Today began at the crack of dawn, or more accurately before dawn. Bruno had to be back to the Sanctuary when they opened, and as you can see, Bruno was just as excited as I was. We were almost late. I'm not naming names, but someone had trouble getting out of bed.........
Yes, those are the pillows he is sleeping on. Although labeled a bed hog, he was more of a cuddler. I woke up at one point with his face right next to mine. He did wake me at 2 AM with kisses - his signal he needed to go outside. Obviously not ideal, but it happens to the best of us. At least he was quick and we hurried back to the warm bed.
After dropping off Bruno for his breakfast, I stopped by the Puppy house and helped walk and socialize the puppies. Boy am I glad I did. The puppy area was closed this afternoon for a staff meeting. Since it was my last day in Dog Town I would have missed saying goodbye to those little faces.
I went to two of the tours that are offered for some of the lesser visited areas - Wildlife Friends and Parrot Garden. The two areas began as one - Feathered Friends - but both grew to the point they needed their own area. Best Friends rehabilitates injured wildlife when they can. For those that can not be rehabilitated, or where release would be dangerous (such as the minks rescued from a breeding farm) they find a permanent home where they live the relative luxury of life. Pens cleaned daily (including ponds), cooked/prepared meals for their dietary needs, and interaction with other wildlife (when appropriate) and staff. The Sanctuary has a full flight aviary and cattery (no flight there) for birds and cats preparing to be released back into the wild.
Parrot Garden is the other end of the spectrum. All 100 birds are from homes that could no longer care for them or neglected their care. Most have medical and psychological issues such as feather plucking and self-mutilation (apparently when birds needs are not met they will self-mutilate to get the same impact/relief as a person who cuts themselves). I didn't realize that they have the same intelligence as a 3-5 year old (and therefore get bored easily and need interaction and stimulation), that people often mistakenly "mate" bond with their bird causing aggression with other family members as the bird defends its "mate", and cockatoos have a decibel range just below a 747 jet engine (yes, they were LOUD). With the proper diet they can live from 8-100 years depending on the species, so they are often re-homed 3-7 times during their life causing all sorts of bonding/psychological issues since their "flock" keeps changing.
At lunch there was a weekly presentation about the successes in different areas of the Sanctuary including Bob the cat who after 9 years was adopted by someone who was willing to help him relieve his bladder because he is unable to do so on his own and the adoption of 4 pigs who are going to a new center for adopted children. The founder wants adoptive animals to be a part of the activities/mission of the center for adopted children.
Then it was on to Dog Town. Since puppies were closed, I volunteered in an area that houses a mixture of adult dogs. The Sanctuary has a collar color system. Green collars are easy dogs for anyone to handle/walk. Purple collars have minor issues like size and strength that may impact certain volunteers handling the dog. Red collars mean that due to issues only staff can handle or walk the dog.
The area I volunteered in had a lot of Red collar dogs. Despite that, the caregiver I worked with was incredibly positive about the future of all of these dogs - regardless of the collar color. It was great for me to experience because at its center, all these dogs are here for some issue - behavioral or psychological - many times at the hand of a human.
Roxanne does not let that stop her. She has a heart of gold and a personality that makes you want to stuff her in your backpack for the ride home. Her face sinks when she realizes she is going back in the run and not home with you.
Contrast that with Merle on the right and Buddy Arnold on the left. Two red collar dogs with completely different routes of how they got to the Sanctuary. Merle is a Victory Dog - one of the dogs rescued when Micheal Vick's pit bull fighting operation was dismantled. It is guessed that Merle was a breeder as she has no scars on her. Unfortunately for Merle, and the high-profile of the case, early on a Judge court-ordered that she will never be adopted. Unfortunate because as time has gone on, she has improved enough to earn a purple collar, but the court-order prevents it. She will remain a red collar, and a Sanctuary resident, for her life. The silver lining is that she is no longer in that situation. Instead she receives love, food, sunshine, and exercise.
Buddy Arnold is a Hurricane Katrina survivor in two ways. First, he made it out and found a safe place at the Sanctuary. Second, it is believed he was tied and left out to survive whatever came at him - elements, people, etc. The reason they believe this is that the Sanctuary dog behaviorist worked extensively with him and discovered his only issue is when he is standing up, on leash and someone approaches him. Off leash - fine. On leash and not standing up - fine. Sounds like a dog that had to try to defend himself the best he could within his circumstances.
The caregiver tried to get me to adopt him, and he did take a shine to me, but alas I'm not ready for that kind of commitment and responsibility. A rottweiler is a huge responsibility. A rottweiler with an aggression issue is a HUGE responsibility - especially as often I am in public with my dog. As a 10 year old, Buddy Arnold may spend his days at the Sanctuary with Merle.
And this guy.... A contradiction. As sweet as could be - green collar and all. The caregiver tells me he 'has had an past issue with killing a small dog' so keep him from interacting with other dogs on the walk. You would never know that he has a aggressive bone in his body from interacting with him. He was as lovable as any dog, showing no signs of aggression whatsoever.
This sweetie has been returned to the Sanctuary twice. Her first home they returned her because she chewed and destroyed the expensive dog toys that they bought her. They also returned her with her puppy collar - a collar much too tight for the dog that returned to the Sanctuary (good thing they returned her!). In the second home she fought with the other dog. Again very, very sweet. Did something happen in those homes to create the dog aggression? What is her future if she can't interact with other dogs in a home or on a hiking trail?
So just as I've been about walked out and feeling a little less optimistic about the future of these confused adults, the caregiver hands me Rogue to walk. I don't know if this was part of her plan, if she sensed I was losing my optimism for the futures of these dogs, or if it was just coincidence.
Rogue came to the Sanctuary at 1 year old. Rogue was a Red collar dog for 13 years. In the last year, Rogue went from a Red collar to a Purple Collar. At 15 years of age, Rogue was adopted yesterday.
So as the sun set, Rogue and I took one of his last walks on the Sanctuary. In the next few weeks Rogue will have a new home to spend his golden years. No wire run. Just a warm bed, lots of love, and a cat and and another dog to play with.
And that is why these dedicated individuals never give up on any of these dogs. You never know when the next Rogue story might happen.
I think you are awesome Ms. Beaucaire. I love you soo very much!
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