Weekend Update

Hi gang! I haven't posted an update in a while, and sadly, I don't think I have much to report today.

There was only one adoption on Saturday that I know of, but this excellent family adopted 2 of Allie's puppies! New mom and dad helped me give them baths before taking them straight to the vet to be checked out. They told me their previous 2 dogs passed away--they got the dogs from a "free to good home" ad 15 years ago! Very rarely are animals lucky enough to go to good homes from these ads. Check this out for more information and to learn ways to stop these ads.

I came in on Saturday fully intending to train dogs, but I was only able to get to Precious and Ginger. They are very motivated by hot dogs, so if you would like to reinforce the "sit" lesson, there are hot dogs in the office fridge. I've been trying to teach them hand signals, so if you want them to sit, point to their little dog bums, then give a piece of hot dog and praise as soon as bum-touches-ground (I point with my hot dog hand; they are looking at that hand anyway!). No command necessary, but you can say "sit" when you point if you want to. Please do not acknowledge Ginger if she jumps on you! We want this behavior to stop, so if you have Ginger out and she's jumping, turn your back, fold your arms, and do not make eye contact. Don't pay her one bit of attention until the jumping stops!

It was great to finally meet Keely, and I also met Shauna, who I hear is a super dog walker! I hope to have more shelter time in the future and get to hang out with these ladies more often! I was hoping to see Nicole, as there were several dogs that I thought needed baths (insert sideways winking smiley face here).

I spent the rest of Saturday cleaning litter boxes and kennels, showing folks around, and getting my leg humped by Sweet Pea, the shaggy black dog on the front row. This poor guy is very frustrated because he is not neutered! If only people knew the facts (and the myths) about spaying/neutering and why they should neuter their animals.


Everyone, meet Ranger. He's been at the shelter for a few days. Anita mentioned him in Thursday's blog (he is the big dog that she and Joanne gave a bath--way to go girls!). I can't imagine what this sweet boy's life was like before being brought to the shelter. He's emaciated, has sarcoptic mange, was infested with intestinal parasites, is covered in sores (resulting in infection), has overgrown toenails, and has callouses on his elbows and hip bones from not having any cushion between him and the cold ground.




According to the "human" who allegedly did this to him, he is aggressive towards women, as depicted in the picture to the right. See how he is pinning my lap to the ground with his head? It was reported that the ladies at one of the local vet's offices found him to be just as vicious.


Ranger is a testament to the resiliency and forgiving nature of animals. He was treated worse than garbage by a human, more than likely chained up as far as possible from his human's dwelling with probably less than weekly contact from anyone, his veterinary needs being blatantly ignored. I wonder how long ago it was that Ranger's "caretaker" last fed him. Ranger would be perfectily justified in hating or being wary of humans. But today, Billy took him for a walk and was kind to him. And when Billy went inside to get the camera, Ranger stared at the door, awaiting his return. And when Billy came back, Ranger's tail was wagging. That breaks my heart.

Be sure to tell ACO Lorton thank you for bringing Ranger home to "the family." (It would appear that he has some sort of "Rottie Radar").

All the links in today's post lead to printable pages, just in case you know someone who could use this information. Hope to see everyone at the board meeting tomorrow!