden and government approved.

I suspect that if Hawkeye could speak, he would voice his opinion loudly.

Our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Jon Tumilson.

There are two heroes of which you should be proud.

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Scentsy! Your purchase will help us RESCUE and prevent Tail fires!

2011-08-31T12:16:00.000-05:00

Going away to Veterinary School was a big move for me. I had gone "away" to undergrad but was only an hour and forty five minutes away from home at any given time.
I coped with this separation by calling home routinely, twice a week. My Mom was always glad to hear from me, but when the conversation started getting too long, she would say, "Ok, that's enough." This was before the cell phone era (ok, I am dating myself), so each minute on the phone was a billed minute. Mom figured one minute less on the phone, was money put towards my education.

One night I was talking with my Mom on the phone. The only phone we had was in the kitchen. It was a rotary phone that was physically attached to the wall (again, dating myself). You were tethered to it by one of those curly springy cords connecting the handset to the base and you were very limited by the two foot cord in the distance you could travel while speaking. This shortened any lengthy conversation a teenager might have because there was no privacy, and you had to sit down on a stool that was certainly not meant for long term use. Again, no cell phones.

Mom stopped me in the midst of our conversation that evening by stating, "Hold on a minute, the cat's tail is on fire."

There was no panic in her voice. There was no urgency in the "matter of fact" statement at all. I hear the phone's hand set being placed down on the counter. Meanwhile, I am on the other end of the phone panicking!

"Mom?! What do mean on fire??? MOM?!!!!"

A few moments later, she calmy returns to the phone. "It's okay, I put it out." she says flatly, and proceeds to continue with the previous conversation. Meanwhile, my heartrate is up, I am panting, and my eyes are widely dilated! My mind is in a frenzy.

Mom had lit a scented candle on the center of the stove, part of her evening ritual. Oreo, our longhair tuxedo cat, had pounced onto the counter and proceeded onto the stove to investigate Mom's supper which was still in a pan on the stove. During the cat's investigation, her tail spent a moment too long hovering over the lit candle, and it quickly burst into flame. The cat was completely unaware of the danger it was in.

Mom noticed the flame, walked over, picked up the cat, carried her over to the faucet, and doused that tail under a cool stream of water before any harm was done. The cat was safe, and was more upset about the wet tail than the burning tail

The funniest part was my mother's calmness during and after what could have been a disaster! What if the cat ran and spread the fire throughout the house? The possibility of damage to the cat, to the house, and potentially to my Mom is very sobering.

While I love scented candles for the fragrances they provide, I dislike the potential for danger that escorts them into the house. With pets, children, and my swiss cheese memory, I worry about the risks of the candles getting knocked over or being forgotten and left to burn when no one is home. I also happen to be married to a man who blows the candles out as fast as I can light them. He worries about soot stains developing on the ceiling. Each time he blows them out, he declares "The wick is too long! The wick is too long!" like Paul Revere declaring that the Red Coats are coming during his Midnight Ride.

Recently, a friend and volunteer pet foster mom, approached me about a new product, Scentsy flameless candles. Scentsy Warmers use a low-watt bulb to melt scented wax slowly. With no flame, soot, smoke or lead to worry about, the Scentsy system is a safe way to produce a pleasantly smelling environment.

The scents are fragrant and there are so many that everyone can find a favorite. If your child sticks their fingers into the melted wax, it is completely safe. It does not burn the skin. It is comparable in temperature to a paraffin wax dip. Warm but not dangerous. If your furry feline knocks the unit over, there is no flame to spread. The Scentsy burners are much more attractive than a half burned soot filled jar-o-candle.

I can finally have a nice scent emanating throughout the house without the fear of letting it burn too long or unsupervised. The Scentsy plug-in has taken the place of our night light in the hall. It provides plenty of light for the stairwell and we awaken to the scent of our preference each morning. I am so enamoured with this product that our South Hamilton Animal Alliance is having a fundraiser with our local Scentsy representative.

From now until September 30, we are holding a Scentsy products fundraiser. You can view the products at https://judebeme.scentsy.us/Home . When you arrive at this page, you will see a little box in the upper right hand corner labeled "My Open Parties". Scroll through them to find the "South Hamilton Animal Alliance Fundraiser" then click on "Buy from Party". You can then view the products, with styles that represent everything from animals to sports, contemporary to vintage, classic to country. If you already own a Scentsy burner, stop in and order a few new scents! The burners make wonderful gifts for showers, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and there is something to suit everyone's taste.

With each purchase, you will help The South Hamilton Animal Alliance to provide shelter and medical care for our animals in need, as well as make your home a safer place for your family, furry and otherwise. If you order online, your order will be shipped directly to your shipping address, and the South Hamilton Animal Alliance will be credited for the sale.

You can visit our adoptable animals at http://www.jewellanimalhospital.petfinder.com/ . If you cannot find a Scentsy product that suits you, hopefully you will find a furry friend that will...

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Mommy! Look! Mommy! LOOK!!!

2011-08-18T22:03:00.001-05:00

We were at the Iowa State Fair on Tuesday. I was on the phone talking to a pediatrician about a cat bite case that led to a rabies quarantine, when my son started yelling, "Mommy! Look! Mommy! LOOK!!!" As I turn around expecting to see some crazy fair ride or giant deep fried snack that he is excited about, I see that he is jumping up and down pointing at a soldier in full camouflage military fatigues. Then Miranda joins in, "Look Mom!" with an excited smile on her face.

The soldier is only about three feet from Connor, so he was fully aware of my kids' exhuberant reaction as he walked by. Being preoccupied with the seriousness of the phone conversation, I was unable to apologize for my kids making such a scene.

To my surprise, rather than continuing to walk by the two crazy kids, the soldier stops and looks at Miranda and Connor. He stoops down, reaches into his camouflage pocket (I couldn't see it), and says "I have something for you guys."

He pulls out what would be comparable to a baseball card, but one for soldiers. His photo, taken in Afghanistan, is on the front, and his information including name and deployment history is on the back. I wished I had not been on the phone when this happened, because I would have loved to have spoken with him and thanked him for his service. I would have loved to have taken my kids' photo with him, but I am not sure I would have thought to take one at that very moment, even if I had not been on the phone.

After a brief conversation with them, the details of which I am unaware, he stands up, points at the kids, and says, "You guys take care." I cupped my hand over the mouthpiece of the phone, and said strongly, "You too," hoping he heard both the concern and the respect in my voice. I cried as he walked away. Yep. I did.

I placed that soldier's card on the mirror above each of my kid's dressers.

I must admit I was surprised by Connor's reaction to the soldier, unsure of what prompted his excitement. After thinking about it, I think I may have an idea from where the excitement originated.

When my father turned 18, our country was involved in World War II. Years earlier, his mother had moved from England to the US around the time of WWI, sometime between 1914-1916. His father remained in England to serve his country, and joined her in the US after his service in the Royal Armed Forces was complete.

By the time my father was old enough to enlist, he did, enthusiastically. He enlisted in the US Navy, and completed boot camp. By the time he was ready for active duty, the war was officially over. While never doing active duty during wartime, his bravery showed in the choice he made to serve during wartime. This choice is the source of my deepest admiration for my father.

I remember noticing my father at parades when I was younger, Every time a veteran's group walked by, whether they were marching, playing instruments, or riding, he would remove his hat out of respect, hold it up in the air, and say "Thank you" to the veterans as they walked by him. If the Star Spangled Banner was playing, my Dad's hand was over his heart, and he was singing with tears in his eyes. I am not sure if any of the veterans noticed my father amidst the crowds of people present at the parades, nevertheless, he showed his respect, and I noticed, even if no one else did.

I always feel a deep admiration for soldiers when I see them. Whether you agree with the political reasons behind a troop's deployment or not, you must have respect for the person. You must have respect for the person willing to put their life on the line for what they believe in; a person willing to leave the people they love for months or years at a time for the country and people they love. I don't usually approach the soldiers I see, but I have pointed soldiers out to my kids, explaining to them who they were and what their uniforms indicated regarding their choice of service.

So, perhaps this is where my son's excitement about seeing a soldier came from? Perhaps he senses my respect when I see a soldier. My father passed away a few years ago, but he would have been proud of Connor's reaction to the soldier that day.

OH SHOOT!!!

I just thought of something.

Perhaps Connor's reaction to the soldier stems from something else.

Perhaps it stems from the movie "Transformers"...the good soldiers vs the evil alien robots?

Na. I am going to go with the pride and respect thing. Transformers or not, soldiers are heroes.

Thanks Dad!

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Help From Home...

2011-07-30T12:03:00.002-05:00

A young lady that worked at my clinic a few years ago while in high school, has been visiting the clinic lately. Her name is Alexis, and she is close friends with my veterinary assistant, Miguel, who most of you know by now from other stories.

Now that Alexis is a young adult, and is living on her own, she has decided it has become time for her to become a doggie mom. She has always wanted a dog of her own, and the time has come to make that dream a reality. She visits our clinic, and meets our adoptables but is waiting for "just the right connection". I think most of us that are pet parents understand exactly what she means. After several meet and greets, Alexis would leave the clinic a little disappointed that she had not met "the one" but hopeful that the right dog was out there for her.

A few weeks ago, we took in a pair of adorable puppies.

These two adorable puppies came from another animal shelter that was unable to place them on their adoption floor because the puppies were timid and did not pass the "personality" testing. So this adorable pair of six month old pups were made available for rescue to other qualified rescue groups willing to take them into their adoption program.

When Miguel saw these cuties, he sent his friend Alexis a text message.

"When you get a chance, you should stop at the clinic. We have two cute Cocker spaniel mix puppies for you to see."

Alexis stared at her phone, reading the words in disbelief, as a brief recollection of a recent dream overwhelmed her.

Entering adulthood was not the only reason Alexis chose now to become a pet parent. She was hoping a puppy of her own would help her heal and adjust to a tragic change in her life. Just five months ago, her father died unexpectedly in a car accident. She has been struggling to cope with the loss that occured just 8 days before her 20th birthday.

Just a few weeks prior to Miguel's text, Alexis was on a family vacation in Colorado. On the last night of this family trip, she had a dream. In this dream, her father and her grandfather (also deceased, and with whom she had shared a special bond) stood before her, alive and well. It gave Alexis a warm feeling of comfort to be so close to them again, even if only in a dream.

As the dream continued, her Grandpa said, "These are the puppies for you, Alexis." With the men, were two very cute, shy, cocker spaniel puppies.

Her father smiled in amusement as Alexis seemed overwhelmed, joyful, and definitely caught off guard by the two puppies romping at their feet, unsure of which puppy to call her own.

Her Grandpa turned to her again, "You have to pick one, Alexis." and he gave her a gentle smile.

As Alexis awoke, she felt the comfort of having seen them again, but the visit created a new longing for them to be with her now. She wished that last night her Dad had chased her up the stairs growling like a tiger, the way he did at bedtime when she was just a girl. She longed for him to be there as she climbed out of bed, waiting to give her that big morning bear hug meant to wake her up and start her day.

The presence of the two puppies in the dream made little sense to Alexis, despite her ongoing search for her own dog. She would often pray to God that he could help her through this tragedy. She would ask God to help her find a puppy, and help her be patient in her search. She would often "talk" to her Dad about getting a puppy, asking if he could help her find the right one. When you consider this, perhaps the strange presence of two puppies in that dream was not so strange.

As Alexis stood looking at her phone two weeks later, reading the words texted to her by her friend Miguel, the dream suddenly made sense. She knew before meeting them that, as her Grandpa had said in the dream, "These are the puppies for you."

She begged Miguel to put a hold on the pups until she could get to the clinic, fearful they would get adopted in the few hours it would take before she could make it to the clinic.

She arrived at the clinic a few short hours after the text. As her dream had predicted, she had a difficult time choosing which puppy would be hers, and she could hear her Grandpa's words, "You have to pick one, Alexis". And slowly, the choice was made.

Meet Izy, one of two dogs that had been deemed unadoptable by one animal shelter's standards. She is now a beloved family member and providing the gift of comfort and unconditional love. Two lives have been completely changed for the better.

It seems as though Izy was destined to provide the comfort, the humor, the occasional stress of pet ownership to a young woman who needed help to heal, a woman who cried out for help in finding her canine companion, a woman who received that help from the two people she least expected would be able to help her.

While we struggle with loss, the truth is, we never lose those we love, and Little Miss Izy is tangible proof that love can surpass all boundaries.

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Update on Previous Blog Topics 2

2011-07-24T23:28:00.004-05:00

(colored text is linked to the original blog...click on over and refresh your memory!)

Help Find Lizzy: Dog Lost in Ashland Kentucky!

I am thrilled to report that Iowa Dog Lizzy was reunited with her family after running loose in Kentucky for six lonely and heart wrenching days! Lizzy's family was fortunate enough to have received a few informational leads as to where she had been spotted which was instrumental in her recovery.

Relaxing after the Run

Bring Hanah Home

I am sorry to say that Hanah, the dog that went missing following the Joplin, Missouri tornado, has not been found. They are still actively searching for her, so please join their Facebook group, Bring Hanah Home. Hope is not lost.

Meet the Sweets: Herkie the Hunk

Herkie, our senior lab with no hope for adoption, is doing wonderfully at his new home in New England.

Herkie needed help getting up on the bed due to his hind end weakness, so his new family made him his own set of doggie stairs! It doesn't look as though Herkie helped much in the construction process, but I am certain his old joints will appreciate the human efforts!

Clean Cut, Senior, White Male Seeks ...

Remember him?

A picture (or two) is worth a thousand words!

Addie's Story: 3 part series...

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3 Addie is doing great after eight years of being separated from her puppyhood home and family! Even in her senior years, she manages to climb into her own bed, and has the occasional left over Filet Mignon!

Addie and Cody are acclimating well to each other, as you can see by the video above. They look for each other all the time and each wants to know what the other is doing at any given time. Addie will not go potty unless Cody comes along too.

Ellie's Story

Part 1

Part 2 Ellie, after her visit to the Oncology Department at the Iowa State University, College of Veterinary Medicine is doing great! Oddly, the morning of her appointment, her lesion had seemed to disappear (of course). After discussing it with my husband, we kept the appointment just to be on the safe side. They made some wonderful recommendations for her care, and suggested that surgery was not likely necessary.

After a few days of not even being able to find the lesion, and not a single step of lameness. I decided to hold off on chemotherapy. She has since had no signs of any problems with that foot or leg.

Either of two things happened.

1. The biopsy analyzed by a lab (not associated with Iowa State), was misinterpreted.

2. The well wishes and prayers of people far and wide made a difference.

I prefer to believe it was the latter of the two. Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, and your concerns. Thanks go out to you from Ellie and her pal, Kirby!

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Help Find Lizzy: Dog Lost in Ashland Kentucky!

2011-07-22T16:47:00.000-05:00

IF YOU ARE FROM KENTUCKY, WE NEED YOUR HELP!

A local Iowa family is heartbroken today. They went on a cross country driving vacation. During the trip, they stopped at their sister's house in Ashland, Kentucky. Lizzy stayed there where she would be cared for by family members rather than strangers.

Sadly, on Monday July 18th, Lizzy's collar, complete with identification tags, broke off while visiting and she wandered off at a location with which she is unfamiliar. She was seen briefly the next day but would not come when called.

	Lizzy is a petite 40 lb, 2 year old, German Shorthaired Pointer. She is a spayed female, and is liver and white, more commonly known as brown and white. Her head and butt are distinctly marked in solid brown. She is microchipped with a Home Again microchip, and Home Again has been notified of her missing status, but in my experience, Home Again microchips do not always show up on some microchip scanners. If a shelter is using a non-home again or non-universal microchip scanner, she may appear to not have a microchip. (future blog coming on this topic) If you are in Kentucky please spread the word about Lizzy. Her family is heartbroken and worried about her. If you are located in Kentucky, you can help by checking your local shelters, rescues, veterinary clinics, animal control, and petfinder pages for a dog matching Lizzy's description. Please print this page and hang it in public locations for people to see in case she is spotted. Print this page and hand it to the workers at your local shelters, rescues, veterinarians, animal control, and police departments, especially if you are around the city of Ashland, Kentucky or within a 150 mile radius. Whether you are in Kentucky or not, please share Lizzy's facebook page http://www.facebook.com/groups/129336879919?id=10150258408144920&ref=notif&notif_t=group_activity#!/pages/Help-Find-Lizzy-Dog-lost-in-Ashland-Kentucky/209589362424737?sk=info and this blog with everyone you know in order to help find her and bring her home. Every time this page gets visualized, so does Lizzy's face. If you have any information on Lizzy, please call us at Jewell Animal Hospital at 515-827-5700 or email Immydog@msn.com . Her family misses her greatly...

Lizzy is a petite 40 lb, 2 year old, German Shorthaired Pointer. She is a spayed female, and is liver and white, more commonly known as brown and white. Her head and butt are distinctly marked in solid brown.

She is microchipped with a Home Again microchip, and Home Again has been notified of her missing status, but in my experience, Home Again microchips do not always show up on some microchip scanners. If a shelter is using a non-home again or non-universal microchip scanner, she may appear to not have a microchip. (future blog coming on this topic)

If you are in Kentucky please spread the word about Lizzy. Her family is heartbroken and worried about her.

If you are located in Kentucky, you can help by checking your local shelters, rescues, veterinary clinics, animal control, and petfinder pages for a dog matching Lizzy's description. Please print this page and hang it in public locations for people to see in case she is spotted. Print this page and hand it to the workers at your local shelters, rescues, veterinarians, animal control, and police departments, especially if you are around the city of Ashland, Kentucky or within a 150 mile radius.

Whether you are in Kentucky or not, please share Lizzy's facebook page http://www.facebook.com/groups/129336879919?id=10150258408144920&ref=notif&notif_t=group_activity#!/pages/Help-Find-Lizzy-Dog-lost-in-Ashland-Kentucky/209589362424737?sk=info and this blog with everyone you know in order to help find her and bring her home.

Every time this page gets visualized, so does Lizzy's face.

If you have any information on Lizzy, please call us at Jewell Animal Hospital at 515-827-5700 or email Immydog@msn.com . Her family misses her greatly...

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http://www.facebook.com/groups/129336879919?id=10150258408144920&ref=notif&notif_t=group_activity#!/pages/Help-Find-Lizzy-Dog-lost-in-Ashland-Kentucky/209589362424737?sk=info

Too Busy for the Dog?

2011-07-07T14:45:00.001-05:00

I was having lunch the other day, and a woman at another table, knowing the animal lover that I am, asked me for help with her son's dog. Her son's family has a small dog, but their kids were older now and were too busy for the dog.  They are trying to find their dog a new home with people that have more time for it since it is not fair to the dog to keep it. So far, they have had no luck. Did I have any ideas?

After sitting and brewing for a few moments. I responded... as gently as I could.

"Unfortunately, getting rid of the dog will only teach the kids that pets are disposable.   They should really think about whether that is the lesson they mean to convey to the kids in the household." The woman thought about it, nodded her head, and gave an accepting smile.

"I hadn't thought of that." she said in revelation. Her face revealed an honest moment of enlightenment rather than insult.

I proceeded, "I don't mean to sound rude or blunt with that response, but it's the truth, and it is very difficult to find any dog a new home. Our shelters are full."

My hope is that this revelation led to a discussion with the family.

The truth is that most families are too busy for their pets. We are constantly running one direction then the other, from one event to another. The responsible action is NOT to rehome the pet that you committed to when you brought it home. The responsible action to take is to set aside specific time for the pet. Create a family schedule and commit to it. Reaffirm your commitment to a family member whose choice is to remain with the only family it has ever known.

As a parent, offer the choice of caring for the dog or dropping an event such as basketball practice or favorite TV show to make time for the dog. It may not be the easy choice (for the child or the parent), but it is the responsible choice. If our children can learn loyalty to a team, or dedication to an organization, they should also know that a pet also requires loyalty and dedication. Parents should not be exempt from the pet care schedule, nor should they be solely responsible for it.  Parents are the ones that gave permission for the pet to become part of the family. There are proven benefits for children to have pets, including teaching them the importance of dedication through difficult times.

Our younger generation needs to be made aware that an animal is a family member for life. The commitment was made when you brought that puppy or kitten home. That pet plans to see you every day for its entire life. It knows nothing else. It has made the commitment to you for life. It expects nothing else. If you cannot make time to give the animal its care, then something must be dropped from the schedule. The something that must be dropped should not be something that depends on you for life and that is capable of loving you, and missing you when you abandon it. The basketball, the television, these items will not miss you, and they will not die without you.

Rehoming a pet should be reserved for dire circumstance. It should not be a casual decision made out of convenience.

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Kathy's Sky

2011-06-17T10:16:00.006-05:00

I took a photograph today.

I was on my way to my exercise class, "Boot Camp", at 5:15 (central) this morning. I saw the prettiest sunrise, so I stopped to take a photo.

I see beautiful skies often, yet I usually neglect to stop and take the time to capture the moment. Usually I am in too much of a hurry to stop. Life goes so fast, especially with two children in tow. I was not sure why at this moment, I decided to capture the beauty.

After class, I received a phone call from my sister. At about the same time that I stopped my car on the side of the road to take this photo, my cousin was struck and killed by a car. She was on her routine morning walk with a friend, safely up on the sidewalk when a car came up onto the sidewalk, taking something that did not belong to him...a life. He took the life of a mother, a daughter, a wife, a sister, a cousin, a friend.

I can recall many times seeing her on her walk when I lived in Rhode Island years ago. She would be taking her long strides, as I made my daily rush to work, having allowed barely enough time for breakfast, never mind exercise. I respected her dedication.

I just wanted to share this morning's photo...

Kathy's Sky

As beautiful as she was... and always will be.

Please send your love and prayers to her family...

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Bring Hanah Home: Dog Missing after Joplin Tornado

2011-06-09T00:02:00.015-05:00

A message meant for me was on a sticky note at work today. I was immediately saddened when I read the words.

"Lost her dog in Joplin tornado and was told to contact us for possible insight on how to locate her dog." A phone number followed.

I hesitated to pick up the phone, not sure how I could help someone 400 miles away after such a catastrophic event.

There was no name on the sticky note, so I called the number and announced who I was. The woman introduced herself, and told me her dog was missing from the aftermath of the deadly May 22nd tornado in Joplin, Missouri. This EF-5 tornado was the 8th deadliest tornado in U.S. history, the deadliest tornado in the past sixty years.

The family had already checked local shelters, and posted fliers. I asked if Hanah had been microchipped. She had not been microchipped. I hated to ask such a negative question, but I wondered about whether her dog even survived the massive tornado. How could she be certain that her dog did survive such a horrific ordeal? She was given a photo of Hanah taken after the tornado, alive. Hanah looks stunned, and possibly injured, but she looks pretty good for a survivor of such a tragedy.

"The picture was taken at the location of 4224 E. 26th street in Duquesne, behind CFI/Conway trucking. The people who lives there had livestock. She was carried to the side of the house. When the sirens went off in Joplin the second night after the storm, the people left there house and she ran in some bushes. They called the humane society, when they got back she was gone. But she has NOT been seen at the shelter (if you go-LOOK FOR HER ALSO). The neighbors at a house 2 doors down and they said she was seen Saturday in the yard and yet again no one helped her!! There is a reward for her. Anybody with info can call Kari 417-529-8088 OR call Duquesne police as they are aware of the situation!!! PLEASE HELP BRING HANAH HOME!!!"

This is what is left of Hanah's home...

Hanah's Mom's main concern was the possibility that rescues from several other states ranging from Minnesota to Texas had come in to assist Missouri and rescued animals that were displaced following the tornado. Unfortunately, there is no record of which rescue groups came in and which animals went where. Joplin Humane Society is posting photographs of the animals they currently have on their website: http://www.joplinhumane.org/

Dogs and cats that are both Found and still Lost, are being listed here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ms_tornado_pets_2011/
Humane Society of Southwest Missouri is taking in dogs from the Joplin Shelter to aid them with the influx of homeless animals the tornodo has created. You can view their adoptable pets here: http://www.swh.org/site/dogs.cfm

My advice is to:

1. Deliver fliers with photos to police, veterinarians, shelters, rescues, media in all towns potentially involved in the "rescue efforts".

2. If you are able to, go to the shelters yourself.  Do not rely on shelter staff to confirm whether your dog is there. Your description of your dog or the breed of your dog may not be interpreted well over the phone by a stranger.

3. Comb http://www.petfinder.com/ , using the zip codes of all the towns listed as possible groups who had entered Joplin offering help. Petfinder does offer search options within different radii of your location, IE 50 miles, 100 miles, All. I recommended she choose the "all" option.

4. Search for Hanah by varying the breed in the search parameters online and via telephone or other communications.  Hanah is an American Bulldog. Even on the poster above, it appears as though she is listed as a Bulldog, with the word American written in small print in the corner.  She looks more like a Dogo Argentino to me, especially considering her massive size, but other people may consider her a Pit Bull, Am Staff, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull, American Bulldog, Bulldog, Dogo Argentino, Boxer, Great Dane, Lab mix, etc. Interpretation of breed can vary greatly among "experts".

5. Check breed specific rescues. Often multi-breed rescues will send purebred dogs to breed specific rescues, freeing up a cage for another animal in need. Again, Hanah's breed could be misidentified. So check different breed rescues.

6. If spotted in the area, post signs, use live traps, make everyone aware of her face and your contact information. IF you are going to put food down, make sure you place it in the same place. Also remember, if food is placed, and the enticement to go into a live trap is food, you may be keeping her alive, but hindering her capture.

7. Remember, that after weight loss and dehydration, an animal looks much different than she does in her healthy happy days lounging on the couch. Everything about her may look different, her face shape, body shape. Look at her identifiable markings, ie eyes, and outline of her nose pigment to help identify her in photos and in real life.   This is another good reason to go identify an animal yourself if a shelter believes they may have Hanah. My husband could not recognize our cat after catching her in a live trap after she was missing for almost two months.

8. In my experience with Hurricane Katrina, after surviving out on their own, animals turn almost feral with survival instinct. She will likely resist capture. Once she is caught, and fed, her old personality should come beaming through.

9. Check Craigslist Pet listings, and Petfinder Classifieds as well. Remember your local paper Found Pets Classifieds. List her here as lost with photos if possible.

10. Wildlife cameras may capture evening movement, and help monitor areas where people are no longer residing.

11. Here is a story of a man who placed a tent at the site of his destroyed home following a Massachusetts tornado and awaited each cat's return. http://www.lifewithcats.tv/2011/06/15/tornado-destroys-home-man-camps-on-site-until-all-7-cats-safely-found/ All seven of his cats returned safely within five days. Camping via tent or camper at the site following the event, if safe, will give the pet an opportunity to return "home".

If you live in the U.S, from Canada down to Texas, please check your local petfinder listings from home. Her eyes and the outline of her pigmented nose are very distinctive characteristics that anyone can use to help identify her in photos.  She is just gorgeous. See if you can find this beautiful girl and reunite her with her family.

Here are some photographs and information from the Facebook page "Bring Hanah Home"

Desperately seeking a 5yr old 110# American Bulldog, white in color,2 different eye colors, may have red rash on rt underbelly. Missing from 4915 E27th st. Please call 1-417-529-8088 or 1-843-399-2199.

Hanah has been seen 2 times since the tornado hit. Once on E 26th street in Duquesne. Hanah lived on 27th st. before the tornado. There is no house there anymore but we think that's why she may be hanging around that neighborhood."

THERE IS A $500+ REWARD FOR HER RETURN.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ms_tornado_pets_2011/5756429879/in/photostream/lightbox/

"A VERY generous donor has just called and INCREASED THE REWARD! We are determined to BRING HANAH HOME! We'll have a big ole' check printed up for the fabulous soul who brings our gal home. If she is found at a shelter, rescue or other organization we will donate the funds to them in Hanah's name. We are overwhelmed at the generosity expressed and the love for our Hanah. ♥"

I thought about sharing photos of the devastation created by this tornado to show you how desperate circumstances are after such a massive tornado. I thought about sharing a video of the devastation caused by this tornado. But I do not want people focusing on the photos of wrecked houses. I want people to focus on Hanah's face. I want you to look at this dog without distraction. I hope you will note the small things that will help identify her... the freckle beneath her left eye, the fact that her eyes are two different colors, the identifying shape of the pigment of her nose. These are the details that will reunite Hanah with her family.

Here is a video about Hanah:

Please share this blog. Spread the word. Post it on facebook. Send it by email. Check your local http://www.petfinder.com/ for a dog matching her description, regardless of where you live.

Hanah's family huddled together during the storm. Hanah was torn from their arms by the devastating winds. The photo of Hanah sitting on the rubble was given to the family after the tornado, proof that she survived, and the search began.

To know that your dog survived a tornado, and still not be able to hold her must be absolutely heartbreaking. Hanah wanted to go home, but her home is no longer there. Her neighborhood is no longer there. Hopefully she is in the care of a good Samaritan. The more that Hanah's photos and story are shared, the more likely the person who has Hanah will see it and be able to bring her home. Please, help Hanah find her way home by sharing her story with as many people as you can.

What if it is your SHARE button that brings Hanah home?

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The First Scars: Early Wounds Take Longer to Heal

2011-06-06T23:09:00.004-05:00

When I first decided that I wanted to become a veterinarian, wait...let me rephrase that...  When I first decided that I might be capable of becoming a veterinarian, I realized that I needed to gain some experience at a veterinary clinic. I had been successful in earning very good grades in my first full year of college classes. Prior to that year, I was not certain that I had "what it would take" to get the grades to make my way into veterinary school, but I had proven myself wrong at least for the first year.  So I now needed summer experience to help me decide if a veterinary career was the route for me.

I went to several local veterinary clinics to inquire and leave a resume. I ended up with three jobs that summer. I worked full time Monday through Friday at a busy five doctor practice. On Saturday mornings I worked at a smaller, two doctor practice, and Sundays were reserved for working at the pet store at which I had been employed throughout high school.

The job during the week was the same veterinary clinic my family had taken all of their pets to since I was a little girl, so I was very excited about this new opportunity.   This would be the veterinary clinic I worked at five days a week for the entire summer. It was a busy clinic with a brand new modern building with five doctors, a large staff, fancy equipment, and a large clientele. It was not the same clinic (physically or otherwise) as the one I recall visiting as a child. The doctor and owner I remember was now retired, although he had agreed to come to the new clinic earlier that year when our dog, Sheba, was ill and he performed her euthanasia. He had been caring for her since she was a puppy, and she was 12 years old when we lost her. The original building that I remember was now old and vacant. The only thing about this clinic that remained the same since my youth was its name. The clinic had been named after the retired doctor who originally opened it.

During the first few weeks of the job, I had walked to the back room to post a few notes for the doctors on the bulletin board. I saw a small tan dog, with a brown nose sitting by the door. His or her leash was hooked to the door knob. I bent over and patted the dog.  He was a cute and friendly little thing.  His tail was wagging and he kissed my hands.  He was grateful for the attention that I was giving him. I asked one of the veterinary technicians about him.

"The ACO (animal control officer) found it by the highway, hit by a car. It has a broken leg." The dog gave no indication of the pain he or she was suffering. I could see now that he was holding his back leg close to his body. Otherwise, he was happy, alert, and playful. I told the little dog I was sorry about his leg, certain that he was in good hands, then went back to work. He watched me walk away, tail wagging. I shook my head and smiled at his animated gestures as I walked away.

I searched through almost 100 pages on www.petfinder.com to find a dog that resembles the image of this little dog that still lives in my memory. I found two...and they are both available for adoption in shelters.

Hope

Available for adoption at

Bright Futures Pet Adoption & Rescue, Inc., Columbus, NE

1-402-942-1936

Mi Mi

Available for adoption at Muscatine Humane Society, Muscatine, IA

1-563-263-7358

My memory of the little dog is fuzzy in some areas, but I recall he or she resembled a miniature version of a Yellow Labrador Retriever, although I cannot recall the gender of the dog. I am certain the dog was wearing a collar, with no identification tags, but I can no longer recall the color or style of the collar. The thing I remember most about this little dog is its little brown nose. The nose was not black like the licorice gumdrop nose found on most dogs, but brown like Mimi and Hope's noses above, and like my Dove's nose. It was brown like a little upside down Hershey's kiss.

My Dove

Later that afternoon, I came back to post more notes, and the little dog was gone. When I inquired as to where he was, the response was, "They put it to sleep."

I was not a doctor, but I could not help but silently wonder why they could not put a splint on the little dog. What if someone was looking for him? He was wearing a collar. He was so friendly and absolutely adorable that someone must be missing him. For weeks, each time I walked through that doorway, I gazed sullenly at the empty door knob and my heart would break.

If I wanted to become a veterinarian, I had to get used to the idea that animals get put to sleep, even healthy ones. Didn't I? I just did not expect it to happen to such a cute and friendly little dog. I was naive.   I went home that night, knowing more about the job for which I was striving, more than I wanted to know.

It is only as I write this story down that I realize something.  I generally do not consider brown nose dogs as cute as black nose dogs. I can almost say that I had a mild aversion towards them. I preferred the black noses. Perhaps, all these years, I have been associating those brown noses with that moment, that loss, that pain. Now that I have my own brown nosed dog, Dove, my opinion has only recently changed forever.

The next work day went on like any other at that busy clinic.   I stayed busy answering the phones, pulling charts, posting messages on the bulletin board, walking by that damn door knob. Then the phone rang, and I, the new employee, was the one unfortunate enough to answer it.

On the other end of the line was a woman who was obviously crying.

"I was told my dog was possibly brought there. She may have been hit by a car."

My heart sank.

"That is possible. The ACO brought a small dog in yesterday from the highway." I responded.

"Can you tell me what she looked like?" she asked.

I confirmed for the woman the sex, and the color of the dog's collar (the details of each escape me now, twenty plus years later). I continued, "She was a small dog, tannish in color, with a little brown nose." Now I was starting to get emotional.

"Is she still there?" was said with a glimmer of hope.

"No, I'm so sorry. She was put to sleep." The lump in my throat was almost unbearable.

"If I bring a photo in, can you identify her?" she sobbed still hopeful that it was not her dog.

"Yes, my name is Lisa. Just ask for me when you come in." I hung the phone up with tears in my eyes, a lump in my throat, and what felt like a truck on my chest. I did not want to look at that dog's photo. I wanted to just walk out the door and go home.

That afternoon, the photo was handed to me. The image on the photo was that of the little brown nosed dog.   The woman's worst nightmare was confirmed...by me.

A few weeks later, there was a litter of tiny kittens in an end cage in the kennel area.   I played with them during my break.  Kittens can just be so funny. They are so animated and cartoon-like. Later that day, they were gone. I asked about them. "They were all sickly with upper respiratory so they put them down."

I finished the job that summer, but I rarely visited the back rooms. I never worked there again for many reasons that were "more important" than these two instances. One of the doctors was very demeaning to the staff. The clients just loved him. I even watched one client give him a large cash tip and I laughed quietly over the irony. I promised myself that if I was ever fortunate enough to be "The Boss" that I would never treat my staff the way he did, and I think I have kept that promise. There was little staff camaraderie in this clinic.  Working in reception gave me little experience about what a veterinarian truly does for a living. Being in the reception area only meant not seeing surgery, not administering medications, not viewing x-rays.  The educational benefits of this job that were meant to help me decide what I wanted to do with my future seemed limited...and yet, looking back now, they were limitless when you consider how this experience may ultimately have shaped my life.  Those two moments and others were and are still very much a part of me.

My Saturday job at the small two doctor practice, provided me with my Mentors.  The tiny clinic without the fancy equipment and huge clientele introduced me to the Veterinarian and the Veterinary Technician that would shape my future work, cement my beliefs and fortify my ethics. I stayed with them each summer for seven years until I graduated veterinary school.

I sometimes wonder, "If that large busy clinic had been my only experience that summer, would I still have chosen to become a veterinarian." I cannot answer that, but I am so grateful that it was not my only experience.

Thank you Mary Ann and Nancy. I may not be the best veterinarian in the world, but I am still trying and still learning to be the best animal advocate I can be, thanks to you.

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An Act of Dog

2011-06-04T18:38:00.002-05:00

During one of my routine perusals of Facebook, I came across a picture. Of course the picture is of an animal. I am certain that does not surprise anyone who knows me or knows my blog. But it is not a photograph, it is a painting. The face is just stunning as it peers out from behind bars.

I look into the eyes of that dog, and even though it is hand drawn, and not a photo, the emotions seeping out of this dog are tangible. This little dog should be in some one's lap, not locked in a kennel somewhere, homeless. The picture had obviously grabbed my attention, so I clicked on the attached link. Often, links like this will lead you to a story with a happy ending. The dog was painted by a local artist, a story was on the news about the artist's work, and suddenly fifty people wanted to adopt the dog in the portrait.

After clicking, I came to a website: www.anactofdog.com . The gentleman, Mark Barone, is an artist and avid dog lover in Kentucky who has partnered with Marina Dervan, another animal lover and activist. The portraits Mark paints are endearing, but not just because of the lifelike expression on the animals' faces. The portraits are endearing because they are of dogs that were euthanized, dogs that were killed while awaiting a family in an animal shelter.

Each and every portrait, each face, each pair of eyes peering out from the canvas is a life lost, a love lost.

The above portrait, the one that caught my eye, is of Pat. He was killed February 13, 2011, because no one chose to bring him home.

There are more faces put to canvas...

Petey, Killed 2/13/2011

Roscoe, Killed 10/21/2010

Bruce, Killed 12/8/2010

I know what you are probably thinking right now... "But Lisa, aren't these pit bulls? We cannot save them!" Perhaps you are uneducated enough to have succumbed to the idiotic stereotype that pitties are all vicious, and you would never take one home. Or perhaps you are a rescuer, not unlike myself, that sighs when you see a pittie who needs a home because they can be difficult to place for SO many reasons that do not include their temperament. So let us temporarily forget about the forgotten pit bulls.

Let's keep looking at this gentleman's artwork...

Perhaps a Schnauzer would be more to your liking?

Eli, Killed 11/23/2010

Or a Chihuahua that someone had fed very well prior to her arrival at the shelter...

Star, Killed 11/4/2010

A German Shepherd with a smile should be easy to place into a home...

Rocky, Killed 11/10/2010

Or a beagle whose shadow even scares him...

Roy, Killed 11/2/2010

How about a Miniature Pincher that is so scared of the shelter ID collar and tag around his neck he cannot even lift his Dumbo-like ears...

Juicy, Killed 11/10/2010

Or any mixed breed puppy...

Buddy, Killed 11/7/2010

How about another Chihuahua? He comes with a harness that was probably put in place by his owner and has been worn for years...

Cole, Killed 11/4/2010

Or a Boxer who has obviously struggled to survive, just skin and bones, but did not survive his visit to the local shelter...

Sydney, Killed 2/13/2011

If none of these faces appeal to you, then perhaps my blog is not one you should be reading. If you are shocked by the adorable faces you see, faces that needed someone just like you, faces that never left the shelter, then you should keep reading.

Dogs and cats are being routinely killed in local shelters everywhere! There is something wrong with a system that finds death to be a more humane outcome than commitment and dedication to the life they hold.

Think you cannot help? "I don't have any spare time, or any money to spare... It is just too emotional for me." Then these faces should be what you see as you try to fall asleep tonight.

There are SO many things you can do. Need some ideas? Visit our previous blog by clicking here: "Help Your Local Animal Shelter While on a Budget"

Just like Mark Barone, anyone can be creative and help animals, it just takes some soul searching. He is producing 5500 portraits, commemorating the 5500 dogs put to death each DAY in shelters in our United States. Mark Barone is donating 100% of the proceeds from the sale of these portraits to organisations working towards a No-Kill-Nation.

Mark is painting portraits of love lost. Each portrait is going to be displayed in an art exhibit. Each face is going to be witnessed by hundreds or perhaps thousands of people. If only a small percentage of these people become active in animal welfare, the benefits could be enormous! If a small percentage of people learned to ask the right questions about their local shelter, the benefits would be amazing! The faces seen in this two football field length exhibit, commemorate the dogs that die in one single day in shelters, shelters that are funded by our tax dollars and your donations to care for our lost and homeless animals. Are you really okay with that?

Before choosing which shelter or rescue to help, visit this article: What is in a name? Know what questions to ask, before you write a check or donate your time.

If the benefits of this exhibit resulted in leaving a blank canvas, it would be the most priceless print in this collection. It would be an Act of DOG.

Now I am going to shed 5500 tears...

"Imagine standing in an Exhibit that is ... two football fields long and over ten feet in height. These paintings represent less than 1% of what the actual exhibit will be. The final exhibition will be a haunting memorial and tribute to all of our beloved pets, who were needlessly killed and robbed of their right to life." Mark Barone

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Iowa Police Dog Needs YOUR Assistance

2011-05-26T00:39:00.001-05:00

On October 19, 2004, a Des Moines Police Dog was injured in the line of duty. Two Officers responded to the scene following a report that an armed suspect ran off into the woods after shots were fired at an apartment complex. The Canine Officer was deployed into a dark wooded area in search of the suspect.

photo from www.kcci.com

The suspect was lying on the ground with gun in hand, waiting for the Officers in the woods. When the Canine Officer began alerting the suspects position, the suspect opened fire on the Canine Officer. The flash of the gunfire when the Canine Officer was shot alerted the Officers to the location of the suspect. The Officers returned fire, shooting the suspect several times. Unfortunately, the Canine Officer was caught in the crossfire, injured by both the suspect and the Officers involved in the shootout by a .45-caliber bullet and a shotgun.

"Reno", the Canine Officer, was shot in his chest and his leg. A bullet shattered vertebrae in his spine, another shattered his knee cap. He had surgery at Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine as well as undergoing physical therapy. Officer Tim Nading, Reno's handler, and another officer escaped the incident without injury thanks to Reno's brave and dedicated actions.

"It's a great asset to the department, and in this case we're very, we're positive that it more than likely saved these officers' lives," Sgt. Tony Steverson said.

The Veterinary Surgeons at Iowa State gave Reno a 70% chance of returning to police work. After five months of healing and physical rehabilitation sessions at Iowa State, he was able to return to duty.

Reno had been on the force for one year at the time of the shooting. He served the Des Moines Police Department for a total of seven years.

Reno was honored by the:

City of Des Moines with the Key to the City.
United States Police Canine Association as the 2004 Patrol Case of the Year .
American Kennel Club (AKC) with the American Kennel Club Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE) 2005

Officer Nading and Reno visit schools to educate children, demonstrate obedience training skills to pet owners, and participate in fundraisers for local animal shelters and rescues. Their dedication went beyond the routine service of a police officer.

At the time of the shooting, Reno was not wearing a protective vest. Reno, who was one of five Canine Officers that had been recruited the previous year, was waiting for a protective vest to arrive that was still on order.

Reno's shooter, Michael Shawn Reyna, was charged with 3 counts of attempted murder, and sentenced to 25 years in prison to be served concurrent with other counts, and was given credit given for time served. Charges of causing injuries to a Canine Officer were dismissed.  Reyna filed this month, May of 2011, for Post Conviction Relief. According to definitions.USLegal.com , "Post-conviction relief is a general term related to appeals of criminal convictions, which may include release, new trial, modification of sentence, and such other relief as may be proper and just."

Reno retired from the Des Moines Police Department in March of 2011.  Officer Nading, who continues to care for Reno during his retirement years, credits Reno with saving his life. Officer Nading continues to pay out of pocket for medicines that provide health, comfort, and quality of life for Reno during his retirement years, but the expense is not minimal after such extensive injuries.

I am inspired by the dedication of dog to his officer and duty. A dog that was nearly fatally wounded, not only survived the injuries and psychological trauma, but continued to serve his officer, and his department for another six years before retiring.  His officer continues to share his home and his family with his former Canine Partner, which includes paying for medications for a dog that likely saved his life.

A fund has been initiated to help Officer Nading provide the medication Reno needs to maintain his quality of life. Anyone wishing to donate to Reno's Retirement fund can send a check to Iowa Veterinary Specialists 6110 Creston Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50312.

The dedication of the Police Department to their Canine Officer seems questionable.  After seven years of service, a life threatening injury, and possibly two Officers' lives saved, shouldn't a Canine Officer have his medical care paid for by the department he served. A dog whose average life span is 9-12 years, who has spent seven of those years protecting officers and citizens deserves at least that much respect.

Why was a Canine Officer allowed to serve active duty without the benefit of access to a protective vest? Why would a fellow officer repeatedly refer to a Canine Officer as "It"?
Why is there no "retirement" care provided for a Canine Officer that has done more than serve his Officer, his department, and his citizens?
Why were the charges for Injuring a Canine Officer Dismissed?

I don't know the answer to these questions, but I do know that animal lovers everywhere will step up and assist Officer Nading and Reno, with the same dedication with which they protected us.

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