SO Much To Tell You!

My secretary (aka Mom) has finally decided to stop being lazy. I have been waiting since Wednesday to tell you things! Make sure you read EVERYTHING!

On Wednesday, Mom went to a shelter during her lunch break because she saw a dog on petango.com that she fell in love with.

                                                                                               “Pepper”

“Pepper”, a young dapple dachshund mix, was found as a stray near where my Grandpa lives. Mom knew she had to go home and talk Dad about it before doing anything. Well, she sent him pictures and when he finally saw them in the afternoon, he said to go get her! The shelter was closing soon and Mom wanted to discuss some things with Dad before getting her. So, she decided she would go finalize the adoption during lunch tomorrow and pick her up after work. Only one problem: Mom called back to discuss the plan with the shelter (it was fine) and decided to double-check on the adoption fee…$250!!! Turns out, it’s a no-kill shelter. As much as Mom liked Pepper, $250 was not going to work. The kill shelters ask $70 for puppies and $50 for adults and $20 for seniors and heartworm positive dogs. Mom wanted to have extra money left in the budget to get the dog to it’s first vet visit, buy it a collar/harness/leash, and all the other necessities. Because “Pepper” was at a no-kill shelter, Mom and Dad decided that she would be okay and get adopted quick. They were right. She was gone in 2 days!

After realizing that most of the shelters Mom had been browsing through petfinder.com and petango.com were no-kill shelters, the search changed drastically. It was narrowed down to the 2 closest kill shelters.

On Friday, Mom and Dad were off to the first one. They arrived 30 minutes after it opened and were greeted by a woman I will call Mega B (I’m not allowed to say certain words but you’ll figure this name out for yourself soon). Mega B directed Mom and Dad back to the kennels. Mom and Dad spotted a dog they wanted to take out to play with and went back up front to let Mega B know. Mega informed Mom that before she could even take a dog out to play, her application would have to be approved. Mom said that would be no problem and proceeded to fill out the paperwork. The paperwork asked to list all animals inside the home were the dog would be living. Mom, not one to lie, listed me and Jamison. It also asked the name and number of our vet. Mom provided that too. Mega B called the vet to verify that we were up-to-date on our rabies vaccines and Jamison is past due! Mega B told Mom that she couldn’t approve the application and Mom couldn’t play with the dog until Jamison was vaccinated. Mom explained to Mega B that she and Dad don’t live right around the corner, would it be possible to see if the dog was even a match for them before running around like a crazy lady to go get Jamison vaccinated. Mega B’s answer:”NO!”

So Mom and Dad left. Mom was on the verge of crying and Dad was furious. Mom immediately called the vet and got Jamison scheduled for an hour from then. They got home, Mom caught Jamison, and she and the evil-one were off.

                                                                 “Haha! You got caught!”

A funny thing happened at the vet’s office. When they came out to get Jamison, Mom noticed a really bright sticker on his paperwork:

SEE!!! I told you all I wasn’t lying!!! He’s crazy! Mom told me that the vet tech said it’s just a precaution but I say, “LIAR! YOU KNOW HE’S EVIL!”

Anywho, 2 hours later, Mom and Dad are back at the shelter with Jamison’s vaccination paperwork in hand. Mega B appears to be at lunch and another NICE woman helps Mom and Dad. They explain that they were just there 2 hours ago and filled out an application. She looks in the application folder…nothing. She looks on Mega B’s desk…nothing! She looks in the to-be-shredded pile….nothing! She looks in Mega B’s trash can..BINGO! That mean, rotten, awful woman threw my Mom and Dad’s application away!!! Now Dad AND Mom are furious but they both bite their tongues. 5 minutes later, their application is approved.

Another woman comes out to the kennels to bring out the dog that Mom and Dad wanted to see: a stray that was brought in the day before.

The shelter is calling her “Dolly” (*shakes head*).  Dolly has ice blue eyes, is almost completely white but has a brindle patch going up her right leg that wraps around her tail. She’s 35 lbs and under a year old. Mom said she had 1 baby canine tooth left in front of her bottom adult tooth. The shelter things she is American Bull Terrier mixed with Staffordshire Terrier. Mom and Dad said she is sweet as can be!

They went to this shelter intending to visit with a dog called “Shy-ann” who has been there since May 6th! So they decided to put “Dolly” back and visit with “Shy-ann”.

                                                                             “Shy-ann”

Although “Shy-ann” was friendly, she was just way bigger than her pictures let on. She also had a VERY thick, dense coat. They think she’s mixed with a flat-coat retriever but Mom thinks she has Chesapeake in her.

There was one more dog Dad wanted to check out.

This little girl was a stray that was brought in the same day as “Dolly”. She was extremely emaciated and Mom says she stunk to the high heavens! She is estimated to be about 4 months old and only 15 lbs. Dad fell absolutely in love and Mom was adamant about not getting her. This shelter doesn’t really treat sick dogs and this puppy has tarry, loose, black poo. As much as Mom wants to save her and get her medical attention, it’s not financially reasonable right now to start out with a sick pup. Mom also knows that this girl will get scooped up fast. Mom also really doesn’t want to deal with housebreaking and chewing and all that stuff. Although “Dolly” is young, she seemed MUCH more mature that this little girl.

In the end, Mom and Dad put a deposit on “Dolly” (this will NOT be her name!).

How the shelter works is that the owner has 5 days to claim their dog before they become property of animal control. So, “Dolly” and the puppy become property of animal control on Wednesday 7/29. If their owner doesn’t come forward they will then be spayed and get their vaccines. At this point, it is unknown if either of them have heartworm or any other serious issues because they don’t do ANY testing or vetting until spay day. So long as “Dolly” doesn’t have heartworm, she’s going to be my sister!

As for “Shy-ann” and the other residents of animal control, they are all given a “score” from 0-6: 0=least adoptable and 6=most adoptable (“Shy-ann” is a 5!). When they run out of space, that’s when the euthanizing begins and they start with the zeroes, not with the dogs that are there the longest. 48 hours before the euthanizing occurs, animal control puts out an alert on Facebook as to which dogs are at risk. Mom and Dad have already decided that if “Shy-ann” should show up, they will go back for her then!

In the meantime, we’re preparing for “Dolly” whose name will immediately be changed to……PEBBLES! That is, of course, if the name fits once we really get to know her 🙂

If you have suggestions for names, please share them! We would love another food-based name like Noodle but we’re game for anything that’s not a common name. Dad’s stuck on Pebbles, which Mom likes too, but we’d still love your ideas!

Oh, my secretary wants to add something:

Noodle’s mom here!

Going to the shelters has been so extremely difficult and heartbreaking. Both Greg (Noodle’s Dad) and I leave them feeling horribly guilty – guilty for the ones we walk past and guilty for the ones we play with and don’t adopt. It has always been a dream of mine to rescue an animal that no one else wanted in its 11th hour, or one that needed medical attention that it wasn’t getting. Unfortunately, I don’t have that ability at this time and it absolutely kills me. Although none of you have ever judged us and our decisions (at least not publicly), I wanted to be sure you understand where we’re at. I know we’re being picky but that’s because we need to be sure that the dog we choose will NEVER EVER have to go back to a shelter. We’re not picking a pet or a possession, we’re adopting a child. We are most concerned with Noodle’s well-being. I’m conflicted about whether he’s happy about being an only-dog or if he loves all the attention. It’s just a lot and these decisions aren’t being taken lightly. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do not buy or breed your dogs. Adopt! There are SO many beautiful dogs just waiting for someone to love them.

Happy Sunday!!!