Doggy Dundee

Giving and Receiving A Sheltering Love

G’day, Mates! For a dog or cat lover, there’s no place like an animal shelter or rescue agency to find such a wide assortment of animal personalities, sizes, shapes, and needs to admire – and they all appreciate you.  Plus, you meet a cadre of people totally in love and commited to helping animals, and your circle of friends expands.

When people hear that I volunteer as a shelter dog walker at the Jackson County Animal Shelter, it’s pretty standard for the response to be, “Oh, that’s so great that you do that, but I could never. ” Asking them why, the response is usually one or both of the following:

“It’s just so sad, I think I’d be depressed...” or

“I’d want to take them all home with me…”

Well, mates, I’ve never known a depressed animal shelter volunteer. The feelings are just too good when you’re doing good! It is true though that, eventually, most volunteers do end up owning some special doggy or kitty (or several), and that’s a happy event, too (Chase of Doggy Dundee fame is a shelter alumnus) .

Creating Happiness

Yet, what’s sooo great about volunteering is that your life is enlightened every day you’re at the shelter, because you are instrumental in bringing joy and a sense of trust to every animal you play with and cuddle – and you receive love and joy back from each. I know lots of animal shelter volunteers who even come into the shelter on “unscheduled days,” because they’re starting to feel down and know they’ll feel better after spending an hour or so with the dogs or cats. So, there’s nothing sad about this gig as long as the dogs and cats remain healthy – It’s even better if you happen to be on-hand at the time a ‘favorite’ shelter dog or kitty of yours is walked out by their new owners and driven off to their new “fur-ever’ homes. Puppy Alf, shown with me in the photo above, is now being quite spoiled by his new owners!

If it wasn’t for volunteers continually helping to exercise and socialize the dogs, many of the shelter dogs would not be considered “adoptable” or be harder to place. It’s very rewarding to see a stray or surrendered dog that is new to the shelter and extremely shy/timid or frightened as a result, ”come around” and begin to greet people and play with trust and  exuberance. As a volunteer, you make a difference in these animal’s lives. Kolpe, the greyhound shown in the photo at left, is one of those.

An 8-10 year old greyhound, Kolpe was surrendered to the Jackson County Animal Shelter in August 2010 by his owners. Well, Kolpe didn’t know what was up! A sensitive fellow with some tooth decay, all of a sudden he wasn’t in his house and didn’t have his usual people and bed around, plus it was noisy – lots of other dogs barking, the cage doors made metallic bangs, there were lots of strange attendants opening his kennel cage door, and public people walking through, etc. Kolpe immediately starting chewing his tail till it was raw and bleeding, his rear legs shook uncontrollably, and he was a hesitant walker. Several of us spent extra time with Kolpe (more than one volunteer enjoys curling up in the kennel with this beautiful pooch who loves to lounge), and patiently strolling him at his own pace to help him feel comfortable. Two days later, though, Kolpe had stopped chewing his tail, had a big smile on his face, was nudging volunteer’s pockets for treats, and prancing on walks in the agility yard! What a gem of a dog!

Pay it forward, mates! Become a regular volunteer at an animal shelter or animal rescue agency, and see how much goodness you have to offer.

Shelter Dog Care Provided by

Jackson County Jail Trustees

G’day Mates!

Sharing this news item (with video link) about the Jackson County Animal Shelter (in Phoenix, Oregon), and the great work done by the trustees.

http://kdrv.com/page/149483 Check it out!

Doggy Dundee volunteers at this animal shelter daily, walking Ginny (she’s the white and brown pit-X in the video) and other dogs, so I can vouch for how vital the trustees work is to the care of the shelter dogs, cats, and other animals there.  It’s a win-win-win situation for the offenders being rehabilitated, the animals, and the agencies.

Animal Shelter Work Gets Done

These fellows get in early in the a.m. (along with their supervisor crew chief) and have to immediately clean out all the (usually messed) kennels and take the dogs out (they also “cycle” all the dogs for time outside throughout the day), feed the dogs twice a day, help shelter visitors seeking a dog find a dog that matches the person’s needs. The trustees also sit with/pet/comfort the dogs. They do throughout-the-day and end-of-day clean up, and they are also the ones who come in on holidays when the shelter staff is “off,” to ensure the dogs, cats, and any other animals at the shelter are cared for throughout the day. Plus, it’s a hugh amount of laundry (towels, blankets, work clothes, etc.) they do daily to keep things cleaned up and comfortable for the shelter animals, as you might imagine.

This is an exemplary program, and it should be a model for other animal shelters andjustice programs in other areas of the country! The guys are great to work with, by the way, and do what they can for the animals.

FYI, the shelter has attempted to sometimes have women crews, but…there are insufficient numbers of women incarcerated who fit the requirements to keep that going consistently – and a shelter dog (and other shelter animals) – need consistent crews)

Humane Society Transferring Jenny

G’day Mates! It’s always a bit of a sad day when Doggy Dundee’s best efforts to publicize a good shelter dog in need of a home dont’ bring results. I received this email from the Director of Shelter Operations at the Southern Oregon Humane Society (SOHS) about Jenny, the non-hunter/loving to

Jenny & Doggy Dundee

snuggle/love bug of a Tree Walker Hound who has been at the SOHS for over six months:

“Jenny is being transferred to Greenhill (Corvallis) to give her another audience – there are simply no takers – no interest – so she is going to get another chance out of our area…She is such a good girl – I hope she finds the perfect family.”

This kind, sweet dog has lived at the SOHS shelter for over six months and maintained her good manners (Could you?). Staff say she just enjoys lounging with them when they visit her in her cage. Doggy Dundee’s visited her a few times and took her out into the yard. Why not go see this little girl for yourself?

(Status update: The day before her planned transfer date, the director changed plans and decided to keep Jenny at their Medford location. Jenny seems to feel comfortable there now and she doesn’t want to disrupt Jenny’s life with yet another transfer, so you still have a chance to adopt Jenny.)

For more info about shelter dog Jenny, contact the Southern Oregon Humane Society at (phone) 541-779-3215. They’re located at 2910 Table Rock Road, Medford, Oregon.  — And tell ‘em, “I read about Jenny on Doggy Dundee!”

Talent Police Chief Endorses Doggy Dundee

Imagine Doggy Dundee’s surprise to pick up the June issue of the Talent News and Review and read that the Chief of Police is a Doggy fan, and read quotes

Chief Moran & Dogs

stating he finds this blog is “refreshing…informative and entertaining.”

It all started late one Thursday night when I was reading the “Flash Cop Talk” column. Chief Mike Moran addressed concerns about a stretch of newly painted yellow lines on Talent Avenue, then he went into some detail about check fraud taking place. Then–Ding! Ding!–without warning came this unsolicited endorsement from Chief Moran:

“Talent has another interesting source of information besides this publication. It’s an online site about the travels and perspectives of a woman and her dog in Talent. It has a refreshing outlook, and there are reminders about the rules and responsibilities of dog owners…the online blog of DoggyDundee.com is informative and entertaining…and has some really great stories about Talent’s Canine Citizens.” 

Much obliged, Chief! Natch, we had to find out about the dogs in his life.

Henry and Coco Were Shelter Dogs

Chief Mike Moran is pictured above with his two “shelter dog ” alumni. The black (maybe, Flat Coat) Retriever X is Henry — and doesn’t Henry bare a tad resemblance to Chase?  The white and brown Cocker  X (maybe with Springer?) is named Coco.  Both boys are furry and fun.

Henry, who is now seven years old, was adopted as a 12 week old puppy from the Animal Shelter. The last of 12 pups,  he’d been overlooked due to some social anxiety issues, but the Chief tells me Henry “is a great dog.”

Chief Moran adopted Coco, also now around seven or eight years old, from the Southern Oregon Humane Society (HS).  This handsome cocker X had been rescued by the HS from Josephine County, because that group was unable to find the dog a home.  As you can see, Coco is very happy to be living with Chief Moran.

Visit Your Animal Shelter

A great big THANKS to Chief Mike Moran for adopting shelter dogs – Chase and I want everyone to visit their shelters for their “fur-ever friend.” And, naturally, Doggy Dundee sends a big thanks to the Chief  for sharing his appreciation of the Doggy Dundee blog with the Talent newspaper’s readers.

Talent’s 2009 Cutest Small Dog Contest

Hey Mates! Doggy Dundee suggests that if you’ve got a  pip squeek doggy (or maybe you call ‘em petite), best get the pooch to the Downtown Coffee House in Talent, Oregon on Father’s Day, June 21. Registration is at 9 a.m. and judging begins at 10 a.m. 

Takes One to Know One

The registration fee and all proceeds benefit the Southern Oregon Humane Society – shelter dogs need you! Plus, you’ll have the pleasure of meeting yours truly, Doggy Dundee (well the human half of Doggy),  coz I’ll be there assisting with registration and judging (Chase and I talked it over, and she decided to stay at home coz she won’t fair too well standing in the heat with her thick black fur for two or three hours).

Read the Mail Tribune’s article for more info. No puppies — the dogs have to weigh less than 30 lbs. and be at least one year old.  Since this contest is slated for Father’s Day, dads who register dogs into the contest recieve a free 12 oz. coffee.

This is a great, fun way to help  the Humane Society and a shelter dog, plus a fun way for everyone who loves dogs to spend time cheering on their favorite. See ya there, mates!

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!

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?