Tuesday, January 31, 2012

...... from the Director's Chair

We saw a few TLC alumni at Thursday's VCAS Board of Commissioners meeting held at Camarillo last week... Thank you for coming in support of the No-Kill movement... It is GREATLY appreciated...This morning I wanted to share something personal with everyone who reads this blog... Let's call it "What a Rescuer Goes Through From a Personal Perspective" for lack of a better title...

In May of 2010, I had gone to Camarillo to bailout a few dogs we'd been watching and were afraid would be killed on the next list of culling there... Having put things in motion and waiting for paperwork to be done, I took a walk around the kennels... This is ALWAYS a big mistake for me and I KNOW better than to do it... 

Coming around the backside of what I call the "I" building (the one on the far right and straight), I passed numerous Pit Bulls, large breeds and an assortment of dogs over 30 pounds... Almost at the end of the row, I just about passed by one kennel, thinking it was empty... Peering against the sunlight and into the kennel, I just about saw a small, dark bundle huddled up against the wall...

I stopped, waited and tried to encourage the 'dark bundle' to come forward to the front of the kennel run... It did take some time and very slowly, the bundle unfolded itself to reveal not one small Tri-Color Bandit Chihuahua, but two in fact... 

Coaxing in my very best 'Chi speak', after about 15 minutes I convinced one to come forward enough for me to see her size, but I could not get the second one to come forward... She remained huddled in a ball and shaking as the Pitty on one side whined and the crazy Lab on the other continued to bark non-stop... It is SO sad what kennel shock does to all of these dogs...

Hearing my name called over the loud speaker, I had no other choice but to leave and head to the office... Once there, I asked about the two wee ones in that kennel... They were both available but were not 'showing well'... 

I stood at the counter, debating with myself... I had already pulled two dogs above the number of foster slots we had, convincing myself that I'd locate some more volunteers willing to foster once we'd pull them... Pulling two more was simply just above our means to adequately foster... It was a struggle, trying to decide... 

"One is somewhat friendly, so she'll probably get adopted - the bigger one of the two... But the little one? I just don't know..... And ya know?  You can't save them all... " trailing off as the counter person continued processing my paperwork... 

I took the leap of faith I have done so many times... "OK, we will pull the little one that has less chance of getting adopted and see what we can do to rehabilitate her.  If her sister does not get adopted, mark it in the computer to have someone contact me and hopefully we will have an open foster spot"....

And that is the circumstances, "Shirley" (as we will call her) left Camarillo... Her sister, Laverne, was more outgoing and had a better chance to find someone in the general public to love her furever... "

Shirley was indeed scared out of her mind... It took weeks to see her tail come up right and walk like a proud Chihuahua I knew she could be... Approach her and she'd either run away or fall over onto her back and expose her belly in fear... It was heart breaking to see... I tried several foster situations with her and she failed at all of them... Each time she'd come back to me and I'd shake my head, take her back and continue to work with her again...

A few weeks after getting Shirley out of Camarillo, I was working with data of the dogs that had been killed there that month and recognized Shirley's impound number... Because she and her sister, Laverne, had come in together, I quickly looked for that impound number thinking for sure I would see "ADOPT"... 

But seeing the word "EUTH" aside of it, my heart sank and I sat there, staring at the paper unable to believe what I was reading... What happened to calling me before killing her?  Why had I bothered to believe the Camarillo staff person?  I know better, despite what they say at the counter about having 'such a high rate' of adoption as they attempt to console someone who is surrendering a beloved pet for whatever reason... 

I INTENTIONALLY left behind the most adoptable dog of the two for someone in the general public to adopt and save, taking the least adoptable one... Why in the heck hadn't I just pulled both of them and Laverne would be alive today, sitting on someone's lap and loving life as a cuddle bunny?
I think of Laverne many times when I hear the excuses Camarillo spits out about dogs needing to die, or explaining that it is everyone else's fault their kill rate is so high... I can quickly spit out 10 reasons why Laverne did not need to die starting first with the fact neither one had a photo on their website, followed just as quickly that housing 2 3-pound Chihuahuas between much larger (and noisy) dog breeds is going to do nothing else but scare the hell out of them!

But why?  Why give the list of things I KNOW could have saved Laverne's life... It won't bring her back...  No matter how many times I go over and over these things, I don't see Camarillo's mindset changing... I just see more dogs dying, like Laverne...  This is what it is like to be a rescue director in a high kill county...

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Dogs and Puppies Showing (1/28/12)

PETCO - 742 Los Angeles Dr., Moorpark - Noon until 4PM
Pets Hope - 1555 Simi Towne Center Dr., Simi Valley - Mon-Sat 10AM to 8PM, Sun 11AM to 6PM

Dog Location
Albert Pets Hope
Amber Pets Hope
Angelina By appointment
Ava PETCO - Moorpark
Babe Pets Hope
Baby Holly By appointment
BabyGirl PETCO - Moorpark
Bardot PETCO - Moorpark
Benny PETCO - Moorpark
Billy By appointment
Blondie PETCO - Moorpark
BlueBelle PETCO - Moorpark
Bogart PETCO - Moorpark
Bonnie (Clyde) By appointment
Boots PETCO - Moorpark
Bronson PETCO - Moorpark
Bug Pets Hope
Carmella By appointment
Clyde (Bonnie) By appointment
CookieBear By appointment
Cora Pets Hope
Coral Pets Hope
Cosmo Pets Hope
Dale PETCO - Moorpark
Diamond (Luna) Pets Hope
Dodger By appointment
Domino PETCO - Moorpark
Dudley Pets Hope
Dulcie PETCO - Moorpark
Elias (Maggie) By appointment
Emerald (Luna) Pets Hope
Erin PETCO - Moorpark
Felicia PETCO - Moorpark
Felix PETCO - Moorpark
Flash PETCO - Moorpark
Freeway By appointment
Garbo PETCO - Moorpark
Glory Pets Hope
Gumbo By appointment
Gunner Pets Hope
HoneyBear PETCO - Moorpark
Italia PETCO - Moorpark
Jack By appointment
Jessie PETCO - Moorpark
Jewel PETCO - Moorpark
Jody Pets Hope
Joey By appointment
Joey Pets Hope
Josie By appointment
Kiwi PETCO - Moorpark
Lemon Drop By appointment
Little Ricky By appointment
MaggieMae By appointment
Margarita Pets Hope
Mickey Pets Hope
MinnieMoo By appointment
Mojito Pets Hope
Mollie Pets Hope
Myles Pets Hope
Nacho PETCO - Moorpark
Oliver (Maggie) By appointment
Peanut By appointment
Pearl PETCO - Moorpark
Peyton PETCO - Moorpark
Phillip PETCO - Moorpark
Popi PETCO - Moorpark
Rachel PETCO - Moorpark
ReddyFreddy PETCO - Moorpark
Ruby (Luna) Pets Hope
Ruth Pets Hope
Samson PETCO - Moorpark
Scarlet Pets Hope
Scruffy PETCO - Moorpark
Shadow PETCO - Moorpark
Sheldon PETCO - Moorpark
Shotzi Pets Hope
Sienna PETCO - Moorpark
Skipper PETCO - Moorpark
Smitty Pets Hope
Smokey PETCO - Moorpark
Sofie Pets Hope
Sparky PETCO - Moorpark
Stefan PETCO - Moorpark
Storm Pets Hope
Svetlana (Maggie) By appointment
Tahiti PETCO - Moorpark
Tammy PETCO - Moorpark
Tanner By appointment
Vienna PETCO - Moorpark
Vinny PETCO - Moorpark
Walter (Maggie) By appointment
WhoDat PETCO - Moorpark
Wilson PETCO - Moorpark
Winnie By appointment


Thursday, January 19, 2012

Dogs & Puppies available (1/21/12)

Location:  Petco in Moorpark, 742 Los Angeles Ave., Noon until 4PM
Location:  Pets Hope, 1555 Simi Towne Center, Simi Valley, 10-8PM except Sundays which is 11 to 6PM
Location:  "By appointment" - use the contact email on their profile

Dog Location
Albert Pets Hope - Simi
Alfie By appt
Alice Pets Hope - Simi
Amber Pets Hope - Simi
Ava Moorpark PETCO
Babe Pets Hope - Simi
BabyGirl Moorpark PETCO
Bardot By appt
Benny Moorpark PETCO
Billy Moorpark PETCO
Blondie Moorpark PETCO
BlueBelle Moorpark PETCO
Bogart By appt
Bonnie & Clyde By appt
Boots Moorpark PETCO
Brody Pets Hope - Simi
Bronson By appt
Bug Pets Hope - Simi
Carmella Moorpark PETCO
CookieBear By appt
Coral Pets Hope - Simi
Cosmo Pets Hope - Simi
Dale Moorpark PETCO
Diamond (Luna) Pets Hope - Simi
Dodger Moorpark PETCO
Domino Moorpark PETCO
Dudley Moorpark PETCO
Dulcie Moorpark PETCO
Elias Pets Hope - Simi
Emerald Pets Hope - Simi
Erin Moorpark PETCO
Evita Moorpark PETCO
Fanny Pets Hope - Simi
Felicia By appt
Felix Moorpark PETCO
Garbo By appt
Glory Pets Hope - Simi
Gumbo By appt
Gunner Pets Hope - Simi
HoneyBear Moorpark PETCO
Honor Pets Hope - Simi
Italia Moorpark PETCO
Jack By appt
Jessie Moorpark PETCO
Jewel Moorpark PETCO
Jody Pets Hope - Simi
Joey Moorpark PETCO
Joey Pets Hope - Simi
Josie Moorpark PETCO
Kiwi Moorpark PETCO
Lemon Drop By appt
Lilliana Moorpark PETCO
Maddy By appt
MaggieMae Moorpark PETCO
Margarita Pets Hope - Simi
Mela By appt
Mickey Pets Hope - Simi
MinnieMoo By appt
Mojito Pets Hope - Simi
Mollie Pets Hope - Simi
Myles Pets Hope - Simi
Nacho Moorpark PETCO
Oliver (Maggie) Pets Hope - Simi
Peanut By appt
Pearl Moorpark PETCO
Peyton Moorpark PETCO
Phillip Moorpark PETCO
Rachel Moorpark PETCO
Rambo Pets Hope - Simi
ReddyFreddy By appt
Ruby Pets Hope - Simi
Ruth Pets Hope - Simi
Samson Moorpark PETCO
Scarlet Moorpark PETCO
Scruffy Moorpark PETCO
Shadow Moorpark PETCO
Shady Moorpark PETCO
Sheldon Moorpark PETCO
Shotzi Moorpark PETCO
Sienna By appt
Skipper Moorpark PETCO
Smitty Pets Hope - Simi
Smokey By appt
Sofie Pets Hope - Simi
Sparky Moorpark PETCO
Stefan Moorpark PETCO
Storm Moorpark PETCO
Svetlana Pets Hope - Simi
Tahiti Moorpark PETCO
Tammy Moorpark PETCO
Tanner By appt
Tommy By appt
Vienna Moorpark PETCO
Vinny Pets Hope - Simi
Walter Pets Hope - Simi
WhoDat Moorpark PETCO
Wilson Moorpark PETCO
Winnie By appt

Update - Successful Furever homes!

From Posey's new furmom:

I just wanted to send you a pic of my girl and let you know she is doing fantastic.  We are so incredibly happy with her, she is such a good girl. BTW she sleeps with us :) , no accidents (NOT ONE) in the house, super sweet...All I have to say is thank you for taking such good care of her, for saving her and for letting her choose us.
I am attaching a picture we took of her at a friends house.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Bartholomew found his furever home!

The 'juice' that keeps us rescuers going - successful "furever" homes for the puppers we save out of the shelters and off kill lists!  WTG, Bartholomew!  Just love that last 'Kodak' moment, huh?

Linda

Friday, January 6, 2012

Dogs & Puppies available for adoption (1/7/12)


Dog Location
Albert Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Alice Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Amber Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Anya Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Ava PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Babe Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
BabyGirl PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Bardot PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Bartholomew PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Benny Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Billy PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
BlueBelle PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Bogart PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Boots Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Brock Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Brody Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Bronson PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Bug Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Carmella PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
CookieBear By appt only
Coral Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Cosmo Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Dale PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Diamond (Luna) PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Dodger PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Domino PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Dudley PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Elias (Maggie) PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Emerald (Luna) PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Erin PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Evita PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Fanny Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Felix PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Garbo PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Gigi (Jewel) Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Glory Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Gumbo By appt only
Gunner Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
HoneyBear PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Honor Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Italia PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Jack By appt only
Jewel PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Jody Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Joey PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Joey Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Kiwi PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Lemon Drop By appt only
Lilliana (Maggie) PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Luna PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
MaggieMae PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Margarita Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Mickey Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
MinnieMoo PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Mojito Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Mollie Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Myles Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Noodles PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Oliver (Maggie) PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Ollie Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Paris Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Peanut PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Pearl PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Peyton PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Phillip PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Rambo Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Ruby (Luna) PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Ruth Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Samson PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Scarlet PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Shady PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Sheldon PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Shotzi PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Sienna PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Smitty Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Sofie Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Sparky PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Stefan PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Stitch Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Storm PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Svetlana (Maggie) PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Tahiti PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Tammy PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Tanner PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Vinny Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
Walter (Maggie) PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM
Wendall Pets Hope, Simi Valley, 10-8PM
WhoDat PETCO in Moorpark, Sat 12-4PM