Doggy Dundee

Isn’t Ginny A Sweet Pit Bull?

G’day Mates! Click on this Ginny Video for a moment of cuteness (thanks to another FOTAS volunteer , Gaila, who took the video awhile prior to Ginny’s adoption). I sure appreciated Gaila passing along this video, since I miss hugging my doggy pal Ginny so much).

New readers of Doggy Dundee may not be familiar with the story of Ginny (see Shelter Dog page), a female pit bull mama dog who had a long (more than one year) stay at the Jackson County Animal Shelter – where everyone loved Ginny, but, alas, it took “forever” to find someone to adopt her.

Ginny’s a beautiful “counter argument” to those folks seeking to outlaw pit bulls (i.e. pass Breed Specific Legislation – BSL). Chase played with Ginny a couple times, and is glad that Ginny’s got a new owner who’s loving on her.

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)

Adopt Gentle, Beautiful, Trained Ginny 

G’day Mates! Many of you know how much I’d loved Ginny, the 4 year old homeless dog who had spent just-shy of 12 months at the Jackson County Animal Shelter before being adopted. We were thrilled when she’d left, yet now she is back at the animal shelter - Has she returned to make you a happy dog owner, perhaps? 

Why Returned? Too Calm and Friendly

Ginny, a female pitbull who the shelter had put through dog training classes long ago, wasn’t the protective watch dog the fellow, who lives in a mobile

Claire & Ginny

 home park, had hoped she’d be, so the man returned Ginny after three months. When someone knocked at the door, instead of barking as the fellow had hoped, Ginny would run over to the door, sit and wait for the visitor to be let inside, then lick the person’s hands, and wiggle to be pet. The man said Ginny was too laid back, and though a gentle companion – enjoying going for car rides and laying around the backyard or house – she just wasn’t the protector/dissuader he’d hoped she would be. She was nice to everyone on their walks.

It’s A “Pit-ty” You Can’t Please All the People

Sigh…Here’s a well-trained, friendly, quiet, beautiful dog that loves to love and be loving, and who defies the stereotype people hold of pitbulls, yet the man wasn’t happy. So, I know Ginny must have returned coz there’s someone else needing to adopt her, much as Chase was returned to the animal shelter just minutes before I walked in 5-1/2 years ago inquiring about puppies.

Read Ginny’s full background story on this site’s “Shelter Dog” page (you may have to scroll down on that page), from the days Ginny was found running down the highway all skin & bones and very pregnant as a stray, homeless dog. If you’re interested, check her out at the Jackson County Animal Shelter in Phoenix, Oregon. Natch, I’ve gone to the shelter everyday to play with Ginny. All the staff and volunteers want the very best for this special girl (except cats!)