Phoenix says goodbye to the Chalkmaster and Miss J

This past weekend we took on our first new rehabilitation case in over a year. A big black dog we have named Phoenix in the hopes that like the mythical creature that is his namesake, he will rise from the ashes of his former life and be reborn to a life of love and understanding. His story is not an unusual one unfortunately, left trapped in a crate too small for him and locked in the bathroom of a house under construction for at least two weeks. Did I mention his leg was broken when they found him?

His rescuers immediately sought veterinary care, and his broken leg has since mended, but he has a long way to go before the psychological damage of his past abuse is healed. In the fearful period of his recovery, he struck out and bit a couple of people. After reviewing each incident in detail with his former foster the Chalkmaster (a well known Toronto street artist) my assessment of the situation is that in each of the biting incidents that took place the human element was at fault, their actions having directly caused the dog to strike out in fear.

Of course once a dog bites, the powers that be believe that he or she should be condemned to death, and so it went with Phoenix. Those that rescued him were not willing to give up so easily and they fought the city to have him returned. They realized however, that if they were going to save this dog’s life they had to find someone who could help him overcome his fears. They had taken him as far as they could, he now needed more than they had knowledge to give him.

When I was first contacted I could not take him, as much as I wanted to. I just simply did not have the available space. Then fate intervened, and two of my dogs moved on to forever homes. Suddenly I had the space I needed to take on this case, and I did. It will be a long road ahead, but Phoenix is ready to take his first steps on that road. This is a loving dog that only needs to be given a chance to regain his trust in humans. Trust stolen from him by those who in my opinion are the lowest form of life on the planet, animal abusers.

Those of you interested in following Phoenix on his road to recovery can do so by reading his daily blog

Phoenix Rising.

…or by joining his Facebook Group Phoenix Rising

Ladies and gentlemen, the Phoenix has landed!

There are many misunderstood animals out there, and all they need is love and kindness, RESCUE, FOSTER, ADOPT! Make a difference in one animal’s life today!

Until Tomorrow Remember

BE THE CHANGE YOU SEEK

Janette

Need a few reasons to become a foster home to an abandoned cat or dog…

1 . Fostering is an ideal activity for people that love animals but cannot commit to having a lifelong pet. In fact, every additional foster parent that animal rescue groups can get represents in most cases the difference between life and death for animals abandoned in the streets, or removed from a life of abuse and neglect. Aside from regular day-to-day care (feeding, grooming, exercise), the responsibilities of a foster home may include basic training (housetraining, walking on leash, etc); behavior modification (to correct problems such as jumping, mouthing, barking, destructive chewing, dashing through doors, etc); socialization and temperament evaluation (to determine whether the dog or cat is good with different types of people and other animals); medical care (dispensing medication, taking the animal to vet appointments), and of course plenty of playtime and snuggling.

2 . Many animal rescue groups do not have a shelter, so they depend on the help of rescuers and foster parents to take care of kittens, cats, puppies and dogs until they are adopted. The more foster parents they have, the bigger the number of abandoned and/or neglected animals they can help. In fact, a shelter is not a good option in many ways because dogs and cats can lose touch with being in a home environment. Hereafter, a network of foster homes can take a dog or cat in and give them the care and training they need: the one that can only be accomplished at home. Fostering also bridges the gap between total abandonment and a permanent home. Just think of a shelter dog’s day: they can be in their cage (without human
contact) for more than 18 hours. If you multiply that by how many days they can be at the shelter, then the risk with a long-term dog or cat is that they lose touch and exposure to a loving home, interacting with people and even with other pets.

3 . It is a hugely rewarding experience to give an abandoned and/or mistreated animal a second chance to recover its health, as well as to provide him with love and affection while he/she is waiting to get a permanent loving home. The most amazing thing is that rescued animals respond to your care with lots of love … they cannot talk, but certainly they show how much they appreciate all your efforts. Fostering a dog or cat may seem like a formidable task, but it is a very tangible way to make a difference. Everyone benefits: the foster parent gets to spend time with a special dog or cat, while an animal rescue group gets valuable help with rescued animals. The foster dog or cat gets a break from a very hard life of abandonment and neglect, and a second chance at becoming a cherished pet. Then, the new owners get a dog or cat that is better adapted to home life, and therefore has a better chance of remaining in the new home forever.

4 . Pets reduce stress and anxiety! According to some studies, interacting with a dog or cat is a profound and effective stress reducer. It increases feelings of contentment and relaxation. Not for nothing dogs are described as man’s best friend! (even though for some people this applies to their cats!). Walking and/or playing with a pet is an effective mean of spending quality time at home, make exercise, reduce stress and anxiety, forget about the problems of the day … and to give your foster cat or dog lots of love, exercise and entertainment! Please consider to be a foster parent … abandoned animals will appreciate your help with all their hearts!

Animal rescue organizations always need more foster parents. For you it is a great way to have a “temporary” pet if you cannot adopt, or want to have a furry companion in general or if your own pet needs a friend to play and have company. By being a foster parent you get a companion and help save an animal at the same time!  Some rescue organizations also need “special care” foster parents who are willing to take in sick animals or animals that require bottle feeding on a regular basis every day.

Animal rescue organizations are always grateful to foster parents because it takes dedication, time and love. When you see a five-day old kitten or puppy survive because of the efforts that foster parents make, it is a wonderful feeling of accomplishment! So, if you like the idea of being a foster parent, please check your local area for organizations in need of foster homes. There are many out there that would more than gratefully accept another foster home. Remember, more foster homes means the ability to rescue more animals in need.

Until Tomorrow Remember

BE THE CHANGE YOU SEEK

Janette

It has been a long time since we have accepted a new dog into rehabilitation training. Other trainers have a must faster turn over rate than I do, but in my own defense, I work with dogs that everyone else has given up on. Dogs with broken spirits whom everyone else thinks are unfixable. Dogs so shut down they sometimes don’t know they are dogs. Dogs society has deemed “unadoptable.”

Phoenix (formerly known as KENT) is about to begin rehabilitation training.

There are no unadoptable dogs in my opinion. There are simply dogs that must be helped to overcome their issues so they can go on to lead long, happy, healthy, balanced lives. There are simply dogs that need love, patience, and training. The dog that arrives tomorrow is no exception, and could be one of the most challenging cases I have ever taken on. I say this because “Kent” as he was named by his rescuers, has a bite history. We won’t go into detail concerning his record, but suffice it to say that this dog has done time on death row.

Each time we take in a new dog we give him or her a new name, a name that symbolizes their new beginning, their “second chance” at life. Kent is no exception, we have renamed him Phoenix in the hopes that he will rise from the ashes of his abuse filled past, and reborn, go on to have a long happy life with a family that loves him.

Training shut down abuse victims is not an easy task, and a dog with a bite history is a dog not many trainers will take on. Those of you who have never trained a dog before are shaking your heads right about now. I know you are, and you are asking yourselves why anyone would voluntarily put themselves in the vicinity of a dog that has a bite history. The answer is simple, I do not lump all dogs that have bitten into the same category. In order to determine the aggression level of a dog, we have to look at the reasons the dog bit in the first place.

Phoenix is a dog that has been badly abused, that abuse has left him with issues, one of those issues being a serious distrust and fear of humans. It is his fear which leads him to bite when he feels threatened. He feels threatened whenever someone invades his personal space. He bites because it is in his mind his only defense from the abuse he feels he will receive at the hands of humans. Once he is taught to trust again his fear biting issues will disappear. With love patience and understanding this dog will recover and go on to achieve his CGN (Canine Good Neighbor) and become a therapy dog.

You can follow Phoenix’ progress on Facebook, and through his personal blog which we will provide links to in tomorrows Let’s Adopt Canada blog post. Phoenix is scheduled for neuter surgery next Wednesday, so anyone wishing to contribute to his surgical fund can do so by contacting me for clinic payment information at the following email:

janettehamilton@bell.net

RESCUE! FOSTER! ADOPT! Save a life today!

Until Tomorrow Remember

BE THE CHANGE YOU SEEK

Janette

Some dogs LOVE the snow, but they still should not be left outside for too long in cold weather.

The snow has been falling for days and winter has truly taken hold. Now’s the time to snuggle up in front of a fireplace with a warm kitty on your lap or a puppy at your feet. But before you settle down to your long winter’s nap, take some time to learn how to keep those animals as warm and comfortable as you are.

Cold weather can be hard on pets, just like it can be hard on people. Sometimes owners forget that their pets are just as accustomed to the warm shelter of the indoors as they are. Some owners will leave their animals outside for extended periods of time, thinking that all animals are adapted to live outdoors. This can put their pets in danger of serious illness. There are things you can do to keep your animal warm and safe.

• Take your animals for a winter check-up before winter kicks in. Your veterinarian can check to make sure they don’t have any medical problems that will make them more vulnerable to the cold.

• Keep your pets inside as much as you can when the mercury drops. If you have to take them out, stay outside with them. When you’re cold enough to go inside, they probably are too. If you absolutely must leave them outside for a significant length of time, make sure they have a warm, solid shelter against the wind, thick bedding, and plenty of non-frozen water. Try leaving out a hot water bottle, wrapped in a towel so it won’t burn your pet’s skin.

• Some animals can remain outside safely longer in the winter than others. In some cases, it’s just common sense: long-haired breeds like Huskies will do better in cold weather than short-haired breeds like Dachshunds. Cats and small dogs that have to wade shoulder-deep in the snow will feel the cold sooner than larger animals. Your pet’s health will also affect how long she can stay out. Conditions like diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, and hormonal imbalances can compromise a pet’s ability to regulate her own body heat. Animals that are not generally in good health shouldn’t be exposed to winter weather for a long period of time. Very young and very old animals are vulnerable to the cold as well. Regardless of their health, though, no pets should stay outside for unlimited amounts of time in freezing cold weather. If you have any questions about how long your pet should be out this winter, ask your veterinarian.

• Cats will curl up against almost anything to stay warm–including car engines. Cats caught in moving engine parts can be seriously hurt or killed. Before you turn your engine on, check beneath the car or make a lot of noise by honking the horn or rapping on the hood.

• If you live near a pond or lake, be very cautious about letting your rambunctious dog off the leash. Animals can easily fall through the ice, and it is very difficult for them to escape on their own. If you must let your dogs loose near open water, stay with them at all times.

• If you light a fire or plug in a space heater to keep your home toasty warm, remember that the heat will be as attractive to your pets as to you. As your dog or cat snuggles up to the warmth, keep an eye out to make sure that no tails or paws come in contact with flames, heating coils, or hot surfaces. Pets can either burn themselves or knock a heat source over and put the entire household in danger.

• It’s a good idea to have your furnace checked for carbon monoxide leakage before you turn it on, both for your pets’ health and your own. Carbon monoxide is odorless and invisible, but it can cause problems ranging from headaches and fatigue to trouble breathing. Pets generally spend more time in the home than owners, particularly in the winter, so they are more vulnerable to monoxide poisoning than the rest of the family.

• Pets that go outside can pick up rock salt, ice, and chemical ice melts in their foot pads. To keep your pet’s pads from getting chapped and raw, wipe her feet with a washcloth when she comes inside. This will also keep her from licking the salt off her feet, which could cause an inflammation of her digestive tract.

• If left alone outside, dogs and cats can be very resourceful in their search for warm shelter. They can dig into snow banks or hide under porches or in dumpsters, window wells, or cellars, and they can occasionally get trapped. Watch them closely when they are loose outdoors, and provide them with quality, easily accessible shelter.

• Keep an eye on your pet’s water. Sometimes owners don’t realize that a water bowl has frozen and their pet can’t get anything to drink. Animals that don’t have access to clean, unfrozen water are more likely to drink out of puddles or gutters, which can be polluted with oil, antifreeze, household cleaners, and other chemicals.

• Be particularly gentle with elderly and arthritic pets during the winter. The cold can leave their joints extremely stiff and tender, and they may become more awkward than usual. Stay directly below these pets when they are climbing stairs or jumping onto furniture; consider modifying their environment to make it easier for them to get around. Make sure they have a thick, soft bed in a warm room for the chilly nights. Also, watch stiff and arthritic pets if you walk them outside; a bad slip on the ice could be very painful and cause a significant injury.

• Go ahead and put that sweater on Princess, if she’ll put up with it. It will help a little, but you can’t depend on it entirely to keep her warm. Pets lose most of their body heat from the pads of their feet, their ears, and their respiratory tract. The best way to guard your animals against the cold is keeping a close eye on them to make sure they’re comfortable.

When you’re outside with your pets during the winter, you can watch them for signs of discomfort with the cold. If they whine, shiver, seem anxious, slow down or stop moving, or start to look for warm places to burrow, they’re saying they want to get back someplace warm.

You can also keep an eye out for two serious conditions caused by cold weather. The first and less common of the two is frostbite. Frostbite happens when an animal’s (or a person’s) body gets cold and pulls all the blood from the extremities to the center of the body to stay warm. The animal’s ears, paws, or tail can get cold enough that ice crystals can form in the tissue and damage it. The tricky thing about frostbite is that it’s not immediately obvious. The tissue doesn’t show signs of the damage to it for several days.

If you suspect your pet may have frostbite, bring her into a warm environment right away. You can soak her extremities in warm water for about 20 minutes to melt the ice crystals and restore circulation. It’s important that you don’t rub the frostbitten tissue, however–the ice crystals can do a lot of damage to the tissue. Once your pet is warm, wrap her up in some blankets and take her to the veterinarian. Your veterinarian can assess the damage and treat your pet for pain or infection if necessary.

Hypothermia, or a body temperature that is below normal, is a condition that occurs when an animal is not able to keep her body temperature from falling below normal. It happens when animals spend too much time in cold temperatures, or when animals with poor health or circulation are exposed to cold. In mild cases, animals will shiver and show signs of depression, lethargy, and weakness. As the condition progresses, an animal’s muscles will stiffen, her heart and breathing rates will slow down, and she will stop responding to stimuli.

If you notice these symptoms, you need to get your pet warm and take her to your veterinarian. You can wrap her in blankets, possibly with a hot water bottle or an electric blanket–as always, wrapped in fabric to prevent against burning the skin. In severe cases, your veterinarian can monitor her heart rate and blood pressure and give warm fluids through an IV.

Winter can be a beautiful time of year. It can be a dangerous time as well, but it certainly doesn’t have to be. If you take some precautions, you and your pet can have a fabulous time taking in the icicles, the snow banks, and the warm, glowing fire at the end of the day. Winter can be a fun time for pet owners, just remember if you feel cold your pet does too.

Until Tomorrow Remember

BE THE CHANGE YOU SEEK

Janette

I live in Ontario, Canada. For the past week or so it has been snowing. Snow squall warnings are almost constant, and people are being told to avoid unnecessary travel due to weather conditions. Most days the temperature has been below -10 c.

Right about now most of you are wondering why I am giving you the local weather forecast, but believe me I haven’t gone nuts, I do have a reason. My reason is simply this if you won’t go outside because of the wind snow and cold, what the heck is your dog doing living in your yard?

“He’s a dog” you say”animals don’t feel the cold!” I beg to differ! These dogs endure bitter cold, ice and snow in winter, often without drinking water, since that’s frozen. They may even suffer from frostbite. And no, a doghouse will not solve the problem, and yes, even if it’s a “heated” one. The cold is not the only reason a dog should not be left to live outside. Dogs are loving, sociable beings. They live for and crave love, attention, and companionship from their humans. Dogs who must live outside, suffer immense psychological and emotional trauma. Sometimes obvious, other times concealed until it’s too late.

Other people might justify subjecting their dog to life outside by claiming the dog will protect their property and alert them to trespassers. The problem there is that many dogs, out of boredom, will bark at almost anything that moves. They often bark at anyone they see, hoping to get attention. Although the barking of an outside dog will disturb the neighbors, everyone becomes so used to the noise that they wouldn’t notice if the dog were barking at a real intruder.

Dogs eventually become anxious, agitated, even territorial and aggressive when they are constantly left outside. The area they are kept in becomes theirs and ONLY theirs, creating a dangerous environment for ANYONE including the owners. The old adage “not MY dog” is a myth. It can, and will happen given the right combination of circumstances and being left in the yard long enough.

Some people are actually cruel enough to not only keep the dog outside, but to also chain them up outside, too! Supposedly the thinking behind this is that the dog can “enjoy” being outside but ensures further protection from being able to escape.

When dogs constantly pull and strain to escape confinement, depending on the type of collar they’re wearing or how the collar fits, their necks can become painfully raw and covered with open sores. Their collars can become deeply embedded in their necks. We have personally rescued dogs with these wounds and know the horror and torment these poor dogs suffered needlessly. The dog may not be straining and pulling when you are watching but we can guarantee that they are when you are not watching… and you are obviously not watching them every minute as long as they are out there.

A dog’s chain can become entangled with tree branches, shrubs, or other objects and the dog can strangle to death. Chained dogs have also been accidentally hanged to death.

If you are going to have a family pet should that pet not BE a part of the family, and be kept inside where they are safe and warm and loved? I have said it before, and I will say it again, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN OUTDOOR DOG!!!! Bring your dog into your home, or find them a home that will.

Until Tomorrow Remember

BE THE CHANGE YOU SEEK

Janette

For years now I have been taking in rescues and finding them homes. When Buddy showed up on my doorstep things were no different.   We  took him in. We trained him, and set out to find him a good home. At the same time I had a litter of pups to rehome.

That was when I met Penny who called me to ask if she could come and view the pups. When I asked her why she was getting a dog, she told me that she and her husband had been trying for a long time to have a baby and God just wasn’t blessing them with one.  They would give their love to a dog instead.

She had come to look at puppies but Buddy needed a home, so I asked her if she would be interested in adopting an older dog, and introduced them. It was love at first sight! Buddy went home with them .  Just a couple of months after adopting Buddy, the baby they  had waited so long for was on the way.  Baby Brygette was born nine months later.  Shortly after her birth it was discovered that she had a rare and possibly fatal disease. Buddy stayed by their side, always there when they needed comfort.

Baby Brygette is doing well and doctors are finally going to let her take her dog home.

On December 29th, 2009 four days after Christmas Buddy lost his battle with cancer. The family was devastated. “How are we ever going to get through this without our BUD BUD?”  They knew what the love of a good dog could bring them, and they had lost that good dog. When I heard of Buddy’s passing I had one thought, this family needed the love of a good dog, and I had just the dog for the job! It was decided that as soon as Doctors gave the all clear Bowser would go home with Brygette.

Bowser has been waiting to go home with Brygette since before her surgery.

Baby Brygette underwent bone marrow transplant surgery this past July. The road to recovery is a long one and Brygette is doing well. Doctors are finally allowing her to bring her dog home.

For most of his life with us, Bowser has worked by my side helping me to rehabilitate and train the rescues that come through our home. It is time for him to retire and take on a new job, that of companion to a very special baby girl. We will miss Bowser, who was never a rescue dog, and whom we never had any intention of rehoming. However, sometimes their place is not with me, sometimes they have a higher calling. As much as we love him, we truly believe that Bowser’s place is by Brygette’s side.

Bowser is going home this week, and despite my mixed feelings at losing my dog, I know I am doing the right thing for Brygette and her family, and for Bowser. We wish Brygette and her family all the best for the holiday season, and know that they will usher in many more new years with Bowser by their side.

Until Tomorrow Remember

BE THE CHANGE YOU SEEK

Janette