Doggy Dundee

Visiting Shelter Dog Jenny at the Southern Oregon Humane Society

Hey, Mates! Doggy Dundee decided to visit shelter dog Jenny is at the Southern Oregon Humane Society (H.S.) in Medford, Oregon. Jenny’s the Tree Walker Hound X that was saved from euthanasia but has been at the H.S. four months and now shows signs of kennel stress. Adopt her!

Stray Dog Akita Takes Advantage of a Loose Gate for a Stroll and Swim

Timing is everything and if I hadn’t forgotten my ’half-a-chicken’ order at the grill at Tark’s Market in Talent, we wouldn’t have spotted the stray dog Akita taking a “walkabout.”  These northern breeds simply have to wander!

Akitas like to wander

Tark’s Market is a supermarket in Talent, Oregon that features an all day outside grill. I ordered half a chicken and went inside to shop for other things; the idea being that when you check out, you tell the cashier of your grill purchase, she rings it, and when you exit, you show the grill cook proof of purchase and take home your chicken order (or ribs, etc).

Instead, Doggy Dundee exited the store and plodded to the car with bags filled with groceries.  Almost home, I remembered the chicken and was about to make a U-turn (“Hold on, Chase!”) when I spotted the Akita sniffing along Talent Avenue. So, instead, I pulled the car ahead of him and attempted to entice him (“Where’s half a chicken when you really need one?” I grumbled). He wasn’t interested – What’s so exciting about a leash being dangled from a strange hand?

Instead, the Akita picked up a prancing pace, crossed the street and headed (more…)

Stray Dog and Doggy Dundee Meet on the Road Less Traveled

Let me preface this by explaining that, adventurous as we are, the human half of Doggy Dundee loathes driving long distances. I plan a trip, map it, know the timing, get there, and I’m done. Same in reverse – No ‘in and out,’ and ‘in and out,’ and ‘in and out’ of the car for me! No wandering down confusing, tiring rabbit trails. Now, doggy Chase on the other hand…

Doggy likes driving

So, Doggy Dundee spends a three day weekend in the coastal town of Brookings, Oregon. Chase and I have great fun romping with lotsa dogs on the beach and in the frigid waves. Finally, pack the car to return home. Doggy Chase paws me, “Let’s cruise through Crescent City, California,”  she urges.

“What? No way,” I bluster.

Naturally, doggy Chase gets her way and south we head. Along the way there’s tempting signs highlighting roads to camping sites (our favorite summer activity), but rather than explore them, I pass ‘em by. “No more diversions,” I’m mumbling to myself. Then, suddenly yet another camp site sign erupts in front of us, I’m fixated by it, and Chase barks.

I turn off, screeching brakes. A deserted, single lane, forest-shaded road (more…)

What Happens To Wanderin’ Stray Dogs?

It’s a heartbreaker for Doggy Dundee to spot lost dogs we can’t help – The stray’s mind is so focused on “find home” that the dog just gives quick glances back at us and keeps on trucking full-tilt down the road.

Chase and I’ve been known to hop in the car to out-race the stray dog so we can set ourselves up ahead with treats to entice him, but all that does is get the dog running across the street and keep his pace and direction, checking us out in a panic. So, we’ll sometimes watch long enough to see the pooch eventually pause for a breather and stare all around, desperate for any bearing, undecided where to go next, and then opt hesitantly for a new direction. How long can this desperate journey go on?

Doggy Dundee doesn’t own a cell phone, however, this is the one instance I really wish I could have one, so I can call the animal control officers, even download an image to help them.  A stray dog gets exhausted, thirsty, hungry; they burn their paw pads, get hit by cars, eat food scraps that make ‘em sick; their health can be further hobbled when foxtails become embedded beneath their skin, or dozens of ticks start feeding on them.

Worse yet, there’s been times lost dogs that have avoided Doggy Dundee actually slow to a walk and hesitantly sidle over to some other person (“Oh, good, grab the pooch,” I’m thinking) only to have that person “shoo” the dog away, and off he’s trotting again.

Take a minute to help lost dogs.

Shelter Dog Adopted After 10+ Months

Oh, this is a happy story. Ginny, a stray dog who was brought into the Jackson County Animal Shelter emaciated and very pregnant on June 18th, 2008, was finally adopted today, May 6, 2009.  You can still read her full story on the Shelter Dog page of the doggydundee.com website for a couple more days, before I replace it.

Pretty Ginny Recovered

Thumbs up to the Jackson County Animal Shelter (JCAS), in Oregon, for caring for Ginny this long, and also a big thumbs up to the foster program of Friends of the Animal Shelter (F.O.T.A.S.) for enabling dogs to start out so well and keep up their spirits. Also, to Ginny’s foster mom, Mary Pfeister, who taught Ginny so much and doted on her so happily.

This is not the type of story people are used to hearing about, given the stereotype of animal shelters, so take note that these good things can be made to happen elsewhere, too. The staff who work at the JCAS, the volunteers from FOTAS who spend time with the shelter animals , and the organizations who help support the good programs there have helped transform many aspects of shelter life at this one facility.  Love ya Ginny!

Yorkie – The Foster Shelter Dog 

If you have an opportunity to apply to be a foster parent for shelter dogs, do! Lots of times a dog comes into an animal shelter who wouldn’t be eligible for adoption unless she/he can be cared for outside the kennel for a bit. Such is the tale of Yorkie.

DoggyDundee Says Bye Yorkie

Caring for Yorkie

Yorkie’s parents were a retired couple. The husband, to whom Yorkie was devoted during the man’s illness, died. Later the wife ended up requiring a walker and had limited mobility. Yorkie couldn’t be cared for properly, so the woman sadly decided to release Yorkie to the animal shelter for adoption. Problem was, this normally alert and devoted dog became despondent, stopped eating, and wouldn’t interact with anyone.  Not a ideal adoptee.

Doggy Dundee had recently applied and been approved as a foster mom, and I agreed to take Yorkie home as a foster dog.

It was touch and go. Yorkie was inquisitive, but not trusting at first. Kept Chase at bay, but Chase and I set an intention that Yorkie would be fine and  find a home within a couple weeks, stipulating it would be a happy home where he could be doted on as the only dog and also have a yard – pays to be clear with intentions.

Happy Ending for this Shelter Dog

Yorkie’s profile was posted on CraigsList and Petfinder 1-1/2 weeks later, and he was adopted the next day by family in Yreka, California. My phone interview with Terry, the wife, passed muster. She immediately drove over the mountains to fill out the paperwork and that looked good, so she came to my house to meet Yorkie.  It was a nice get-together, so adoption paperwork was completed. Yippee! Yorkie stayed with me one more night so the couple could prepare their home, and then both of Terry and John, her husband, drove up to Oregon again to pick up the pooch. 

Yorkie at New Home

This picture shows Yorkie at his new home in Yreka, CA. Thanks to Terry and John for adopting Yorkie. So, can you provide a temporary home for a foster dog?