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by Suzyn Barron, President of Warwick Valley Humane Society, Inc.
Did you know, as Animal Control Officers we do not know the stray dog or dogs that we are called to catch and bring to safety at the shelter? Each call out calls for immediately accessing their friendliness, fearfulness or mistrust and figuring out the best and most fear free way of leashing and putting them into the ACO vehicle for transport to the shelter.
Somehow the same goes for dogs that are surrendered by their owners. Despite the completion of our intake surrender form which asks for pertinent information about their dog who we do not know, there is still a need to access and get to know the dog before placing him or her for adoption.
Recently, we accepted the surrender of a 1 ½ year old male Maltipoo who was biting the children in the home. During intake the owner told us that he only bites when the children pull his tail and fur. This dog was purchased from a pet store as a puppy for $1400.00 and has never been to a veterinarian or a groomer. He is a matted mess and was unprotected from children allowed to abuse him. Needless to say he is traumatized from his neglected, painful matting, the children and now in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people. We will give him time to adjust, get him vetted and groomed and placed in a home without kids.
Due to the limited number of kennels available at any given time and the need to have room to admit strays, surrenders are by appointment only unless there is an emergency situation.
Emergencies, sometimes, are subjective. When a family came to the shelter with the intention of surrendering their 160lb. male Great Pyrenees without an appointment they would have been placed on our surrender wait list. However, the dog is overweight even for his breed and is obviously matted. When it was suggested that he be taken to a groomer prior to surrender we were told that because he doesn’t like it they try to groom themselves. He was originally bought from a farm in North Caroline five years ago and now due to a job promotion, the family is moving and cannot find a place that will accept a large dog. So the dog loses his family and his home that he has known all of his life. They would have been waitlisted except for the dog’s condition and the temporary plans the family made for him in case they couldn’t find a shelter to take him. This big guy is now remanded to a 4×6 kennel and is totally confused by his new surroundings and people. He will need to be sedated in order to shave him down which should make him feel a little better. But not before he learns that we can be trusted to care for him.
Two new dogs of disparate size by 155 lbs. in the same sad situation. They will be sheltered for several weeks so we can get to know each other before we begin matchmaking with the right family. “To err is human — to forgive, canine.” – Author Unknown
Pet of the Week:
Adoption applications are available at wvhumane.org or call 845-986-2473 for more information.
