These are the stories of a handful of the dogs I’ve worked with through my local animal shelter and local rescues.
How do you get a scared rescue dog to trust you? Joel’s Story
The shelter is a scary place. Whatever happened before a dog finds itself there has probably been pretty traumatizing, too. Most dogs are a little bit shy and anxious, especially when they first arrive. However, every now and then, a dog is truly terrified. I’ve never met a dog more petrified than Joel. How do you get a scared rescue dog to trust you? Especially if they’re totally shut down?
Wade: A shelter dog with a plea for rescue
There are many dogs that I have a blast working with at Animal Services, some that I grow to love, and then there are dogs like Wade. When working with rescue dogs gets hard, when I am overwhelmed by the number of euthanized dogs in shelters and I start to be apathetic, I remember Wade.
Jazzy and Rasta go to the vet
I am apprehensive as we prepare to go to the vet. I am worried that the dogs will have an important medical concern. I leave a little early so that I can take the half-hour drive out to Archer slowly. Jazzy jumps nimbly into the car, while Rasta gives me a look that I am learning means that she has no intention of trying to do what I am asking her to do. It’s the typical beagle look: stubborn and sweet enough to get away with it.
Foster Dog Jazzy’s Heartworm Treatment
Time has a way of getting away from me these days. It has been nearly five months since Jazzy and Rasta entered our lives. Rasta was adopted only a couple of weeks later, to a wonderful young couple who adore her.
Kasen’s Day Out
The Saturday after Thanksgiving I worked off the turkey by taking Kasen out for a walk and short jog. Kasen is an adorable young dog with Alachua County Animal Services. He was a wonderful walking and jogging companion and got lots of attention even though the office with the “Adopt Me” vests was locked so he only wore a harness and collar. He was his own ambassador, asking every family that he saw to please take him home.
Kate: A Loyal Dog with Terrible Kennel Presence
I knew Kate for almost a year before she was adopted. It was a rough year for her. Her family gave her up relunctantly. They wanted to come back for her, and almost did the next day, but then they decided that, for whatever reason, they couldn’t.
Maggie’s Overnight Outing
Maggie is a sweet, sweet girl with Alachua County Animal Services. She was a delight on her overnight outing. She was quiet and mellow in the house and didn’t have any accidents. Maggie was perfect in her crate overnight. You can never be sure when you pick a dog up at the shelter how they will behave at home, but dogs who are calm and worried at the shelter are often calm and relaxed at home.
Gilligan’s Dog Day Out
Gilligan has the best smile! This sweet boy was so well-behaved on his day out from Alachua County Animal Services. He’s been pretty stressed at the shelter, which is why he was suggested for a day out. He sure enjoyed it!
Calypso: a sweet, skinny bully breed in need
Calypso stole my heart with her gentle nature when I met her last month, and I found her just as sweet and loving when I took her out a few days ago. Calypso was gentle to be leashed and ignored the other dogs walking down the row. She just stared sweetly up at me as she walked on a loose leash.
Fostering Shelter Kittens
I’ve never fostered kittens before. We don’t have or want cats, so I thought that fostering kittens wasn’t for us. But, we’re spending all of our time at home. It’s the height of kitten season, and shelters are overrun with underage kittens not yet big enough to be neutered or spayed. So I thought, why not try?
Sad Stories
These stories deserve to be told, but they’re hard to read. Please be thoughtful in your decision to continue reading.
Malone, I’m sorry.
Trigger warning* Not all shelter dogs are saved. Malone was one of the first dogs I knew well at my local shelter. I spent many days with him and I think that I might have known him better than anybody.
Earl: A loyal dog who ran out of time
Trigger warning Not every shelter dog has a happy ending. This is the story of my experiences with one of the thousands of pitbulls who are euthanized in America every day.