Lonely Sundays

It has been a rough couple of months at the KCMO Shelter. It seems like intake numbers are higher than I remember in past years. We have a handful of dogs whose intake date was in 2012 and they are desperate to find their forever home. The weather has been cold and snowy and rainy, keeping adopters away and bringing even more dogs into the shelter. My normal volunteer day, Sunday, used to be the day we had the most volunteers and that has not been the case these past few weeks.  It is getting a little lonely and I can't even imagine what it is like on the week days.  I am so appreciative to those who are able to go on those lonely days.

Poor Kaden is missing his family.  He is so lost at the shelter.

This past Sunday was Easter and with it being a holiday, I knew volunteer help would be a little slim. I am thankful my family is understanding about my need to help the doggies.  I was going to be a little late, but I promised to share Easter Sunday with both the dogs and my family. The main goal for Sunday was to make sure the 28 new dogs got their pictures taken plus a few long timers who needed some updated glamor shots. I also spent time with a few favorites and got some video too.

I was thankful to see Kasi Orr, our photographer, and her husband. It was a little overwhelming to think that it might have been just Kasi and I, and then another volunteer Cindy, showed up. Photographs went so smoothly with the three of us. We met some amazing dogs, all with their own story. Kaden pictured up above is a 10yr old Lab mix who is just so confused on why his owners would leave him at the shelter.  I tried to comfort him, but he was just so stressed.  There were a few others just like him and Kasi did a great job of capturing their personality in her photos.  You can check out this link to see all of their cute faces...KCPP Adoptables

 After photos there was a good 30-45 minutes when it was just me.  It was so weird to be just by myself, but also kind of peaceful. I was able to spend some one on one time with 3 pretty ladies. Shirley, Gwenyth and Velma were able to have all my attention. There were no other volunteers, no adopters to stop and ask questions, no other dogs out to distract us. It was nice to just enjoy each of those girls and get to know how fantastic they each are. I made some short videos to show some of their personality. 

                           
Shirley came in with her partner in crime Laverne.  Laverne has found her forever home and Shirley has been patiently waiting.  She is a great dog, so friendly and a the perfect medium size.  There has been some talk about her finding a home soon - I have my fingers crossed!

 Gwenyth was so very shy and timid when she first arrived at the shelter.  It took some time to leash her up and she was pretty hand shy when you tried to pet her.  She has made some improvements and was even invited to play with some other dogs.  Gwenyth doesn't mind other dogs as long as they are a little more calm and relaxed like herself.  You can see in the video she has some spunk and personality.  She is a great girl who will be a great friend to a new family.  
 

Velma also arrived at the shelter back in December 2012.  She gives off this tough exterior and seems so serious. She is the type of girl to explore her environment before she gets to bonding with anyone.  I think this has been one of the reasons she hasn't found her perfect home yet.  She is a great girl, nice medium size.  She is not to great with the smaller children or dogs.  Velma is a mature girl who wants you all to herself and doesn't want to share.  I am really pulling for this girl, she deserves happiness like all the others!

That short time I spent with each of these girls reminded me how important it is to give each dog that attention and focus.  Those 10-15 minutes they get with me is the most exciting part of their day and they deserve to get all the love and play they can in that short time.  I only wish that each of those dogs could get it everyday, instead of just once or twice a week. I don't know if that day will ever come, but until then I will do as much as I can when I can. I will encourage others to help and continue to share my passion for helping the homeless dogs of KCMO.

Sunday was a perfect day to walk dogs and had it not been Easter, I know there would have been more volunteers. With Spring officially here, I am hoping that Sundays won't be so lonely anymore. The dogs need more one on one time and I hope more volunteers can come out and spend some time with these awesome dogs.  Already looking forward to next Sunday.

A Volunteer Love Story - Barb & Dru

I have to share a special love story about my friend Barb and her favorite girl Dru.  Barb has been a dedicated volunteer for quite some time now.  She is at the shelter walking dogs at least 6 out of the 7 days a week.  Her passion for dogs is right up there with mine.  I admire all that she does for the dogs and I wanted to make sure I to help her out by telling her story.  Barb is Drucilla's angel and they have a true bond.  We both hope that sharing this story will help Drucilla find her forever home...

 

When I first met Drucilla on October 8, 2012, she had a neck scar from an imbedded collar and she clearly had produced several offspring.  The good news is that the scar is now covered with hair and she has her girlish figure back.  My heart immediately softened toward her due to seeing she had some hardships but I wasn’t in love, YET.  I walked her a lot and as time passed, I became closer and closer to this girl.  Drucilla was not a dog who made eye contact with people or liked being petted or having any attention paid to her.  After about two months working with her, she changed.  Dru began making great eye contact and allowed me to pet her all over, give her hugs and kisses.  I will NEVER forget the first time she gave me a kiss.  It was much more memorable than the first time I was kissed!!!  She now trusted me and I WAS IN LOVE and so was Drucilla!   


Drucilla loves playing with tennis balls or stuffed toys in the play yard.  Before the trust was solidified, she pretty much entertained herself with the balls and toys.  But now Dru allows me to take the ball or toy from her mouth.  She rolls over on her back to get belly rubs and ignores where the toy is because she knows it will still be there for her.  This girl is so entertaining in the play yard.  She twists and turns and tosses those balls or toys in the air as if she were a dancer.  She also LOVES the snow.  Her favorite thing to do is to slide down a snowy incline on her belly or back.  When she looks at me with those deep brown eyes, her head tilted, ears perked, I just want to pick her up and take her home.  I sadly cannot because I have a very dog aggressive dog and a cat which Dru sees as “prey” (no cats please). 

I begin and end my day at the shelter with Drucilla.  She paces the kennel when she sees me.  You think that doesn’t hook me?????  Our shared walks, play times, hugs and kisses are a big part of both of our lives.  Dru is bright, learns quickly and now knows how to trust and love.  I envy the person who gets to share her life.  You just wait until the first time she gives you that look and a kiss.  You will be in love too.

Some info for potential adopters:  Drucilla can jump a 4 foot fence, no cats, no dogs,  good with children, preferably 9 or 10 years of age (at least in the beginning).  I think she could eventually be good with younger children once she gets acclimated to home life and trusts.  Dru also has arousal issues around other dogs.  Her state of mind and distance to the dog are two huge factors.  When Dru has released her energy and is calmer, she manages her arousal much better and she is also not reactive around all dogs. She does best when walked on a haltie.
 

DRUCILLA, I LOVE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOURSELF WITH ME.  

You will ALWAYS be a part of my heart and soul. 

  

It's not their fault!

It is Sunday morning and I am getting ready to go visit my babies at the shelter. I am thankful for the nice weather and hoping it will bring in lots of adopters. It will be a busy day with many new dogs getting their glamor shots and also fun for a variety of dogs who will get to participate in play groups. Lots of great things going on, but there is one thing I haven't been able to stop thinking about - my boy Bronson.

Bronson literally brought me to tears last week. I can't even think about him without getting teary eyed. This boy arrived at the shelter back in November. Yes, he is another pit bull and yes, he is black. Poor guy already had 2 strikes against him. He couldn't go to just anyone because of breed restrictions in different cities - not his fault. Then he is black, which to many ignorant people,  is not unique enough and made him look more intimidating - not his fault.

So what happens to dogs like Bronson?  He sits in a shelter for months. He is continually passed up for different dogs, barely being seen.  Most shelters are filled with black dogs and often get unnoticed. The KCMO shelter is no different and the kennels are older, they are stacked on top of each other and the lighting isn't the best. Bronson was placed in a dark, bottom kennel because of his size and standards set by the Department of Ag. This of course made it even harder for him to be seen - not his fault.

The past month, Bronson's mental state started to diminish. He started to become more agitated because his lack of exercise. He was showing signs of stress, jumping and bouncy from side to side in his kennel. He would growl and lunge at dogs passing by his kennel. Potential adopters wouldn't even consider him because of his behavior in the kennel.  Months being stuck in a kennel changed Bronson - not his fault.

What people didn't get to see is just how much of a gentleman Bronson truly was.  Outside he would sit for treats and just look at you with that big smile, waiting for another. He let you love on him and thoroughly enjoyed the belly rubs. He was a people pleaser and all he wanted was his own people.  He wanted to be out of the shelter, but no one would give him that chance - not his fault. 

I'm sure you know where this is heading; we lost Bronson on Friday. I am super sad and super disappointed. Bronson was deteriorating more each day from frustration. A plea was sent out in hopes to find someone to help him. A rescue wasn't going to take him because he had become more and more aggressive.  It had been difficult to find him a family in the months he had stayed at the shelter. I am torn because of course Bronson wasn't happy living the majority of his life in a kennel. It wasn't fair to keep him locked up, hoping someone would come for him while he continued to deteriorate. I so badly was hoping for a better ending for him.

It wasn't Bronson's fault. He did not ask to be brought into this world as a black pit bull. He did not ask for ignorant owners to not take care of him or not reclaim him once he was picked up as a stray. It's not his fault there are breed bans in so many cities, which hindered his chances of getting adopted. Bronson deserved better and so do many others that are sitting in shelters right now. Bronson, I am sure is stress free now and I am going to miss his kisses today. If you get anything out of this blog, please let it be to ADOPT. Give a shelter dog a chance. They are most deserving of a home and you will be saving a life.

LOVE YOU SWEET BRONSON - I WILL MISS YOU!!!