IDA AND THE N’S GO TO KINDERGARTEN

The greatest audience in the world has be a room full of 5 year olds. Add a dog or kittens into the mix and you are going to have the time of your life. You just never know what the next moment will bring.

Even though spay/neuter is the main goal of Planned Pethood, education is part of their mission as well. So when I was invited to visit Mrs. Charlotte Steinman’s kindergarten class at Beverly Elementary, I have to admit I was excited and a little nervous. Twenty-four of those fresh little faces could be a smidge bit intimidating. Truth be told, however, one of those faces was one of my best buddies, my great nephew Finn. There was no need to worry, the kids barely noticed I was even there.

Most of you have met Ida in my previous blogs. She is a seven year old black lab pulled from the pound with heartworm disease. After many painful treatments and months with me as a foster, she became a permanent member of my pack. Ida ALWAYS carries around a toy and she is ALWAYS wagging her tail. She thrives on attention and continuously gives out big sloppy kisses. It was a no brainer that she would be a great canine role model for the kids. With a toy in her mouth and a patriotic bandana on to highlight election day, we were off to kindergarten.

Mrs. Steinman is not just a kindergarten teacher, she is a saint. The woman is an incredible combination of patience, love, and discipline. Everything in her classroom is orderly and organized. She has to have the most wonderful karma ever. Before our visit, she cleared us with the principal, and she sent home permission slips to each parent to make sure none of her students had animal allergies or fear of dogs or cats. On our arrival, we encountered four tables which each seated six adorable and enthusiastic mini-people.

The topic Mrs. S and I chose was how to meet a new dog and how to care for a dog properly. So after the introductions; with Finn acting as my “master of ceremonies”; I asked my rapt audience, what was the first thing they did when they got up in the morning? Very polite responses included, getting dressed and brushing teeth. Good answers but, does Ida get dressed and brush her teeth? With a smattering of giggles, we agreed that most dogs don’t do that when they wake up. Things went on in that vein for a while until I asked the kids, isn’t there something you a leaving out? The students exchanged knowing glances but did not respond. So I asked them, what about potty? I certainly was not prepared for their reaction. That subject produced 24 screaming and laughing munchkins thoroughly enjoying themselves. Finn’s dad, Dave, later offered his take on the scene with the comment, “you had a low brow crowd, Judy”.

Proving this description quite accurate, the same hilarity ensued when we discussed how dogs greet each other when one little boy stated they sniff each other on the bum. We covered a great deal of territory including play, training, baths and more and the time flew by. Before we left, however, each one of our new friends came to the front of the room to meet Ida and give her some pets and even a few hugs. It is hard to say who enjoyed it more, Ida or the kids.

Things went so well with Ida, we were invited back, this time with three of my foster kittens, the N’s. To avoid confusion, Planned Pethood names every litter of kittens and puppies with the same letter of the alphabet.  This was a perfect fit with our kindergarten buddies just learning their letters and sounds. There were originally five N’s but two had been adopted so eight week old Nessie, Netta, and Nena were off to Beverly Elementary. Again, I was a little concerned because while 2 of the N’s were sweet lovable poofballs, the third, Nessie, was a maniac. An affectionate nickname was the Loch Ness Monster. This baby had no fear of anything including a 95 lb. foster dog named Wanda. She would do drive byes, pounce and run. She would climb me or any other upright structure in the house. But again things went well, using the strategy that Mrs. S and I would hold the kittens as the kids came up to pet them. A final word on the LNM, she was adopted in Ann Arbor by a family who did dog rescue and she was a perfect fit.

We made a final visit to kindergarten right before their Christmas break. It was just a quick stop to drop off a treat for our small friends from the dogs and kittens (who has all been adopted by then). This time another member of my pack, Stanley, accompanied us as well. He is an endearing four year old shepherd mix who, like Ida, was rescued from the pound heartworm positive.

This time the kids had a surprise for us, a huge Christmas/Thank you card, signed by each student with a picture each one drew of themselves. In addition to being highly entertaining, it will always remain one of our prized possessions. Ida was presented with a Beverly school tag for her collar as an honorary member of the class and the kids drew us pictures of Stanley, Ida, the N’s or one of their pets. They are classic.
Ida, Stanley, and I want to give a shout out to Mrs. Steinman and her students for inviting us to such enjoyable excursions. We are positive that we have planted the seeds for a new generation of RESPONSIBLE pet lovers when they have become doctors, lawyers, CEO’s, and first responders!

By Judy S

THE PERFECT DOG FOR YOU

It was completely and totally an accident. My first dog as an adult was the perfect dog for me, or really, for anyone. Adding a new dog or cat, puppy or kitten, is a major step for any family. Finding exactly the right new feline or canine companion for you can take some work. A million questions begin to run through your mind: breed, age, gender, activity level, personality, background, and more and more. Many people don’t even consider rescue, they just immediately seek out a breeder. It is too bad that people don’t realize that rescues like Planned Pethood can provide the ideal partner for almost everyone. I always tell people, if you don’t see the right dog on the website today, wait a couple of weeks and your lifelong mate will show up.

I was a clueless rookie when I rescued my first dog, Lucy, a stunningly beautiful five year old yellow lab. The only factor I considered was getting her out of the hellhole she was calling home. She belonged to a very troubled family who lived next door to my sister. She was kept in a confined area with absolutely no shelter in the snow or blistering heat. She was given water only sporadically. It is very cruel to isolate any dog but Lu was the most social dog I have ever met and this was tantamount to torture. My sister, Janet, used to go to the vet to get meds and treat her nasty ear infections over the fence. Thankfully for Lucy, the whole neighborhood took her under their wing. After way too long of an awful existence, we finally convinced the owners to surrender her to us. The man actually had the nerve to ask me to pay him $500 because that was what he paid the breeder. If I spent $500 on anything, even an inanimate object, I would at least take care of it.

So overnight I was a proud dog owner. Luckily for me, Lucy trained me. Our first order of business was to introduce the new dog to the cats and life in a house. I needn’t have worried. The first time Lucy entered the house and spied the cats, she dropped down and did a belly crawl over to meet them on their level. It was the damnedest thing I had ever seen. Her previous landlord told me she did not like to be in the house. He couldn’t have been more wrong. From day one, she slept in bed with me and made herself at home. She was a true ambassadog. She loved every living creature she ever met. Too bad they don’t hire dogs as greeters at Meijer, she would have fit the bill.

Rescue is in my blood so it wasn’t long before a tiny kitten arrived. Lucille was never spayed until she came to me but she, by some miracle, never had pups. But she became a mom to little Joan. She snuggled, cleaned, and nurtured her. They were inseparable until the day Lu died. Lucy greeted me every day at the door with a toy in her mouth and a tail wagging so hard it could clear a table in one sweep. When she became ill, and we had to let Lucy Lu go, it ripped my heart out. No one could ever replace this perfect dog.

Now let’s examine the other side of the coin, adopting the exact wrong dog. A dear friend and colleague went the shelter route to find her new companion. Ruth is a school librarian who was on the verge of retirement. We affectionately call her Ruthless, all 4’8” of her. She was searching for a small dog who would fit into her condo lifestyle in which fences are forbidden. She ended up adopting a puppy who is a hunting breed, probably a pointer. Ruth was going to name her “Friend” but cooler heads prevailed and the puppy became Rosie. I told Ruth her neighbors would think she had become a Quaker hearing her hollering, "Friend, Friend" out her back door. This baby whirlwind of terror was THE most hyperactive youngster I have ever seen.

There are a million Ruth and Rosie stories. One day Ruth came to work and looked like she was a victim of severe domestic abuse. Her eyes were blackened and she had scrapes and scratches all over. Rosie had pulled her over while on a walk. To Ruth’s credit, she never gave up on her unruly pup. As a matter of fact, the wild child had to repeat her obedience classes (to raise her GPA according to Ruthless). The two R’s are still a happy couple. After discovering Doggie Daycare and a loving dog walker, Miss Rosalita is a happy, healthy 60 pounder hanging out on the condo scene with the senior citizens and their miniature pets.

If you are searching for your perfect pet, Planned Pethood does a super job supplying all the pertinent information a prospective adopter needs. The beauty of the program allows the foster families to get to know the dog or cat in a home setting including the good, the bad, and the ugly. You will know in advance if they are housebroken, good with other dogs and cats and kids, their activity level, and so many other factors. Plus they are all spayed and neutered, vaccinated and in proper good health.

A few people complain about the process being too cumbersome including a lengthy application, a vet check, and a home visit. The organization tries to do everything possible to make your match perfect. Even with all of this, pets do get returned for a variety of reasons. However, not to fear for their safety, any dog or cat goes back into foster care until they can be adopted again. Finally, if Ruth decides she wants to find a companion for Rosie, she has promised me that she will begin her search with Planned Pethood and will use me as her guide.

--Judy S

TNR: CONTROVERSIAL BUT EFFECTIVE

It was a warm summer night and I was D & D (desperate and dateless) that particular Saturday night. So I decided to take the dogs for a bit of a stroll around the neighborhood. It seems like an innocent enough pastime. But nothing is ever simple or easy in my world. As we walked, we encountered a little boy playing with some kittens, who were running free. I asked the kid to go get his mother.  Instead nana emerged after a few minutes. Her home was adjacent to a park and first the mama cat had shown up, then one baby, then another, then finally three. The woman was at wit’s end. Luckily, the kittens were socialized and friendly therefore they were adoptable so I returned with a carrier and whisked them off. I explained to her I would be back later to do a TNR (Trap/Neuter/Release) with the mother. Spay/neuter is a founding principle upon which Planned Pethood is based.

The next day I was able to corral the mother without much trouble. As a matter of fact, mama was not much more than a kitten herself and she was very friendly. So I called Karen, Planned Pethood’s Cat Intake Coordinator. Karen has one of the toughest jobs in rescue. She literally gets 50 to 100 calls a day from people who want to dump cats or kittens, usually during the height of kitten season. And that is to her own, personal phone number! That's on top of the calls filtered to her from our FIXX Line (419.826.FIXX).  She must make the decision of who will be saved.

Well, Karen was in no position to add another adult cat to the program at that moment, but we got the cat in. People want to adopt kittens, the smaller the better. Adults tend to linger in foster care for months. We had Alice (I was on a presidential relatives naming kick) spayed and vaccinated with her foster going to be my semi-significant other, Bob. Bob tried fostering but he failed miserably because he ended up adopting Alice himself. Currently, two cats own Bob, Alice who is now 4ish and Brittney, both his former fosters ending his career as a foster dad.

TNR is misunderstood and people are wary about using it. So here is a short primer on what the heck TNR is. The cat population is out of control. One unaltered female cat can be responsible for thousands of offspring. Cats form colonies from which all new cats are excluded. If all the cats are fixed, the colony will eventually disappear through attrition. Friend and fellow rescuer, Nancy points out, “rehoming does not work as has been proven by every trailer park that has the decades old approach of forbidding feeding, then killing, or trapping/dumping”. Those trailer park problems persist.

Most people get the trapping and neutering but have issues with releasing the cats where they were found. We must point out too, that there is a big, big difference between a stray and a feral cat. Feral cats live in the wild without any socialization with humans. Trying to adopt a feral cat would be like trapping a squirrel and bringing it into your home as a pet. The goal is to trap the cat, spay or neuter, then release them where they were found.

My friend Jeannie is a self taught TNR expert. She has, to date, been responsible for TNR with 19 cats and kittens, most of them on her own dime. Planned Pethood began to help out when they discovered her need. They are known at the clinic as Stoney Creek #1, #2, #3…#19. Employees there and Jeannie are on a first name basis. She has had to fend off a great deal of resistance from upset neighbors. At one point, they were releasing the cats from their traps, thinking the traps were inhumane. Another resident stole her trap entirely. Some still are hostile to her efforts. She and other neighbors have a pool of money from which they feed the cats. I just got a bulletin from her: NO NEW KITTENS this season, it read. But this unbelievable dynamo did not stop there. She used TNR with the feral cats at her lake house too. They are known as the royal family, the Queen, Prince, Princess, and even Royal Consort (although his consorting days are now over). Hopefully, more and more people will become enlightened if not become an activist like Jeannie.

Traps can be obtained from Humane Ohio in the Toledo area for a cash deposit. They provide a low cost spay/neuter option. Any cats that arrive in a trap do not need an appointment. For those in economic hardship, Planned Pethood can provide assistance toward with the cost of spay/neuter in some cases.

Further information about TNR can be found at Humane Ohio and Alley Cat Allies websites. My heart and encouragement go out to all the dedicated and selfless volunteers who trap and transport. In most cases, it can be a thankless job. They are real heroes.

Regards, Judy S

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We are dedicated toward the end of the pet overpopulation problem. Statistics have shown that the majority of litters in shelters are the product of unintended pregnancies. They have stories attached to them about how Sparky somehow got out of the yard or how some strange dog jumped into their yard. Your unaltered pet is the source of that unintended pregnancy. You have insurance on your car knowing you probably won't need it, but you have it when you do need it. Don't take the risk of having your pet contributing to the overpopulation problem (and, yes, this includes your cat or dog).

Planned Pethood began over 25 years ago when a small group of concerned animal lovers wanted to do something to stop the huge pet overpopulation problem in our area. They began a program of working with local veterinarians to offer low cost spay/neuter. Today we continue that mission.

When you join Planned Pethood, at an associate level or higher, your annual membership entitles you to low cost spay/neuter at any of the participating veterinarians listed below.

A Cautionary Tale

Ida was next to death from
Heartworm disease

Your best friend could be the victim of an insidious silent stalker and you might not even know it. I had been vaguely aware that I administered a pill each month to address potential heartworm in my dogs. Then the reality of it slapped me in the face when my Planned Pethood (plannedpethood.org) foster dog, Ida, was diagnosed heartworm positive.

My education of the horrors of heartworms was about to begin. Ida is a stunningly beautiful 6 year old, 70 lb. black lab who was nabbed from death row at the pound. She is named after Ida Tarbell, a turn of the last century African American journalist who wrote about conditions for blacks and women. She was experiencing a dry cough which sounded like she had been a smoker her whole life. I found out later that symptom does not develop until the disease is quite advanced. Ida was about to undergo treatment to rid her heart of the parasites that had been transmitted to her from an infected mosquito.

Ida was given a chest x-ray and prescribed antibiotics. The next step was deep, painful injections with a drug (which actually contains arsenic) to kill the heartworms. That drug, by the way, has been taken off the market in the U.S., creating shortages similar to the problems with some cancer drugs. The aftercare was the worst part for my big girl. She had to be completely restricted for the next 4 weeks. She happens to be an athletic “fetch-aholic”. No balls for Ida for months. It was out to take care of business, then right back in. Dogs rarely die from the treatment but can lose their lives from the side effects. Too much activity can lead to a stroke or a heart attack because the parasites are dying right in the heart. After 4 weeks, she was administered an oral treatment and got permission to leash walk only. Then we waited.

Ida could be retested after 4 months. We anxiously awaited that date. But it was bad news, she was STILL HW+. The poor girl had to undergo the whole process once again.

There was a lesson to be learned for me through Ida’s ordeal. That pill once a month is critical. It seems like there is an epidemic of heartworm positive dogs out there. Planned Pethood’s (plannedpethood.org) rescues last year included 14 dogs with the condition, including Stanley, my own foster dog. We must end this cautionary tail (yes, pun intended) with a happy ending Ida is now a permanent member of my pack after nine long months of anxiety and restrictions. She is happy, healthy, and can be seen 24/7 with a ball in her mouth.

All of Planned Pethood's pets are up to date on age-appropriate shots and flea and heartworm prevention before being offered for adoption. In addition, Planned Pethood's policy is to treat all medical ailments, regardless of cost, unless the treating vet feels there is nothing more that can be done. We do not refuse treatment to our animals based on cost of treatment or on the age of the animal. When we take in a dog or cat, we take that commitment seriously.

(submitted by Judy S)

Nice dogs need someone, maybe you?

When I first started going to the Fulton County dog pound to see if there were any dogs out there that needed rescued, I was told by a few people that all they had were "labs and hounds." As it's turned out over the past five years, that couldn't be farther from the truth! I have picked up nearly every breed you can think of: chihuahuas, pugs & puggles, Boston terriers, westies, doodles, yorkies, scotties, keeshonds, Goldens, boxers, German Shepherds, the list goes on and on. Some of the dogs that end up there are from local puppy mill type breeders, and are in terrible shape. Some are most likely driven out into the country and dumped off, hoping the proverbial "nice farmer" will take them in, which of course never happens. Others are simply local strays no one bothered to call for.

Still it's true, like at most pounds, the breeds I see the most of are labs and lab mixes, and dogs in the hound group. Of those, the nice purebred labs and beagles usually get a second chance. There's way too many of them but since they are such popular breeds, they do get adopted fairly easily.

It's not such a happy ending for the bigger hounds and lab mixes. There's just not room to save them all. At any given time, Planned Pethood has an assortment of lab mixes. Some of them came from pounds, some came in as strays. Many were adopted as cute puppies and then when their families have to give them up, there's one more nice lab mix who needs a new home.

Right now the two dogs pictured above need a miracle. The red hound has been there a few weeks, because she's such a sweet dog no one wants to put her down. While they are generally happy, good-natured dogs, hounds do not get adopted too easily. They're too big to have the same appeal as a basset or a beagle. They can make great family pets but they have their little quirks too. They follow their noses anywhere and oftentimes a good scent is more important to them than your commands! Still it's heartbreaking when a nice dog like this doesn't get another chance because she's not a popular breed and there simply isn't foster space available. At all of the northwest Ohio dog pounds, there is only so much space and when that runs out, there is only one way to open a kennel up for the next dog that comes in...

(One of the reason Planned Pethood is the only local rescue that only takes dogs and cats from our immediate area is because the need is still so great here. We love all dogs and wish we could save them all, but until we run out of dogs to save right here, our resources remain focused on the dogs in our own backyard.)

The big beautiful black lab mix is another dog who needs someone soon! He is just an exceptional dog. He was barking when I tried to get his picture but when I told him to SIT, he sat right down! He is on a court hold right now, a cruelty confiscation. Judging by how thin he is, odds are his owner didn't bother with basics like food and water. Still he is a loving, friendly dog. It's unclear when he might be released for adoption but one thing is clear, when that does happen, he will be a GREAT dog for some lucky family, if he gets another chance.

Fostering, especially big dogs like these, isn't for everyone. Still, all of us had to start somewhere and once we did, we found out just how fulfilling saving great dogs like these can be! If you've ever considered it and are just dragging your feet a bit over jumping in, now's as good a time as any! Even if you're not the "hound type" we can certainly find the right dog or puppy for you. And if you're interested in either of these dogs, please let us know ASAP! We'd sure like to see them living the good life as someone's beloved pet, but we can't do that without you!!

The Adoration of Rescue Dogs

My morning routine begins with letting half of my dogs outside, while the others bark, "Not fair! Not fair!" (They don't all play nicely together so they have to take turns.) Then I start coffee and check email. Now when I sit down, I am greeted by my recently returned foster dog, Haven, doing her patented body wag and giving me kisses. If she could talk, I suspect she'd be saying "GOOD Morning!!! I'm thrilled to see you again!!!" There's not a greeting out there that's more exuberant than Haven's.

(You can read Haven's story on the Featured Dogs page on our website.)

I can only try to imagine what goes on in her mind, being home again after 10 months on her own. Whatever she is thinking, it's clear she's able to forget all she's been through, and is simply delighted to be here again.

People comment all the time about how difficult it must be for me to make regular trips to Northwest Ohio dog pounds, to help save some of the dogs who end up there. And yes, it is hard. I see dogs every week who I know have little hope of a second chance, because they're big mixed breeds or older or aren't acting all that nice. Sometimes miracles occur and a truly great "average" dog does get out after all.

(For example, Farrah, whose lucky day came when Nikki Morey and her husband Mike Hart went over to the Fulton County pound to pick up a few other dogs, and ended up with her in their car, too. If you want to adopt a truly wonderful dog who will thank you every day of her life, please consider Farrah.)

It's probably pretty hard for those who haven't been bitten (no pun intended) by the rescue dog bug to understand why we do what we do. All those strange dogs eating our shoes and our new cell phones, all that dog fur!! All the time and money and heartache over dogs?! All the hassles aside, I feel blessed and honored to have made the acquaintance of so many wonderful canines, and you know what, they DO appreciate what we've done for them.

These dogs don't care that the laundry isn't done, or we were rude to someone at work. While some of them have baggage they can't quite leave behind, they don't hold grudges and if you wave them away one day because you're too busy, they'll still be there the next day, wagging their tails and giving you another chance. There's a t-shirt/bumper sticker quote out there that says: "Please help me be the person my dog thinks I am." That sums it up right there. To them, we're heroes, for no reason other than we provide love and care, sometimes the first love and care they've had in their lives. No one else will ever adore you quite as thoroughly and selflessly as a dog who you've rescued.

There's a few lessons in this for all of us, lessons about being grateful for what we have, about letting go of things we can't change. About enjoying this romp in the yard, without worrying so much about whether or not it will rain tomorrow. I know I fall far short of being the kind of person these dogs think I am but I still appreciate their confidence in me. And meanwhile, Haven sleeps a few feet from me on the floor, fields and fears forgotten, just happy to be back with me again.