During a severe ice storm in the southern US, a pack of 3 adult Beagles and 5 puppies were sighted in a rural forest in Arkansas. The people that spotted them were fortunately animal lovers, and sought out animal rescues who could help the dogs. Thankfully, Carol and Desiree, two compassionate women, rose to the challenge.
These wonderful ladies gathered their gear and drove 45 miles to the woods where the dogs were sighted. They found the dogs waiting near a plastic tarp tent with some food that a caring Good Samaritan had fixed up for them (at right; photo by Carol). Found next to the puppies were shells littering the ground near the dogs which were evidence of hunters who were shooting at the abandoned dogs.
Carol and Desiree managed to load all eight Beagles into their vehicle and drive them back to town. There they were cared for at Little Rock Animal Village and Care for Animals, two animal rescue shelters who immediately took them into their adoption programs. Thanks to these kind people, the Beagles had warm shelter, food, and affection that cold, stormy night.
Abandoned hunting dogs perish daily of exposure and starvation all across America. Please help them whenever you can. You’ll be in good company. Thank you Desiree and Carol!
K9 Cuisine is a provider of premium dog food. We’re committed to providing our customers with the knowledge, and the products, to help their faithful friends be the best they can be.
The day I made the call to FOCAS regarding a sweet dog (named Little Joe) they had advertised, is a day I will forever be thankful. This dog was found laying on the side of the road by a highway patrolman last Valentine’s Day. The story drove me to tears. Little Joe had been viciously attacked by coyotes. He suffered multiple wounds on his legs and neck, and he was unable to walk. His foster mom assured me that he had bounced back from his ordeal and was now ready for a forever home.
I couldn’t wait to meet him. He seemed to possess all the characteristics I was looking for in a new pet…good with cats and liked playing with other dogs. We arranged a meeting with myself and my 10 year old dog, Sylvie. We had to make sure they got along…and Sylvie would have final veto power. When this little bundle of energy popped out of the car, Sylvie and I instantly fell in love. He had great social skills, and he and Sylvie started playing together immediately! Foster mom, Cyndi and I brought both Sylvia and Little Joe to a big grassy area so we could watch them and see how they got along. We both felt great joy at how well they were playing together and knew this was a match made in heaven. I adopted Little Joe that day and to this day, couldn’t be happier!
Sylvie and Sailor (formerly Little Joe) are the best of friends. Sailor is a great playmate and has also restored Sylvie’s confidence in other dogs. Sylvie was attacked over a year ago by another dog and was generally afraid of other dogs. Sailor has an amazing spirit. He’s full of confidence, smart as a whip, and charms every person and dog that crosses his path. I was told about all of the things to expect with this new dog: he needed to be housetrained, he may be leery of men, and the potential that he may chew…but I felt well-prepared to take him on. What I was not prepared for, however, was how much I would love him from the very beginning, and how he would brighten up every single day of my existence. Thank you to FOCAS for all the hard work they do in helping to give animals a second chance. There are so many incredible personalities just waiting to blossom as they wait to be placed in a safe, secure, and loving home. If you don’t believe me, just ask Sailor.
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This story was provided by Katie Bauer, Programs Coordinator of FOCAS, Friends of County Animal Shelters at http://www.focas-sandiego.org.
K9 Cuisine is a provider of premium dog food. We’re committed to providing our customers with the knowledge, and the products, to help their faithful friends be the best they can be.
K9 Cuisine: What is your story-how did you get into pet rescue?
Susan: I returned to Washington, DC from NYC with my first ever pets, who rescued me more than I really rescued them! The first was a laid-back Maine Coon kitty named Macaroon, who convinced me that cats were so cool I also adopted Ray. Originally Sugar Ray because he was such a fighter having survived surgery to remove his eye since he was born with herpes, he is a chandelier-hanging black cat who is Mr. Personality. A former colleague saw their pictures in my office and asked me to do a fundraiser for the Washington Animal Rescue League. I was so impressed with what they were doing, I started volunteering and soon after joined the Board of Directors.
K9 Cuisine: What is the secret to your success with the organization-how have you gotten to where you are today?
Susan: Our organization started back in 1914 as the first animal shelter in the city, primarily to rescue horses that were discarded after working as part of a horse and buggy team and later expanding to dogs and cats. What started as a grassroots organization is still very much the same way today, with hundreds of volunteers and a staff who do what they do because they care. And we grew as the animals’ needs grew.
For example, we recently expanded what started as a program around the holidays to provide food, bedding and toys for the pets of low-income residents. As the economic crisis worsened, we started seeing more and more pets abandoned because people couldn’t afford them, so we created a full-fledged food bank to help provide for those animals. Or goal is to set a new global standard for the humane care of homeless and abused animals and that’s what drives us today.
K9 Cuisine: What makes you different?
Susan: Our organization is unique, which is part of the reason why I got so involved. We have a full-service medical facility that is dedicated to serving the pets of our low-income community. This is a huge need as veterinary care goes up in price just as healthcare costs do. We also take care of the shelter animals in the clinic. But this means we can treat the doggies with heartworm, cure the kitties of upper respiratory infections and ringworm or worse, and take care of the puppies with parvo or offer surgery to those who need it. These animals don’t deserve to die from these treatable ailments, which is almost certainly their fate in other places.
We can give them another chance at life with a loving family.
A few years ago, we also renovated the shelter extensively. Every detail was designed from the animals’ point of view to promote healing and maximally enhance the animals’ physical and emotional wellbeing as they recover from past traumas and await adoption. Steel-bar and concrete cages were thrown out and replaced with glass enclosed dog dens, cat condos, and puppy pads-a more humane, efficient, and responsible way to shelter homeless animals and set them up for a successful transition into their new homes. We now comfortably house up to 350 animals and we’re one of the largest shelters on the East Coast. The renovation also expanded the capacity of the clinic to help us fulfill our mission.
As a result, we are a very happy place. People like to come and visit the animals. And we get visitors from around the world who want to study what we’ve done so that they can replicate it in their own community.
K9 Cuisine: What is it about dogs that you love?
Susan: I love dogs AND cats because of their ability to forgive and love again. Too many animals are abused, both physically and emotionally. Despite this, all they want is a loving touch, a kind voice and a lap to sit in once in awhile. They don’t care what you look like or what you do for a living. They just want to be with you.
K9 Cuisine: What is the neatest part about your work?
Susan: I think the neatest part of this work is the ability to give an animal a second chance. These animals come to us from a variety of situations, some of which are very sad. They don’t know what they did wrong, or why someone stopped loving them. But they are scared. And then we go to work, doing everything we can to find them that forever home they deserve. Fixing them up if they need medical attention or training. Every day is a success story at the League because every day those animals receive love.
K9 Cuisine: Where do you see pet rescue going?
Susan: I think the animal rescue field still faces many challenges, despite all the progress we’ve made. Too many people still don’t spay and neuter their pets, which contributes to the overpopulation crisis. Too many people still de-claw cats, a horrific surgery that removes the digits, not just the nails. Too many people still don’t understand the responsibilities that come with adopting a pet. Too many people would rather just kill off the feral cat colonies or cull the homeless dogs that roam the street rather than adopt a more humane and proven method such as trap, neuter and return, to reduce their numbers. It can be disheartening but also galvanizing, because there is still so much work to do.
K9 Cuisine: How do you fit into that-what are your future plans?
Susan: These are issues we think about every day and we’re developing programs using the latest research and techniques to help create a more humane society. For example, we have a terrific humane education program that goes into the schools to teach children how to respect all animals, but we want and need to do more. We offer spay and neuter clinics, microchipping clinics, behavioral training and other initiatives aimed at saving more animals. We also work with federal and state lawmakers to pass and strengthen laws to improve the animals’ lives. And the power of the press is important to help people understand what is going on around them.
But sadly, it’s not enough. We have to keep busting up the puppy mills and shut down the stores that sell them. We have to keep educating people about the importance of spaying and neutering and how it improves the animal’s health. The list goes on, but so will we.
K9 Cuisine: How can people find out more about you and the your organization?
Susan: That’s easy – you can visit us online at www.warl.org. Or, next time you’re in Washington, come visit us at 71 Oglethorpe Street, NW. We’re open every day but Monday.
K9 Cuisine: Tell us a little about you!
Susan: My friends are a bit surprised at how passionate I am about animal welfare issues because I did not grow up with animals. I didn’t even know anyone with cats, just dogs. And here I am a “mom” to six beautiful kitties! Not to mention that I am okay with the crazy cat lady title since I like to break silly stereotypes – I am married and have a successful career!
I also like to adopt animals that others tend to overlook, such as a kitty with one eye, or a heart murmur or neurological disorders. They include Ray, Ned, Ben, Sarah, Lucy and Norm. They are all beautiful creatures who are simply “perfect” to me. Every day they teach me how to love, and for that I will always be grateful.
Recently, after we received more than 100 dogs from a puppy mill bust in Pennsylvania, I grabbed two friends and we bathed the dogs because they were so smelly. Most of them had rarely, if ever, been touched by humans. The fact that they allowed us to bathe them was the first gift. The second - and most rewarding – was the look in their eyes. And that’s why I do what I do.
Grady was brought to a San Diego County Animal Shelter by a Good Samaritan who found him wandering the streets all by himself. Severely malnourished and suffering from over 200 foxtails lodged in his mouth and nose, this poor dog looked as though he was not going to make it. Worse still, it soon became apparent that Grady had also sustained a gunshot wound in his hip some time ago, which was rendering his leg almost useless.
The shelter staff was amazed at Grady’s exceptional demeanor given all of the pain he was in. They were even able to pull out all of the foxtails without Grady making a fuss. To everyone’s surprise, Grady wagged his tail during medical treatment and even tried to throw in a few kisses to anyone who came near.
The FOCAS adoption counselor at the animal shelter was aware of Grady’s plight and, soon, a rescue plan was in the hatched. Thanks to the generosity of the Lauren Foundation, FOCAS was able to provide Grady with the medical care that he needed including surgery to repair his injured hip in an effort to save his leg. Grady was then placed in the capable and loving hands of a foster mother at Boxer Rescue, where he was able to get the care and rest he needed while waiting patiently to for his new forever home.
Because of the caring, collaborative efforts of these people and organizations, Grady’s life was saved and he has been adopted by a family who truly appreciates him for the sweet dog that he is. His new family reports that his physical therapy sessions have done him a world of good; he now almost has full use of his leg, and that he has gained those ten much-needed pounds.
You can contact FOCAS (Friends of County Animal Shelters) at http://www.focas-sandiego.org, or call at 619-788-7880.
Almost too often, a special animal comes along and captures the hearts of all those who meet her. That is Olivia and here is her story.
Brave little Olivia was found caught in a wire fence and in her desperate struggle to get free, her front leg was injured beyond repair. Fortunately, someone found this little girl and brought her to a shelter, however, the San Diego Department of Animal Services was unable to provide Olivia with the care she needed, which is when FOCAS stepped in.
A veterinarian determined that Olivia needed to have her injured leg amputated, so FOCAS took her into our program and worked to find the resources necessary to save her life. FOCAS found her a foster home in which she could be cared for before and after her surgery, and we are happy to report that Olivia was able to have her severely injured leg amputated and she has fully recovered. Olivia is now 100% and is as active as any young kitten her age. She can run, jump, leap (and sometimes fly) around her foster’s home. She also loves to play with the other cats in the home too.
This undaunted little girl has not given up her fight even for a moment, so why should FOCAS? The generosity of FOCAS supporters helped Olivia to get her surgery, and continues to help the countless other animals just like her in need of a helping hand.
Olivia is now ready to be adopted, and here’s what her foster has to say about her:
If you are looking for a fun, energetic and loving kitten – then you might want to take a closer look at Olivia. Tragically at 6 weeks old Olivia’s leg was severely injured and she had to have her leg amputated. Within days of her surgery Olivia was running and playing as if nothing had happened. A true testimonial to her spirit and her desire to live a grand life! Olivia would love to go to a home where another kitten or young cat lives – she LOVES to play. (Her foster home has 4 cats.) Olivia is adventurous and a partner to explore the house with would be on the top on her list. Because of her playful nature Olivia would do best in a home where children are 10 years or older.
To see a video of Olivia recovering in her foster home, please visit her on the FOCAS Web site here.
FOCAS
Friends of County Animal Shelters
PO Box 8375
La Jolla, CA 92038
volunteer@focas-sandiego.org
(619) 788-7880
K9 Cuisine: What is your story-how did you get into helping animals?
Signe: I’ve always had, valued, and respected animals since I was a child. At one point had considered becoming a veterinarian. When I moved to New Mexico, I read about a cat with a serious heart condition that needed surgery. I contacted Barbara Bayer, president of CARMA (Companion Animal Rescue and Medical Assistance) in Corrales, to see if I could help. Even though, fortunately, someone else had already stepped in to help the cat, I inquired about other animals that had special needs. In the interim, I volunteered to socialize cats to be ready for adoption to loving homes. While doing so, I met and worked with cats who were less likely to be adopted because of disability, age, or temperament. One by one I adopted them.
Tony, for example, was a large orange long-haired cat with a lion face and huge soft green eyes who had been hit by a car. CARMA located him at the pound where he was covered in feces and dragged his hind quarters. With assistance he regained some unsteady walking ability. With his spinal cord injury he was also semi-incontinent, losing control any time he became aroused. Once in my two-story home we played up- and down stairs racing games As a result, he had to learn to negotiate the stairs and also hop onto my bed to sleep with me. In what seemed like no time, he was tearing around the house, as if he had no disability at all.
Just a few of the other cats that I adopted were an old, scarred cat with broken teeth from chewing on rocks; a blind cat who had impaired kidneys from a severe infection in her youth; a kitten missing part of its brain, due to its mother having had distemper, who could only hop awkwardly and died several weeks later of seizures; an old skeletal cat with 8 rotten teeth that had to be removed; two-legged Maine Coon, with functional legs on the right side and short stubs on left who could run when he whirled his tail like a propeller; kitten with hydrocephaly and movement problems, not expected to live; and a kitten who lost one eye to a razor-sharp foxtail seed pod and lost sight in the other due to raging infections.
K9 Cuisine: What is the secret to your success-how have you gotten to where you are today?
Signe: My success as an animal socializer and adopter has mostly to do with my understanding, empathy, and valuing of animals and my considerable patience with them. I’m a Social Psychologist and cognitive-behaviorist by training so I tend to see animals in their environmental and historical context. I know that whatever started a behavioral or emotional problem is not necessarily what is maintaining it today. I also know that you don’t get cooperation by trying to make an animal bend to your will. You have to understand what will provide the animal with what it wants and needs at the same time providing you what you want and need. It’s a sensitive dance. I have one large palomino-colored long-haired cat who was abused and abandoned. He was wary, unsure whom to trust, and never let down his guard. Yet after several years, he has come to look forward to jumping on my lap and cuddling up on my chest for petting. He’s still a bit wary but has come a long way toward feeling kitty security.
K9 Cuisine: What makes you different?
Signe: What makes me different is that I can put myself in the place of the animal and sense wherein the problems lie and how best to address them. Being a psychologist helps. Also in my life I’ve had to care for elderly parents that required sometimes extraordinary tolerance and patience. I can step back from a problem to assess it objectively, so I’m not immobilized or stuck in the quicksand of emotion. I also don’t panic in emergencies, act impulsively, or respond in anger. This type of temperament helps to maintain a secure and unconditional love environment for the animals. Cats are especially sensitive to the emotional cues of humans.
K9 Cuisine: What is it about animals that you love?
Signe: While I’ve had many dogs and cats and love them both, I care for cats now because of where I live and that cats don’t absolutely need to go outside, whereas dogs do. All my 18 cats are house cats because there are many dangers for them here, from snakes, coyotes, raccoons, bears, hawks, owls, fleas, ticks, poisonous insects and insecticides to ferals who may be ill or infected with FeLV or FIP. I love the individual personalities of my animals, their quirks, antics, likes, and dislikes. They are infinitely fascinating if you regard them are companions rather than objects you “own.” I’ve found that dogs and cats can be your very best friend. They will listen when others don’t. They don’t judge you when you do something stupid or embarrassing. They’re always there for you and provide the most basic of human contact: touch. If you provide the necessities of life and affection, they will provide unconditional love in return. They’re the gift that keeps on giving.
K9 Cuisine: What is the neatest part about your work?
Signe: The neatest part about my work with cats is when they understand what I’ve been trying to communicate to them and respond appropriately, because they choose to, not because they have to. Also there’s nothing quite like having a dog or cat show that it’s glad to see you when you appear and then want to share its attention and affection with you.
K9 Cuisine: Where do you see pet rescue going?
Signe: No-kill rescue groups are likely to continue and expand as people who care about animals see the increasing need. They will also want to be a replacement for animal control and shelters that kill unadopted or unclaimed animals after a short stay (and that may have reputations for abuse or lack of appropriate care). In difficult economic times people who care about animals are even more passionate about striving to do their best to help as many as is possible of the every-increasing horde. I believe that because of the programs and work of many larger animal protection organizations that their education efforts are slowly shifting the country’s feelings about animals in a more positive direction. The biggest problem for smaller no-kill rescue groups is finding funding and having a large group of volunteers to act as foster parents. Recruiting enough people to foster is a huge understaking.
K9 Cuisine: How do you fit into that-what are your future plans?
Signe: CARMA, which is an all-volunteer, no-kill, 501(c)(3) non-profit rescue group will continue to look for more ways to educate the public, provide medical assistance and foster housing to animals waiting for adoption, have adoption clinics every week, and continue to create events by which to raise funds and awareness to get more volunteers. Currently CARMA has arrangements with local veterinarians and with local merchants to supply them with damaged pet food and litter packages. CARMA has been recognized by the state of NM, has received grants from large corporations as well as supplies of building materials from local franchises. They are also setting up a vehicle-donation program. When I have the time, I send out press releases and stories to the print and electronic media to help keep CARMA in the spotlight. CARMA works with other rescue groups throughout the country and has had many “waggin’ trains” to transport dogs and cats to rescue groups or no-kill shelters in other states, such as those that help FeLV or FIP cats. CARMA will keep doing what it has been, try to expand it reach and influence, and help as many homeless animals as possible.
K9 Cuisine: How can people find out more about you and your work?
Signe: CARMA (Companion Animal Rescue and Medical Assistance) is located in Corrales, New Mexico, and has been a 501 (c) (3) non-profit for many years. It rescues animals that are abused, abandoned, neglected, or at risk of being euthanized. Adoption clinics are every Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon to 4 p.m. CARMA has a fee of $85-$100 for cats and dogs. The fee pays for the spay/neuter and age-appropriate vaccinations. The application process involves filling out a paper application and then going through a verbal screening with one of their members. They also do a home visit before adopting out the animal. Animals who are currently looking for loving homes can be found at http://tinyurl.com/m5n5ht
One of CARMA’s principal goals is to work with local Animal Control organizations to intercept animals before they are euthanized. CARMA is working closely with Corrales Animal Control to facilitate the transfer of animals into foster care or adoptive homes. CARMA stresses local involvement, but will reach out to all communities to assist animals in need and to identify safe and appropriate placement. And it is always looking for foster homes for its dogs and cats. You can contact CARMA at P.O. Box 1233, Corrales, NM 87048, (505) 342-8070 or at barbaracarma@msn.com.
K9 Cuisine: Tell us a little about you!
Signe: As a Social Psychologist, I emphasize the need for socially effective interpersonal skills and personal marketing strategies and tactics. I teach individuals how to confidently and successfully present and promote themselves. My latest book of five, “Diagonally-Parked in a Parallel Universe: Working Through Social Anxiety,” is going into its 2nd. Edition. I also have a home-study program on mastering Small Talk. Currently I work with self-conscious professional service providers to help them confidently toot their own horns, be known, liked, and trusted, make money with integrity, and forget about “selling.” It’s through a trust-based relationship marketing program. www.ConfidentSelfPromotion.com. As long as I can do so, I will continue to foster and adopt special needs cats, like the two three-legged kittens that should be available to me soon to foster.
We would like to post another story, more personal this time, on Pam Townsend. We posted about her work with the SPCA/Humane Society of Prince George’s County (www.pgspca.org).
This story is about her first doggie love, and how it lead to her love of dogs and her work with rescuing dogs. Enjoy!
“First I want to tell you about Boots, a medium-sized mixed-breed dog with a tri-color coat and four white “boots.” She was a great family pet although she had a need for exercise that our daily walks and backyard play just didn’t satisfy. She’d get loose at the first opportunity, squeezing past my brother’s friends when they came in the back door. She didn’t want to run away…she just wanted to run!
Word would soon go out among the neighborhood children: “Boots is loose! Boots is loose!” We’d all head out, giving her what she probably thought was a great game of chase, until she finally got tired enough for someone to catch her.
Despite her truancy, Boots was very much part of the family. If you tried to play a board game or read the newspaper spread out on the floor, she would lay down right on top of it. And she would get perturbed if any of us hugged each other without including her.
By the time Boots began suffering almost-daily seizures and my parents had to make the difficult decision to have her euthanized, I had graduated from college and moved out on my own to another state. Although she not been part of my daily life for several years, I was deeply saddened by her loss, which marked an end of an era in my life.
Next came Boris and Natasha, the first dogs of my adult life…and my first black dogs. They were the result of an unplanned pregnancy of a yellow Lab by a black Lab/golden retriever mix, and the owners were looking for good homes through friends and friends of friends. My husband picked Boris, and Natasha chose me. We’d only planned on getting one puppy, but faced with this dilemma, we took both. It turned out to be a good decision because they kept either company while we were at work.
Boris was an exuberant, outgoing, beautiful boy; a friend once described him as “happy go stupid” and suggested I should have named him Jethro (from the Beverly Hillbillies) because he was tall, dark, and not too bright. His great joy in life was playing fetch, which he would do until he dropped from exhaustion. He was the canine love of my life, and I was devastated when he died of bone cancer a week before his tenth birthday.
Natasha was quieter than Boris…something of a wallflower. She was also very sweet…except sometimes with him. If we gave them bones to chew, she’d decide that his must be better and would take it away from him. He’d gamely settle down with hers, only to have her again decide that his must be better. We used to say that she was a perfect example of the word bitch when used in a derogatory fashion. As much as I loved Boris, I ended being glad that he died first since Natasha blossomed and sort of came into her own after that…despite the arrival of two puppies, Tango and Samba.
While some people need to grieve for weeks or months following the death of a beloved pet, I felt this aching void that needed to be filled and began looking at rescue websites almost immediately. We ended up adopting Tango and Samba just weeks after Boris died. Once again, we were planning on getting one dog, preferably a young adult. But when my husband saw Tango and Samba, who were 4-month-old black fluffy puppies, he just cried because they reminded him of Boris as a pup. So…once we decided to get a puppy we opted to get two so they could play with each other and not bother Natasha as much as one pup would have. And it worked out quite well. Although Natasha wasn’t interested in playing with the puppies, she seemed very interested in watching their antics, which helped bring her out of her depression. And I always made special time to do things just with her until she died at the age of 13.
Samba is a lot like Natasha. She’s quiet and self-contained. She enjoys the company of people and other dogs but is perfectly happy to be by herself…especially if that means napping or just hanging out on our bed or sofa. She’s completely uninterested in fetch or playing with dog toys (unless it involves stealing one from her brother), preferring to sit outside in the yard and watch birds fly by overhead. Her favorite activity is taking walks.
Tango, Samba’s brother, is our “problem child.” He is suspicious and wary of unfamiliar people and anxious in unfamiliar environments. Since the age of 2 or 3 he also has been aggressive toward dogs he doesn’t know. We don’t know if these issues are the result of genetics, lack of early socialization (we know neither of them had any prior to our adopting them), or even brain damage as the result of being tossed about like a ball when he was only a couple of weeks old…or a combination of the above. If we had known he was going to be such a challenge, we wouldn’t have adopted him. But once we did, I fell in love with him and since then have worked to help him become the best dog he can be. This has involved reading books and attending lectures by such noted behaviorists as Patricia McConnell, Nicholas Doddman, and Suzanne Clothier.
Ceiligh, the most recent dog to join our family, is a pointer/JRT mix. She looks like a black-and-white Germans shorthaired pointer, just smaller (30 pounds). We call her our “accident.” We went to a Petsmart to get goldfish for our pond, and a small rescue organization was there with a litter of 8-week-old puppies. I told them I couldn’t take one because we already had two dogs, one of whom had “issues,” but that I’d hold one to help socialize it. I should have known better. Instead of goldfish, we ended up with a 5-pound puppy.
Ceiligh is the spoiled youngest child of the pack. She not only sleeps in our bed, but under the covers. (Tango and Samba choose not to sleep with us, although they often get on the bed for a cuddle.) Given Ceiligh’s genetic heritage, it’s not surprising that she’s active and fast. So, to channel her energy, we started taking agility classes. She’s actually very good at it…when her sensitive nose doesn’t lead her astray. I keep thinking that one of these days, when a career, SPCA/HS work, and efforts to have a social life don’t take up all of my time that we’ll actually give competition a try.
And lastly, there are our foster dogs…who share our lives for anywhere from a weekend to several months: Angel, Geordi, Kira, Darby, Owain, Darla, Cooper, Annie, Kaia, Jack, Taz, Leila, Cinder, Winston, Bosley, Ginger, Mandy, Arthur, Sebastian, Sydney, and (currently) Willow.”
Below is an interview with Pam Townsend of the SPCA/Humane Society of Prince George’s County, MD
K9 Cuisine: What is your story-how did you get into pet rescue?
Pam: I’ve loved animals–especially dogs–for as long as I can remember. I grew up with a dog, Boots. My parents purchased her at a pet store (long before we knew better!) for $12 when I was in second grade, and she lived almost 18 years.
One of my biggest disappointments as a young working adult was not being allowed to have pets in my apartment, so as soon as I got married and my husband and I bought a house with a fenced yard, we adopted two dogs–Boris and Natasha–and have been sharing our lives with dogs ever since.
Over the years, I’ve donated to various animal welfare organizations like the ASPCA, American Humane, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Hearts United for Animals, and the National Wildlife Federation. At some point–about 6 or 7 years ago–I just decided I wanted to do something more “hands on” and to have some sort of tangible impact at the local level. I’d heard about the SPCA/Humane Society of Prince George’s County so I checked out the website and went to a volunteer orientation. Since then, I’ve fostered 14 dogs, produced the organization’s newsletter, and been elected to the board…first as a member-at-large, then as vice president.
K9 Cuisine: What is the secret to your success with your organization-how have you gotten to where you are today?
Pam: As a small, all-volunteer-run non-profit organization, the SPCA/Humane Society of Prince George’s County can only be as successful as its volunteers make it. Their investment–in terms of time, skills, motivation, and commitment–is the key.
We are fortunate to have as our president a woman named Tamela Terry who has set the bar high in terms of all of those elements. Despite a full-time job, two children under the age of 10, and various family health challenges, she has always made the SPCA/HS a priority, turning it from what was once essentially a “hobby group” into a well-respected, financially sound force for change in the community.
Tamela heads a board of equally committed volunteers, each of whom takes responsibility for various duties, projects, and activities. For example, one of our board members handles neglect/cruelty calls, another manages our foster/adoption program, while others focus on fundraising and volunteer outreach and training.
But an effective, committed board isn’t enough. Other volunteers serve as adoption show coordinators, run and assist at monthly low-cost shot clinics, provide homes for foster homes for shelter dogs, staff exhibits at special events, send thank-you notes to donors, and much, much more.
In addition to fostering and producing the newsletter, I handle much of the marketing and public relations efforts, which included producing a photo book called Black is Beautiful: A Celebration of Dark Dogs to entertain and inform people about Black Dog Syndrome, and raise money for the SPCA/HS (more about that later).
K9 Cuisine: What is it about dogs that you love?
Pam: The short answer is “pretty much everything!” The longer answer is their ability to live in the moment, their absolute exuberance, their affection, their diversity (what an amazing array of sizes, shapes, colors, personalities!), their resiliency (so many who have been abused or neglected are still friendly, affectionate, and responsive to a kind word or touch), their wet noses, the way they groan in ecstasy when you fondle their ears just the right way, the way they express their joy and enthusiasm by wagging and wriggling their bodies, and perhaps most of all, doggy “kisses.”
K9 Cuisine: What is the neatest part about your work?
Pam: The neatest thing about my volunteer work with the SPCA/Humane Society of Prince George’s County is that it lets me combine my passions for dogs, interesting and enjoyable people, and my skills in the areas of writing, PR, marketing, and photography-all in the cause of improving the lives of animals in my community. I love developing creative ways to promote the organization and get across messages about such important issues as spaying and neutering and the difficulty black shelter dogs face in getting adopted.
One example is a print PSA we ran in a local newspaper to promote free spaying and neutering for the pets of limited-income county residents. The theme was “Tough Guys Don’t Need Testicles!” A second effort featured a mini-poster-called “Out with the Trash” (which is what happens to thousands of unwanted pets each year)-that volunteers could print and display at libraries, pet supply stores, etc. (I’ve attached pdfs of both FYI).
My biggest labor of love has been the book Black is Beautiful: A Celebration of Dark Dogs. As I became involved in animal welfare and rescue, I discovered that black dogs are the hardest dogs for shelters to find homes for-a situation often referred to as Black Dog Syndrome. Some of the reasons suggested for the difficulty in placing black dogs-especially large ones-have been their association in mythology and folklore with evil, bad luck, and death; even in modern times, the scary, dangerous dogs in movies are often large and dark (think Dobermans chasing Gregory Peck in “The Omen”). Many people think black dogs’ expressions are difficult to read or that they are boring looking. They don’t photograph well in most shelter/kennel environments, and if they’re not outgoing and right up at the front of a cage, they’re easy to pass by.
Anyway, as someone who has lived with black dogs for more than 18 years, I wanted to show other people how beautiful these canines are. So I developed an 8-inch-square, 72-page book with 34 color photos of black dogs, each with the accompanying statement “Some black dogs are…” and a word or phrase related to the photo. It opens with an introduction explaining the plight of homeless black dogs and concludes with the statement, “But all black dogs are…beautiful.”
In addition to getting people to look at black dogs differently, to appreciate their attractiveness and diversity, and to give more thought to adopting a black dog if they’re looking for a new fur friend, I wanted to raise money for the SPCA/Humane Society of Prince George’s County so all profits go to the organization. Black is Beautiful is available online at the SPCA/HS website (pgspca.org/store).
The other great thing about this work is meeting and networking with other animal lovers. These include representatives of other animal welfare organizations, including the Washington Animal Rescue League, Washington Humane Society, and Maryland SPCA, the adopters of my foster dogs, some of whom have become friends with whom I keep in touch regularly, owners of retail operations like the Big Bad Woof in Takoma Park, MD, and Paws Pet Boutique in Annapolis who are committed to supporting the efforts of local animal welfare organizations, and lots of other people who share a common interest-like the woman who helped me organize a “Black Dog Brigade” to march in a community Labor Day parade. My life is richer for having interacted with these individuals!
K9 Cuisine: Where do you see the pet rescue industry going?
Pam: I wouldn’t presume to predict where the animal rescue “industry” is going, but I can say where I’d like to see it go. Basically, the animal rescue industry exists because the historical “animal control” function in America needed help and, in some cases, change. Gone are the days of the “dog catcher,” when homeless animals on our streets were a problem to be managed by the most efficient or inexpensive means. We’ve learned that catching and killing extra animals is not a good long-term strategy, and that even aggressive adoption efforts are not going to make a dent in the problem. Animal rescue groups have stepped in to give shelter animals another way out, and it’s a good effort, but it’s not enough. The future of animal rescue lies not in rescuing more, but in finding a way to stem the tide of animals in need of rescue! Spay/neuter is the key. We need to stop the animals from being born in the first place, and at the same time, we must work to improve the shelter systems and public education on animal welfare issues.
And to do all that, we as rescuers have to mature and grow into much more than simply people who are passionate about animals. We have to think strategically and plan well. We have to behave professionally and run our organizations in a businesslike manner. We have to be excellent communicators with high standards and strong ethics. We have to put aside our differences to cooperate on issues (like spay/neuter) that we can all agree on. And we have to find a way to make the issues we care about translate for everyday citizens, politicians, and business leaders…undoubtedly by making a dollars-and-sense connection and by proving that our values and behavior involving animals are inextricably linked to our society’s quality of life overall.
K9 Cuisine: How do you fit into that-what are your future plans?
Pam: We plan to stay on the course we started five years ago, when we began an active effort to transform our organization into one that does more than just rescue animals one furry face at a time. We redesigned and modernized our website and logo, and we began putting in place a series of standard operating procedures for our group. We emphasized high ethical and quality standards for our program and our volunteers, and made organizational changes where necessary to implement those, even though sometimes it was painful. We’ve worked hard to professionalize and educate ourselves, and we’ve strengthened our animal welfare partnerships in the DC metropolitan area and nationally. There are so many wonderful professionals out there who we can learn from and emulate, and working together is so much more productive than toiling in isolation or getting mired in discord.
From financial management to policy decisions to program management, we’ve worked hard to create a stable, sustainable and strategic organization, so we’re not constantly worried about where next month’s resources are coming from or repeatedly getting bogged down by the ‘crisis du jour’. Having achieved such things, we will next move to expand our reach and our sphere of influence within the local business community, with the citizenry, and with the public leaders. We want to drive progress and change, being a force for good in the lives of local companion animals and the people who care about them. In short, we’ll continue rescuing animals one furry face at a time, while we also work on the big-picture changes that will reduce the number of animals who need rescuing.
K9 Cuisine: How can people find out more about you and your organization?
Pam: People can learn more about the SPCA/Humane Society of Prince George’s County on our website: www.pgspca.org. They can also sign up on the website for periodic email alerts and information.
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