I volunteered at the wrong place
 

An Animal Shelter is a dangerous place to volunteer when you have a weekness for animals :rolleyes:

I have been working there for 3 weeks on Wed and Thurs. I have already put a 4-5month old Lab mix on hold. She came in as a stray on 11/18/08 and the owner has 5 days to claim their dog before the dog is available for adoption. If she is not claimed then at the end of the 5 day hold I am allowed first choice to adopt.

I do hope her owner finds her. Anymore it's so hard to know if someone lost their pet by accident or due to financial problems just dropped the animal off somewhere thinking someone would take it in. It is becoming very common for pet owners to give up their pets because they can no longer afford them.

I strongly recommend spaying/neutering your pet. The Shelter I work at has 350 cats/kittens and another 120 cats/kittens in foster homes. Cat/kittens out number the dogs but there is a large number of dogs at the shelter.

Bless you, LeAnn, for volunteering your time for those animals. You're a stronger person than I am! I have to avoid the shelters and adoption days at PetSmart....I have no willpower when it comes to these helpless creatures. I volunteer for a no-kill cat shelter but it's just office work from home...I never have to come into contact with any of the cats unless it's by my choice. If I did....I'd be overrun with cats at my house.....and there would be two very ticked off felines here!!

I hope the owner claims the dog, too, but it sounds like he'll get a good home with you! How anyone can just leave a pet is beyond me. My pets are family....I would do for them just like I'd do for my other family members. I think too many people just look at a pet as a disposable item that can be tossed to the side whenever it becomes an inconvenience. There's a special place in "you know where" for these people.

People suck! Dog's rock! End of story. LOL I would rather spend 8 hours a day with my animals than to have to deal with most of the morons I see on a daily basis.

I have never been a dog person until recently. And by recently I mean I found the perfect dog who was already 8 months old and spayed and crate trained. And I have to say she is my shadow. And I love her dearly and I am thankful I decided to get her. Yes, there's pics in my albums. She is far from a puppy at 10 months old and weighing in over 40 lbs and she never stops eating. Keep in mind they tend to get BIG.

Yes it is Snoopy! However, I admire you for volunteering at the shelter. I too am such a sucker for these animals and would be wanting to take all of them home. You're awesome!!!:hug:

I have been forbidden to go within a hundred yards of the local shelters by my partner. He already suspects I like the dog better than him (I do. don't tell:p).

Thank you for volunteering for them! Yes, please, please people spay and neuter. If you can't afford it there are programs to help.

OMG I couldn't volunteer at an animal shelter for just that reason. I'd want to bring too many home with me. I can't even go into a pet store because I just want to take them all home. An animal shelter would make the feeling just that much stronger. Thanks for volunteering for those precious animals!

Thanks for volunteering LeeAnn. :) I agree, spaying and neutering can prevent so much needless suffering.

I got our last two kitties from shelters. Rocky was from a hoarding situation. He was a neglected runt of the litter and they'd had him at the shelter for months when I got him. I think somebody may have returned him once. Their loss, my gain. :circlelove:

He had potty issues for the first year but he's past that now and he's a perfect kitty for us, and handsome as well. My avatar is him when we first got him at six months old. :)

LeeAnn you rock! Great volunteer effort if you ask me, even if you're an animal lover who's prone to come home with various critters. They're so irresistible sometimes huh? :)

My friend did the same. Signed up for volunteer at an animal shelter (SPCA I believe) and brought home some new furry friends. :)

snoop, it's special people like you that volunteer, and with animals.
i would fall in love with them too. i can't imagine how hard it would be to leave them alone.

please also know that your loving heart and time will touch many animals and make their days better. you may be able to help many instead of taking a few home. can you tell i'm trying to make you feel better?

please keep us posted on your volunteer work.
i'm interested to know about it.

Ha ha ha..... I KNEW it! KNEW it! :D

It was only a matter of time.....

You are DOOMED!


I adopted one dog when I worked at the humane society and brought home a puppy to foster and get better and a pregnant cat who delivered kittens under my sofabed--when I was sleeping on the bed. My dog promptly adopted the kittens, my one cat adopted the kittens, and a tug of war between my dog and cat and the mom cat ensued. The dog actually got milk from nursing the kittens. It was hysterical to see the dog sneak to where my cat had left the kittens and steal a kitten and the mom cat to go steal a kitten from the dog. Oy what a zoo!

Spay and neuter is right. Responsible pet ownership--thank you Bob Barker--is the way to go.

Bless you for hanging with him during his "potty issues". ;) It is so refreshing to read things from folks that don't believe animals are disposable.

What a great pic. Can't ever have too many orinch kitties, got one sitting right here with me now, lol.

I got an idea how to beat this whole problem buy the shelter and move in there:yikes:

i would have a few on reserve if it were I, all my pets have been neglected abused or unwanted, wonderful animals


http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/l...ny_signs_5.jpg

:Thats-Funneh: :ROTFLMAO:


I really do like working at the shelter and given time I might decide to add more days :eek: :rolleyes:

I don't have alot of contact with the animals because I do administrative work, however, I like to get in a little early so I have time to wander the kennels and visit with some of the dogs.

We currently have a 8 year old cat who came into our home when we had two dogs. The last dog was put down 3 years ago this coming Jan.

On Wed and Thurs I went to visit with the puppy I want before work and after. Because she is on a 5 day hold she cannot be taken out of the kennel. She has a toy in her kennel and after talking to her for a little bit she ran to the other side of the kennel, got her toy and ran back with it to me.

I went around to the other side of the kennel to see what she would do and she came running towards me with the toy in her mouth. Needless to say I am in love :D

Downside: she is a puppy and as many know puppies chew. She lost interest in me and started to chew on a metal bar that is part of her kennel door. We will have to work quite a bit with her because we only have a 3 1/2 foot fence and she is going to be a large dog judging by her paws.

Housebreaking :eek: We put in some very nice and expensive carpet Jan 2008.

Because this puppy will be large, leash training is a major thing. I will not and cannot have her pull me. She will need to learn to keep my pace....slow :p She will also learn not to jump up on people - with her size she would knock me and others over.

I want her socialized. I will not tolerate an aggressive dog. I got spoiled with our last dog, she was a gentle dog who liked people and other animals.

I am trying not to get too excited about geting this dog as her owner has until close of business on Sunday to claim her. Ummm.....I'm not doing to good about the excited part :p

My family and I are going to the Shelter Sat. so they can see her and give their opinions. This will be the second time my DD has been there and I have to literally take her by the arm and pull her to get her out of the loose cat room :icon_rolleyes: :ROTFLMAO:

legezzalot, I have come to the conclusion I like animals better than people :D

Note: Not personal against anyone here :rolleyes: :p :ROTFLMAO:

That would have done it for me!! I'm such a sucker for animals. And, truth be told, I would rather spend my time with them than most people I have met!!

I think your home is PERFECT for a puppy. You have furniture, which will provide lots of chewing interest for her. Plus, the nice, expensive carpet will more readily soak up accidents than the cheap store brand carpet. So you're covered! :D :D :D


Crate training is a wonderful thing. Highly recommend it. And going to puppy kindergarten will socialize her and teach her some manners. You'll be fine with her because you'll pay attention and work with her. Just keep everyone in your family consistent with their commands to her and she'll pick up quickly enough. ;)

:hug: Here's hoping the owner doesn't come get her. If they've not shown interest so far, it's pretty doubtful that they'll show interest before Sunday. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

I think your having waaay too much fun with this :p

I do plan on crate training. Stopped by to visit the puppy today and found out someone else put a hold on her :rolleyes: I will need to get her between 9am and 1pm Monday. First I have a 10:00am appointment before I can get her.

Aw, Snoopy, I don't know how you do it but, THANK YOU :hug:. I can't even walk into a shelter without crying my eyes out! I have 4 cats, all spayed and neutered. They're all 'mutts' who adopted me :). It is truly sad that people don't always have their pets sterilized.

I saw a bumper sticker the other day (I gotta find one for myself): Animals don't dump people


I could not work there, LeAnn. I'd be smuggling all the animals home. Not good.

:o

It's heartbreaking I'm sure, and my hat is off to you for doing it.

Both my dogs are pound puppies, altered, and proud of it!

:cool:

I think it's eco-friendly. You recycle pop cans, why not pets?

I would like to see a day when your adoption papers had more esteme than the AKC papers.

did you ever camp out for concert tickets........ lol

I hope it all works out.

PolarExpress,

I think service dogs and the people who take the time to train them are wonderful and amazing. I have hoped to find a dog that could be trained in a more helpful way....we will see :)

So, I have solved the problem of keeping my 10:00am appointment (which is about forty minute drive) and know I have this puppy Monday morning without stressing I will run late and the other person gets her.

I will call Monday morning and give them my credit card number to cover the cost of her adoption which makes her mine. Then all I have to do is fill out paperwork and take her home when I'm back in the area.

The other option: After my appointment explain very innocently and sweetly.....I'm sorrry officer I didn't know I was speeding. :D

Frank, I never camped out for tickets but I had been known to camp out to be at the front of the line to get in to the concert :p

Cathy, In a very short time I have decided not to ask too many questions. When I walk the kennels and notice dogs are missing I know there are 3 options: (1) the animal is adopted. (2) The animal as been euthanized (3) the owner reclaimed their pet. I prefer to believe it was adopted or reclaimed - my way of dealing with the reality of shelter life.

There is no time frame for these animals, some have been there a quite a long time. The staff doesn't like to euthanize but, sadly, it's the reality of animal over population.

This is quite a tall order for a puppy. ;) Many puppies are active, impulsive, unpredictable and energetic even with rigorous/professional obedience training. Not trying to be a wet blanket but since your needs are so specific our shelter would ask you to consider an older dog where you can see the finished product. Love puppies but they are a full time job!

:) Maybe, but every puppy has to learn manners and that's all Snoopy seems to be talking about. Every puppy adapts to its owners needs/demands given the proper attention and training. Snoopy's not saying she's not going to give her the proper attention or training, she's saying what she expects the puppy to become--with the knowledge at first that it's going to take a lot of work to get her to the point where she knows what's expected of her.

People ask why my dogs are so well behaved. It's simple: I paid attention to them. I trained them. Sure, I've let my one dog have her own mind at times but that's why I picked Border Collies--they're bred to be independent minded. But they're also bred to be incredibly smart and responsive. My other dog's a rescue and has some problems. He's OCD in certain aspects (vet dx'd) and has separation anxiety. I've worked with him intensively on the separation anxiety and haven't been able to break him of it no matter what I've done. I've followed what behaviorists and trainers have told me to do, but I haven't put him on meds for it. He's 7 or 8 now. Doubt at this point it's going to change. And I've had him for maybe 2 years now.... don't remember.

Training is everything. Keeping a dog from being bored is also important. That's all part of being a responsible pet owner, which is exactly what shelters look for in adopting people. Maybe Snoopy has high expectations, but generally I've found that generally people and animals will rise to the lowest expectation you have for them when challenged. Set your sights high and more people and animals will rise to that challenge. And dogs intrinsically want to please their pack leader. ;)

JMO :)

Hi, Jules.

I understand what your saying.

A little back ground: I have owned 4 dogs in the last 25 years. All were puppies. Three of them lived to be 13 years old and the other one had serious health issues and lived to be 8 years old. We have had a German Shepard, Lhasa Apso and 2 American Eskimos.

I understand and know the care and time that goes into a puppy. I am not getting into something I am unfamiliar with and play time will be plentiful but, over time the puppy will be taught to have manners, leash trained and socialized. A puppy will turn into an adult dog. If not trained that adult dog can be quite unpleasant and why some adult dogs end up at shelters.