A Worthwhile Drive

I receive hundreds of emails and/or phone calls each and every week about dogs that need rescue, dogs that are about to die, people giving up their dogs... so, you can imagine how happy I am when I receive a call from someone who wants to actually rescue a dog. That was the case last week. Someone was interested in a dog that was currently at the Baldwin Park Shelter, a Sharpei named Brittney. Sean's concern was his other mini Sharpei and the temperament of this dog towards his children. These are all areas I am very familiar in sussing out, particularly in "aggressive" breeds. I jumped in my car and made the hour long drive to the beautiful Inland Empire of Southern CA. I arrived at the shelter and wasted no time in getting to Brittney.

Brittney was a sweet little girl who was just about to be fed when I showed up. The kennel attendant was very kind and helped me get her to the "get acquainted area." I observed a very timid dog that had not been given attention or love for quite some time. This is no way to treat any dog, let alone one that could not be older then 10 months. Her skin was in tough shape, her hair falling out -- she was neglected. Not sure what's worse, the crappy treatment she got from the idiot who owned her or the risk of being killed at the shelter because her breed is extremely misunderstood. In either case, this was about to change.

I watched her, and gave her some space, something very important to do with dogs in shelters. Too many people jump right out at the dogs and want to play with them or dominate them. Dogs who have been in a confined space under these extreme conditions need a minute to breathe, get their bearings and come around. I approached her slowly and looked for all the concerns that Sean had, such as the potential aggression to another dog, aggression to small children as well as health issues. I found Brittney to be a dream.... a dream for anyone.

Yesterday I received a call from the proud new dad of Brittney. All seems well, just like I thought it would. Stay posted for the official announcement on the Rescue Page of Bound Angels.

The Rescue of May

It was a few weeks ago that the email came across my desk about May the “aggressive Sharpei” at the local animal shelter. The very next day I went down to see the little killer, all 30 something pounds of her. She was alone in a kennel, and cowered in the back. When the kennel attendant went in to get her, she crouched in the corner, tail between her legs, and yes, she bared her teeth. Once noosed (the term used to get a rope around a dogs neck to lead them out of the kennel), she was a little reluctant to come out.



Lets backtrack a little. We don’t know her whole history, as it is against animal shelter policy to disclose the event that led to the incarceration of the animal. I did find out that she was adopted to a person through a “rescue” and was then dumped at the shelter by the person who adopted her because “she tried to escape from their yard.” Remember, most of the time people will make up an excuse to give up a dog so they don’t look bad. Personally I’ve never met a dog that doesn’t have the urge to try and get away. Dogs like to run and play and don’t like confinement much. However, my point in all this is to look at the background of what we know of a dog. At 2 years old she’s been pushed around at least 3 times, and ended up in a shelter.

When dogs end up in shelters they often develop kennel syndrome, a condition that makes them go either very submissive or aggressive. It’s a tough place, much like a human jail, only worse: These “criminals” did nothing wrong and are more likely to die than get out.

Back to May. I led May to the “get acquainted” area and released her from her rope, let her run around a bit, do her duties and observed her. Within a few minutes she had her tail up. I approached her and touched her, played with her and soon afterwards, was able to rub her ears, head and legs… all trouble areas for an aggressive dog. I asked the kennel staff to reevaluate her and they said they would. She would be taken off of the “Red List.” May was safe. I would begin networking her for adoption and move on to other dogs to save. No more than a week later I received and email on a Friday that May would be killed on Sunday for aggression. I was floored. Nothing I could do to change the plan, May would die. Over my dead body. I sprung into action, called my good friend Melanie from Bark Avenue LA, and with her help I pulled May out of the shelter. I would need to board her until I could find her a forever home. I boarded her locally and asked everyone for donations. People pulled through. I would take May for regular walks and emailed, called, begged and pleaded for a home and funds for May. This went on close to 2 weeks. I took her to the beach, shopping and anywhere I thought I would find her a home. Several came forth, but none were just right for her. May had several good possibilities, but many fell through, others I didn’t like. Oh yeah, and about her aggression, it would become very obvious as she would sit in the back seat of my car and step up on the center console, rest her head on my shoulder and lick me while I was driving.

Last week I went to a party and took May with me. Many loved her, but one guy stood out when he met May. She took to him and he took to her. I thought it might be a good fit. Chris and I talked and emailed. I knew it would work just great. Wednesday April 23, I drive May to her forever home. Chris just adores her and the same holds true for May. In the two weeks I’ve been watching her, I never saw her roll onto her back, and within 10 minutes with Chris she was rolling on her backs and he was giving her belly rubs. It’s a match made in heaven. It just took some time and money… and if that’s not worth it to save a life, then nothing is.

Another happy ending. Thanks to everyone who helped….

"Why oh Why Are U So Cruel," he asked?

Today was a great day for a trip to the local shelters.  A good friend of mine is looking for a life companion for his family and asked me to help.  His decision upon visiting the first shelter was easy, he will adopt a shelter animal rather than feed into the insidious machine of puppy mills and pet stores.  

Upon visiting our first shelter I came upon a sight that brought such sadness to my heart, I have to write about it.  A young woman was 'turning in" a Malamute...  A large dog, see the pic.  She seemed sad, but that just ain't enough.  Lets call this what it is, you drop your dog at the shelter, you may as well put the needle in yourself.  This dog, probably about 7 years or older, weighing in at an easy 120lbs was a gentle giant.  He looked optimistically at her, then at the shelter attendant.  He went along and was lead into a steel box, in which he could barely stand up straight or turn around.  She wiped a dramatic tear from her eye and walked away.  The dog stood, looked and I'm sure wondered, "Why?"

The young ladies excuse was that her landlord would not allow her to have the dog.  How convenient?  Little did she know that I found out that she only got the dog 2 weeks ago.  Wonder if she just moved to a new place this week?  Or did she not inform herself before getting the dog.  So the dog, comes out of a shelter, walks into a home, and two weeks later ends up back in the shelter.  Could there be any wonder if eventually this dog ends up having mental issues?  NO!  This dog was also filthy, with matted hair, which means he has not been groomed or bathed.  Guess people are just too busy to run a brush through their dogs hair.

Lets get something straight here, if you get a dog, you are getting RESPONSIBILITY.  You don't teach yourself responsibility through pet ownership, you are a responsible person, then you get a pet.  It is not a disposable commodity, IT IS A LIFE!  Get that straight!  You are screwing up a life.  If you don't have the balls to own up to responsibility, get a Chia Pet.

More than a MILLION dogs will be killed this year because of Stupid People...  Add to that one more.  

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.  Adopt, rescue, foster or donate!

Kind regards,

Robert Cabral

Saving Tina

I've said it many times: "When my phone rings, the clicker method didn't work."  I've gone into kennels of some really tough dogs.  Dogs even the shelter employees don't wanna mess with, and I always come out with a new friend.  I like the tough ones, they make me smile, cause they usually always have a story.  How do I convince them to become my friends, to change their ways?  Simple, I show them my love.  

This is the story of Tina.

Tina is a German Shepherd mix that ended up at one of the tougher shelters here in LA - with 8 of her pups.  Of course the pups were adopted out, what remained is the old lady that no one wanted.  Eventually she became very aggressive to shelter workers as well as others.  I got the call from a good friend of mine, Blake, who asked if I would go and "check in on" Tina.  If I could get her to come around, she would be saved, otherwise she was on the short list and would be killed.  How could I say no to a challenge like that?

I met the shelter worker, a very kind and caring person who escorted me to the kennel.  Tina was very obviously shaken, scared and potentially dangerous.  I approached her with love and caution.  I noosed her inside her kennel and escorted her to a small room at the shelter where I asked to have 20 minutes alone, uninterrupted with her.  I was granted this and am eternally grateful to the kind staff at the shelter for trusting me.  

At first Tina wanted little to do with me.  It took her a good 5-10 minutes to warm up to me.  Once she did, I slowly worked with her and won over her trust.  She was a very timid dog that required some special handling.  To properly work with a dog, it is important to understand where they are coming from.  The worst thing you can do is assume they are all the same.  CAUSE THEY AREN'T.  I saw into her soul, her eyes told me her pain.  She craved to be understood, and I gave her that.  You can see in the pictures that she trusted me and I trusted her.  I gave her  a chance and she gave herself a chance.  Twenty minutes later Tina and I walked out of the room in a different light.  Tina took treats out of the lady's hand, walked around with her tail up in the air, happy as could be.  She even went over to the kitten cages and "talked" to the little kitties.

Tina is now out of the shelter and in a rescue foster program ready for adoption.  Another precious life saved thanks to the trust and dedication of people who cared enough to give her a chance.

The Current Rescue

Instead of backtracking, which I might do in the future, let me tell you about my current rescue.  She is a young lady named May, a 2 year old Chinese Shar Pei.  I met her at the local animal shelter.  I don't need to say which one, as I will try to curb my tongue, at least this week.  May was redlisted (which means the animal has less than 7 days to live), because of aggression.  I've seen this before, so I asked if I could re-evaluate her.  She was a bit shy and skittish when the worker pulled her out of her 4 foot x 8 foot kennel.  Once she was out, I took the lead and walked her to the "Get Acquainted Yard."  A place where the dog and person can interact.  This interaction is greatly disturbed in our shelters because of the fear energy and barking that is going on all around.  However, I did proceed with my evaluation.  She ran around a bit, then came up to me.  Within 5 minutes I was rubbing her head, grabbing her legs and playing with her with no signs of aggression WHATSOEVER...  

In either case, we were able to re-list her on the GreenList.  Which clears the animal from being killed.... kind of.  She was fine, and  began to network her to people via email for possible adoption.  I went in to visit her a few times, all seemed well.  

On Friday April 4th 2008 I got an email that May would be killed on Sunday April 6th.  I had one day.  The reason for her murder??  Overcrowding I was told.  I'll get into overcrowding at some future point, however, it was due to something else.  Lets stay with this part right now, which is May.  I immediately contacted my friend Melanie and asked if she would help me get May out.  She did and I sprung May. 

I picked her up form the vets where she was spayed.  To see her little tail wagging as she ran toward me brought a warmth to my heart that only a parent could feel when their child accomplishes something great...  For May that accomplishment was LIFE.  She made it out alive (unlike the MILLIONS who don't).  She immediately started licking me and her tail was going wild.  VERY AGGRESSIVE.  I put her in the backseat of my car and we drove off.  

Her underlying aggression could not be hidden for too long however.  Within minutes she jumped up on the center console and began an immediate assault on the side of my face - WITH HER TONGUE.  May is the Happy Sharpei I have met --- possibly ever.  

I have raised donations to cover her boarding for the better part of 10 days, and I'm optimistic that I will find a loving human that would deserve this much love, not sure if one exists.  I will keep you posted on May.  She loves walks, loves to ride in the car, gets on well with other dogs and has the fiercest tongue you could imagine....  

If you'd like to donate towards May, or toward the cause of Animal Rescue, please visit:

Bound Angels.org

Thanks for reading and caring.

Robert

BOUND ANGELS

jumping in with Both Feet

Well, after an "illustrious" life that has spanned many careers from Bodyguard to Artist, I've found myself here in Animal Rescue....  and I could not be any happier.  I've done many things that people would be proud of, but none bring the warmth to my heart that I feel when I look into the eyes of an animal that has been spared because of my efforts.  That being said, it isn't only about me, it takes many people to make rescues happen.  Many of these people have become my friends, and I am proud to know them.  Even though I've met very few of them, we have this network via email and phone that bonds us together as we fight for the common battle which is to save these creatures that our society disposes.  

In this blog I will try to detail what's on my mind, what's going on in the rescue circles, what can be done to improve the lives of these animals and probably a whole bunch more...  basically whatever is going through my mind at that given point, which could be just about anything.  So sit back, and get ready for a fun ride as you enter into my mind and my crazy life...