Not quite the full Monty

There are some days when working in rescue that I spend most of the day wanting to cry.  I picked up Matthew and didn't think he looked too matted.  Of course at that time I hadn't touched him.  After dinner, I started slowing shaving his ears.  They were the size of hound dogs ears when I started and now are tiny things.  I honestly thought he had big ears with how much matting there was.  He had pooped matted to his butt and when we first got him, he wasn't even able to poop without it first getting stuck in his hair.  After several hours of shaving him on and off, I only have his legs, neck and a small spot on his stomach to do.  I'll post pictures later of the largest three mats that I pulled off him.  The rest came off in small pieces here and there.  This is the worst cruelty I've seen as far as a dogs grooming goes.  I've renamed him Monty... yes as in the full monty.  Hell, he's almost naked now, why not.  I'm a little pissed that our usual groomer didn't want to take him on immediately because his mats would dull her clippers.  What the hell are we paying her for then?  By the time she gets a hold of him, he will have no hair left at all.  The only thing she'll need to do is trim up his face and in between his toes.  I can tell you my trimmers have just about had all they can take.  It takes a lot to shave through all that hair when it's not matted together.  And throughout all the shaving, cutting and pulling, he was happy and sweet.  I know he has to be in pain where all those mats are and yet he runs around like the young dog he is.  He is also in need of a diet.  We'll start that once I'm completely done shaving him.  I just don't think it's right to torture him for hours with clippers and then not give him treats.  He only really needs to lose about five pounds since he's a little dog.  I wasn't too impressed by him when I went to pick him up.  Typical little dog, bouncing around like a nutcase.  I thought oh this is gonna be a great one.  I'm not a fan of hyper little dogs.  He calmed down once we got home though.  For his small size, he is extremely strong.  He was pulling me on the leash and he's a LITTLE dog.  It just makes me really sad to look at his sweet little face and know that these people looked at him too and let him suffer.  The hair on his ears was pulled so tight that it was bleeding in places.  His skin is red and sensitive.  I just don't understand how you can look at him day in and day out and do nothing.  I mean they didn't even attempt to cut it themselves.  I've told him several times it will never happen again and I intend to stand by that.  He's going to go to a stellar home no if's and's or but's.  After what he's been through, he deserves nothing less. 

Matted

Monday night Kasey started limping.  Not the barely putting weight on it limping but the I'm not touching the ground ever again with that paw limping.  I'm honestly not sure what happened.  My theory is he either jumped off the couch wrong at some point and time or when he was going outside, someone ran him over and he landed wrong.  (my dogs make a bee line for the yard the second the door opens and poor Kasey is always at the bottom of the barrel)  He has an approved application so he should be going home this weekend.  We were patiently hoping his foot would get better but seeing as how there has been no improvement, he may get a vet visit Friday morning.  I'm handing him over to my director in case that is needed.  At the same time I will be getting my next and fifth foster, Matthew.  He was returned to us by another shelter.  I'm still not sure how he ended up at their shelter as they do not take dogs off the street, you have to be on a waiting list.  All I know is that he was horribly matted when we got him back.  The girls at the other shelter did their best to get the worst of the mats shaved off but I will work on the rest tomorrow and through the weekend.  He's a small poodle mix but looks like a dachshund right now due to his shaved status.  I can't believe I'm already on my fifth dog.  I bought some stuff today to start a scrape book of all my fosters.  I have never even attempted scrap booking so if anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them. 

I will be going back to the doctor again tomorrow for my finger.  I'm just too uncomfortable with the nerve pain I'm having to watch and wait.  It feels like when you hit your funny bone when I knock my finger into something.  Occasionally, I also get what feels like the mother of all static electricity shocks in that area when I haven't touched anything.  I'm sure he will inflict as much pain and discomfort as is humanely possible while I'm there. 

This is Matthew as he is now.  Some mats go to the skin.  I have my work cut out for me.

This is him a year ago, the last time we saw him. 

 

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Stiffed

Looking at my finger, the wound appears to be healing very well.  The soft tissue that was protruding has since, let's just say died and went away for those who are squeamish.  However, it is still very tender.  I do not yet have full range of motion.  It will not bend completely, but I can straighten it out.  It also feels very stiff, as if the scar tissue that is forming is a little too tight.  If I press on the back of the bite, I can feel pain all the way to the bone.  (literally)  I'm still in awe of the amount of force that such a small animal can exude.  I'll be sitting here at night trying to think of how much pressure you actually have to have to penetrate the skin and then how much pressure would be needed to penetrate all the way through to the other side of a finger.  It's just crazy what those little jaws are capable of and I don't think he was even REALLY trying.  It wasn't as if his life was at stake.  He was just trying to make a point to what he thought was another rat.  This is my space and you're not allowed.  I'm still very nervous with him and have to do my best not to jerk my hand back when he goes to sniff me.  I'm sure there will be a physical reminder for a while.

We adopted out quite a few puppies today and one adult dog.  I'm not sure about the cats even though I spent some time back there.  (we were short handed and I felt guilty that one girl had to deal with all the cats and people)  I actually don't know if we had any cat adoptions.  Kasey had one person really interested in him but it would've been a no on the application.  Kasey is a small dog so older people think he would be great for them and he seems low energy at first but he does need to run and play.  We would prefer he goes to a home with another dog and he will only go to a home with a fenced yard.  I finalized Princess' adoption today.  That dog looks gorgeous.  I wish I'd had my camera so I could've shown everyone.  Her coat is so much shinier than it was when I had her.  (they managed to give her a bath)  She's also put on about ten pounds.  She's not fat but she's on the chunky side now.  She looks healthy though and it's obviousthat she has been getting some training.  There was no way when I had her that she would sit on command in a public place and she does so with ease now.  She was also looking very lovingly at her new owners.  It was the look of a teenager in her first real relationship.  She would just look up at them like I love you guys.  I told them again how happy I was that they decided to work it out with her and they said they haven't had any problems since that day and that they are glad they made the effort as well.  I think they'll have many good years with her and I have no doubt that she has a great home now, especially after seeing her.  I really wish I'd taken my camera because the difference was just undeniable. 

Next week or the week after I should start with cats and kittens.  We'll be getting two separate litters around that time and I'll be taking one of them.  Shelter kittens come with a lot of issues.  If the mother cat was given shots while pregnant (it's very rare that a female cat will go into the shelter and NOT be given a shot) it causes problems with the unborn kittens.  We've had a few litters that just didn't make it for just that reason.  One of the girls that volunteers bottle feeds kittens.  Where she works, they allow her to bring the cats so she can feed them every two hours.  She must be dedicated as hell because that is a LOT of work.  You're entire life is put on hold while you have those cats.  She can never be away from them for more than two hours because they need to be fed.  I couldn't do it.  I'm not much of a couch potato and always need to be out doing something.  Besides that, it's very difficult to keep them alive, even when you really know what you're doing.  It has to be hard to lose kittens over and over that were literally dependent on you for their survival.  You would always wonder if there was something you could've done.  At least I know I would. 

I am an animal rescuer

I found this a few minutes ago browsing animal sites.  I cannot tell you how much I identify with it or how many of those close to me will as well. 

 

I am an Animal Rescuer
My job is to assist God's creatures
I was born with the need to fulfill their needs
I take in new family members without plan, thought or selection
I have bought dog food with my last dime
I have patted a mangy head with a bare hand
I have hugged someone vicious and afraid
I have fallen in love a thousand times
and I have cried into the fur of a lifeless body

I have Animal Friends and friends who have animal friends
I dont often use the word "pet"
I notice those lost at the road side
And my heart aches
I will hand raise a field mouse
And make friends with a vulture
I know of no creature unworthy of my time

I want to live forever if there arent animals in Heaven
But I believe there are
Why would God make something so perfect and leave it behind
We may be master of the animals,
But the animals have mastered themselves
Something people still haven't learned
War and Abuse makes me hurt for the world
But a rescue that makes the news gives me hope for mankind
We are a quiet but determined army
And making a difference every day

There is nothing more necessary than warming an orphan
nothing more rewarding than saving a life
No higher recognition than watching them thrive
There is no greater joy than seeing a baby play
who only days ago, was too weak to eat

I am an Animal Rescuer
My work is never done,
My home is never quiet
My wallet is always empty
But my heart is always full
In the game of life, we have already won

-Annette King Tucker

A beauty of a day

Life with Kasey is definitey different than what I'm used to.  Even Doodle was a little on the hyper side.  Kasey is laid back.  He will play with us or the other dogs but isn't all play all the time.  Mostly he's content to sleep next to us while we do whatever it is that humans do.  I've been extra rough while petting him and playing.  I'm trying to get him over being nippy when his back is messed with a little too much.  This is also the first foster I've had to watch around Jasmine.  In just 24 hours she has gotten a lot better around him and doesn't run up to him like she did yesterday and seems to realize she needs to be a little nicer to him than the others.  I bought him a small tennis ball today.  I noticed when I had him at my mom's that he loves to play ball but every toy I had here was made for big dogs.  He'll chase the ball as many times as you're willing to throw it.  He did great overnight and didn't have an accident.  At night my dogs tend to go longer than others without a potty break.  It was a problem with Zoey, as she just didn't seem to be able to make it that long but Kasey seems fine with it.  He doesn't like it when I leave and will jump on the back of the couch like a cat to look out the largepicture window to watch me go.  When we get back he dances on his back feet.  He's a cute little dog and I'm still surprised at how long we've had him.  (about four months)  Usually the little ones go fast.  We need to get some dogs adopted out quickly as the local shelter is full and the waiting list has started for euthanizing.  We took in two more than we planned on this weekend and I'm sure they'll be doing more of the same by next week.  The woman at the shelter is in a panic over how many dogs they have.  They don't want to euthanize anymore than a no-kill shelter would want to but they don't have a choice in the matter.  They have no choice but to take in the strays and throw aways.  Eventually, room has to be made. 

Today was an absolutely perfect day as far as weather goes.  I would love it if summer felt like today did.  It wasn't too hot out but wasn't chilly either.  Jasmine was in her shorts and never needed a sweater.  It was just a really nice day.  Tomorrow we're going to try and make it to the zoo.  Well, we may have to go whether I feel like it or not because Jasmine KNOWS that I was planning on going tomorrow.  (I spelled Z-o-o to my mom and Jasmine exclaimed We're going to the zoo tomorrow!)  They're talking possible showers in the morning so we should be ok. 

Forgot why I hated taking Augmentin after my cat bite last November until I found myself over the toliet losing all food in my stomach.

Idle thoughts

I think I might go shopping tomorrow.  Don't know that I'll actually buy anything but I still consider it shopping.  I'm bored and when I get bored, I want to spend money.  Bad habit I suppose.  I should start taking things to the basement from the spare bedroom so I can get ready for the spring rush of kittens.  Cleaning and storing things just doesn't sound like a fun way to cure boredom.  Who knows, maybe by morning I won't want to go anywhere any ways.

It's kind of nice having a little dog around the house.  He's sleeping on the bed and doesn't take up the whole thing.  I think my favorite foster will always be Doodle.  It might be because she was my first but I think it was just her in general.  She's a nice dog with a great personality.  I don't know that I would've kept her if I didn't have all my other dogs just because I wouldn't be sure if I was keeping her for the right reasons since she was my first foster.  I think I'll get to see Princess at least one last time this weekend.  She needs one last set of shots and I told them a few weeks ago that if they brought her with them that I'd give it to her.  I'm not sure if they'll remember though because most of the time, I can't remember that far back.  I think she got a really good home, despite the initial setbacks they had.  It showed a lot that they were willing to work with her AND call me back to tell me they'd changed their mind.  It's not easy to admit you've made a mistake, even if by admitting it, you've made everyone happier.  I'm not sure what's going on with Zoey.  I didn't have anything to do with her going on a home visit.  She was with my director at the time and she made the decision that it was a good placement.  I can't imagine how those people are handling her as she's way on the crazy side of an aussie.  The dog never stops moving and these people have never owned a herding breed before.  I can't believe they haven't called begging us to take her back.  What's funny is I have this little almost perfect fluff ball at the end of my bed that no one seems to want.  He was adopted once and the guy decided within a week that he didn't want to deal with walking the dog anymore so he just dropped him off at the humane society.  We had a hell of a time getting him out of there.  We haven't had much interest in him since then either.  I don't mind having him around.  He's small and easy to handle.  I just wish Jasmine would realize that not all dogs like to be rough housed with and Kasey is definitely one of those that doesn't.  He bit her twice today (nothing that broke the skin or even came close) and bit me once.  We both deserved it.  I was testing him to see how much I could push him before he would or could bite and Jasmine was just being... Jasmine.