Doggy Dundee

SPAY/NEUTER YOUR PETS

G’day, Mates!  It’s not “cute and cuddly” for Doggy Dundee to see a box of puppies (or kitties)  being given away (or sold) outside of a market or on a street corner. I gave a good lecturin’ to two guys giving away a box full of furry kitties outside Tark’s Market in Talent, Oregon the other day.  Why?

 First, it means the pet owner wasn’t responsible and ended up with an “unwanted” litter. Second, it means that at least half of  “unwanted” pups/kits will be carried home by people who also won’t “spay/neuter” and so that young puppy/kitty will be, unfortunately and painfully, having its own many  ”unwanted” litters, which, in term, over several future years adds up to hundreds of thousands of unwanted animals born every year. That means more strays, and more shelter dogs and cats, ferrel kittens, sick animals (infecting other animals), and just plain hungry, or mean, animals bred down the line.

Here’s some stats per an SPCA website. They state that, “These statistics as to how just one litter can result in hundreds to thousands of unwanted pets:

So, people, make life easier for pets and everyone, and “Just Say Yes” to spay/neutering your pet. Even if you adopt a pet from a boxed give-away, be responsible and have the pet checked by a vet, so a diseased pet can receive proper care and not infect other animals. (Parvo, mites, giardia, and other illnesses require immediate care). Then, when it’s old enough, spay (female) or neuter (male) your doggy or kitty. 

Doggy Dundee volunteers at an animal shelter, and know the result of this human neglect and human stupidity. (Yup, no pulling the punches on this one, and I don’t care if you have a Ph.D. , if you don’t spay/neuter, you’re a dolt! More info about SPAY/NEUTER MYTHS HERE.

Chase’s Doggy Birthday – Gift to FOTAS?

G’day Mates! What can you do for a birthday dog who gets everything (and does lots of good, too)? How about donating to the organization that helps the doggies (and kitties) at the Jackson County Animal Shelter where Doggy Dundee spends lots of time?

The Doggy Dundee birthday DATE is January 28th (Both Chase and I share a birth date – How’s that for a great “coincidence” – Not often doggies and owners share a birthday!). That ORGANIZATION would be the Friends of the Animal Shelter , which is celebrating its 20th “birthday” year in 2010. FOTAS is a 501(c)3 non-profit that has been helping pay for animal medical care, defray some lower-cost adoption fees, building walking and agility areas, and has a lot of volunteers who are out daily – in all kinds of weather – walking, playing with, and loving on the animals at the Jackson County Animal Shelter. All that work is very necessary, because the animal shelter doesn’t receive any money from the state’s General Fund; ergo, the work FOTAS does is essential to maintaining quality care for the shelter dogs, cats, and other animals.

So, anyone wanting to say “Happy Birthday, Chase,” can send a donation check made out to “FOTAS” to this address: FOTAS, P.O. Box 92, Ashland, Oregon 97520. (Donations are tax deductable).

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?

A Nifty Woofer

G’day mates! There’s always a way to tell when someone has a Doggy Dundee spirit. Sometimes it’s that look in their eye or the way they carry themselves or maybe just the tilt of their hat. Well, check out this sport – he’s got it down!

Victor

Nancy sent us this photo of Victor, the 8-year old Border Collie/Queensland healer X who adopted her brother’s family when just a pup. Well, Chase loves that jaunty hat and look in his eye, insisting I depart from our usual path of lost dogs, stray dogs and shelter dogs to show everybody how a Doggy Dundee dead ringer might dress.

Quite the bloke, ain’t he?

According to his aunt, Victor was born in Georgetown, CA. His favorite game is playing footie (that’s soccer in Aussie slang). Got his own ball and at local matches during half-time Victor entertains onlookers by chasing and retrieving his ball. “All the kids love him and with all the soccer balls out, he knows his own. He also loves to travel and seems to understand everything. He’s quite the character.”

Well, of course – Victor’s a doggy dundee – and quite a fun sport!

(More Aussie slang translations for you: Woofer = Dog; and Bloke/Sport/Mate = friend or male friend; and Footie (the ”t” is pronounced as a ”d”) = soccer or football/rugby; and Dead Ringer = likeness/replica/copy).

Another Open Gate Stray Dog Tale

So far, most of the stray dogs Doggy Dundee has found simply went exploring because some human “forgot” about securing a gate – and also “didn’t think” to license or ID tag their dog.

"I'm back. Where's the treats?"

We’ll call this dog Chumpski, a cute, raggedy-looking tan, gray and brown combo of Llapso Apso/Schnauzer/Beagle (at least to my eyes). He was tracing a quirky/curious nose-to-every-scent-on-the-ground path along Talent’s Front Street approaching the tracks where Chase and I stood watching him at 6:45 a.m

When he finally got close, looked up and spotted us, it was panic-time! Back and forth, run away and hustle back, scared-to-death-but-maybe-trust, and all the time the fur flying and the legs skittering at a frenetic pace.  Chase nudged me to go ahead while she hung back. I stepped forward to entice the raggy little sweetie. Thankfully, he was more than happy to hear a friendly voice, munch my offered treat, jump into my arms and lick my face.  Obviously, this little guy hadn’t been gone from home too long. No collar and no ID though. 

Since I already had another dog staying at my house who probably wasn’t (more…)

Timing Is Everything When Dogs Rule

Doggy Dundee knows that sometimes an Invisible Hand is literally pushing us to cross paths with stray dogs – but sometimes it takes me awhile to “get it.” 

Chase lazing

Those particular fated days usually start when I awaken and I’m completely organized and ready to get going: “A place for everything and everything in it’s place.” Then life falls to tatters, and I’m suddenly not able to get out of the house on time in the morning because absolutely nothing is going right: Coffee grinds spill all over the kitchen counter, my keys are missing, the shoe I just put down has evaporated, a button pops off — and this is all in one single morning!

So, I’m exasperated, wiping off counters, tearing up and down the stairs, strings of holy vows choking the air, tossing clothes, magazines, pillows around like a wild women before all finally seems settled and the counter, the keys, shoes and new shirt are arranged nicely. Chase knows better, of course, and has been waiting patiently for me to remember that goodness is ours today. By now, though, I’m definitely l-a-t-e  and tellin’ Chase we gotta hustle so I can get to work on time and we run down the street.

It never fails that there’s a lost dog to be found somewhere along our route on those fateful mornings, and Chase hops with joy, the pooch comes rushing over to us as if we’re right on schedule, and that always takes my breath away. The other magnificent aspect of those particularly crazed ”found stray dog” kinda days is that no matter how late we started out of the house, no matter how out of our way we have to walk or drive to return the dog (“Oh, thank you, my son must have left the gate open when he ran out to school”), no matter the need to still bring Chase home and get her settled – miraculously my drive to work is quick, smooth, peaceful and my arrival on time as if the laws of time/space have been rearranged – as, indeed, I’m sure they have been – because dogs rule!

Doltish Dog Owner, Story #2

A Walkabout

Some “Doltish Dog Owners” carry on for years.

Case in point: Months after adopting Chase in 2004, she and I met a “having-a-good-time-scampering-loose” pup near our post office. She and Chase were instant best pals, running rings around me. I got dizzy trying to maintain long leash control. Checked the pooch. No ID. The market workers nearby pointed out the house where they thought this long-haired brown/black pooch lived. The yard was fenced all around – except for the lack of a few boards here, there and everywhere. Without a leash on hand (in the days before we were “Doggy Dundee”), it had only been the fun of the race that enabled us to run the pup home.

I knocked. A woman opened her door and spoke through a screen: “Yes.”  I pointed to the dog. “Uh, I found your dog running loose.” She opened the screen and called the pup in. “Thanks, we just got him. He must have jumped the fence.” I looked around and started a mental count of the missing boards. “Looks like you need some boards repaired.”  Before closing the door on me, she commented, “Wouldn’t matter. He’d just jump over.” Grrrr…bad dog owners.

The pup, let’s call him “Cool,” became a daily find. He’d run over out of (more…)

Doltish Doggy Owner Story – #1 of Several

Accidents happen and dogs get out/lost. Also, some dogs are escape artists. Lots of times, though, the owners of lost dogs are simply dolts – Take it from Doggy Dundee. Here’s one, short and sweet:

Before Doggy Dundee had taken on the mantle of “Dundee,” we were just two shaggy beings out walking (albeit, one human and one canine). In that guise, we first met Chucky (name changed to protect the innocent dog – and ‘guilty’ owner) on a “dark and stormy night” in Autumn 2007. Chase and I walked along a grassy park bordered on one side by a wooded patch and stream, and on the other by a new housing development. The racing-like-a-maniac brindle pug-kinda-pooch leaped out of the forested darkness at us, shocking the s-_-_-_ outa me. Fortunately, it was just a small pooch having a fine time teasing Chase and spinning me in circles. “What a great, fun dog,” I thought.

Fortunately, I carried a spare leash, and the pooch’s tag allowed me to tease it homeward several blocks beyong the woods.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the address; finally, ferreted out the structure beyond a locked fence, hidden beneath overpowering trees. Dripping wet, cold and a bit agitated, we brought Chucky back to our house for a few hours,then walked back later to return Chucky. “Oh, thank you. We just got him a few weeks ago,” the woman explained. Okay!

A Thanksgiving weekend car accident whacked me off-kilter a couple weeks later, and I lacked even the strength to handle Chase comfortably for long stretches. Unfortunately, Chucky tore out from the trees and at us one weekend afternoon. Fortunately, the Chief of Police was driving by as I snagged the pug. My prostrate pose brought the Chief’s car to a screeching stop. I gasped the dog’s address and the Chief drove Chucky to his owner’s while I limped homeward with Chase. The Chief passed me on the way back and stopped. “They were relieved,” he said. “The dog’s never gotten out before, and they’d just gotten home and found him missing. Good job, mame.”  Hmmmm…

Repetitious Lost Dog Pattern (more…)

When you’re walking, don’t keep walking past a lost dog you may see.

Do what you can to save a dog so they don’t become a homeless dog.

During our early morning walks, Chase and I often see dogs wandering alone. There’s been lots of times when we’ve seen LOTS of other people and cars see these same dogs, too, but those other people don’t stop. We couldn’t understand that. If a baby were wandering down the street there’d be lots of concern.

Doggie Dundee doesn’t ignore them, but instead decided to always “Be Prepared” with extra treats in a pocket and a spare leash.  Not all dogs trust you at first, but when we get our ego out of the way and are totally into the dog’s spirit, most of the time even the most skittish allow us to cajole them close enought to get a leash on ‘em. Then it’s Chase and her new friend “fun runnin’ me home” so we can call the owner and let them know their dog’s found.

How many dogs have you let pass? You could make a difference in that dog’s life.  It’s not fun to be lost and alone…