From a Dogs Day

From a shelterdog's eyes (or ears), not much Amore to look at from their side of the cage.

Dog Walking Success!

Big amore thanks to every one of the approximately 70 people who showed up to walk the shelter dogs on Saturday, 1 August. What an amazing turnout, and I know the dogs really appreciated the exercise, attention and amore you all provided.

More information, follow up and pictures later. Just a super amore day.

Or as Olivia says: "cool".

Pictures: Copyright (c) 2009, Todd A. Mercer. All Rights Reserved.

Inside the Dogs Mind

( Dexter (in rear of picture) in his former shelter, a dark damp place)
Too many hands and mouths are involved in the project "shelter mission" Too many people who said they were in, and then disappeared because it is not an easy project. People who don't attend to meetings, or do their research later on but have their opinions ready, and many times the facts are wrong, very wrong.

We didn't chose to adopt our new dog Dexter! He ended up in our home for a variety of different reasons. Regardless of intent, in my heart I couldn't let him return to the shelter. I still get nightmares when I am thinking of that place. Volunteers that went with me say the same, it was like the air went out of us.

A Sengora didn't like that we adopted Dexter since he was in the category "easy to adopt." According to her, we should pick one of the other less desirable dogs, blind, crippled or...... We wanted the blind dog, but with two small children I am afraid he would walk into them (not on purpose of course) and the children could fall down the stairs. And just why should we not want a good dog anyway?

But in another way she couldn't be more wrong about Dexter being an easily adoptable dog. Other than size, what makes her think Dexter is so adoptable? Sitting at a distance from me, and having a psychological opinion makes me wonder how she does that? Maybe she is psychic?

Last year when I held a lecture for one of the leading dog trainers in Sweden, they were very much against importing stray dogs to Sweden, "You don't know what you'll get!" they said.

To one certain degree I agree. Having more than 10 years of experience from different countries dealing with strays, you do not know what you get, and ....the dogs don't know what they are to get either!

Dexter, is fantastic in the group of our pack, but is terrified of humans and sounds. You take out the broom and he screams a sound that goes through skin and bones. You cannot pet him on his head, and if I call him he freezes and throws himself down on the ground... totally submissive, waiting for a beating that apparently in the past would be sure to follow.

He also has separation anxiety and you can hear him howling far out to the parking lot. He pees and poops inside, so according to the Sengora if this is an easy dog to adopt away, I sure don't know what the other dogs are behaving like. But we love our Dexter, he is one of us now --- we know it will take time, that is ok for us.

You can get a small dog with huge problems, and a big dog with small problems. You never know. Dogs, like humans, will react to, and interact with, different environments differently: child, children or empty nest; apartment, house or farm; a calm person, athletic and active or one who is stressed; the list and variables can be long. But who has the skills, and time to fully observe and evaluate every individual dog before being put up for adoption?

Who can communicate with the dog, and make sure what his needs are? (ok, I can!)

Sometimes we chose with our Amore heart, sometimes we are too demanding that we think we rescued a dog, and he should be thankful.

They have the same emotional needs like our children, every one different and unique. Adopting a child takes years to accomplish, adopting a dog takes a day.....where is the balance?

Opinions expressed are solely my own, and not those of AWL.

Good People Helping

One of the better Shelters. Watch the video below on their web site. It is in Italian, but the pictures describes better than thousands words.

Amore to them who works hard to make this place a better world for the animals.

One Campania Dog Shelter

An area volunteer at a dog shelter has, for several days, tried to get into the shelter where she helps out. The person that runs the shelter has not been around... gone for three days.

No food, no water. No cleaning up for the dogs. This is a normal day for thousands of dogs in the concentration-camp settings of dog shelters in Campania.

This is no @%$@ Amore!

Kennel Stress

I got a very good comment from Todd that is worth writing about;

"Of course, it isn't only the space allowed to an animal in a shelter. "Kennel Craziness" is well documented in shelters around the world. All the barking, on top of the stress of being "locked up" will drive any dog crazy over time... some sooner than others. When this happens, it is very hard to bring them back to be a suitable pet or companion. It can happen, but it takes a lot of work, love and dedication to do so... and there are no guarantees. It breaks my heart to think of these dogs locked up indefinitely, in inhumane conditions, going crazy... all to line some pockets with government money that was originated for a good cause, but like many government programs, is misused and abused."

When visiting different shelters in the world I have seen "kennel craziness" from depressed to stressed dogs. It is horrible to view! And knowing some of the dogs will be put down to sleep is horrible. It is horrible because we put them there.

But then you have these dogs that can survive, the shelter is having doggy walkers that comes and takes out the dogs for a walk. Or, people that are giving them a foster home!

Even people in the "business" of animal shelters with the best of intentions have to make hard choices every day. Look at the clearly unethical actions of some animal activists that have been publicized in recent years. When dealing with life or death decisions for these animals... or even "just" quality of life questions, it is a hard balance. Who truly knows without a doubt what the right thing is? But is it right to end someone's life?

Sometimes Amore is hard to see.

Rifugio St Francesco Italy

Last Friday, my teacher/translator Vittoria and I, went to one of the shelters here in Southern Italy, "Rifugio St Francesco".
I had heard that this one would be a "positive" one, and indeed it was positive, even if I and so many others wish there are no need for shelters. Some would say that they would euthanize the dogs since it is not a worthy life for a dog to sit locked in.

I cannot say I share the same opinion. I have learned through all my trips around the world that every shelter is different. It depends on how well it is taken cared of, and how long a dog has to stay before being adopted. And, how does "the outside" look: a lot of traffic, aggressive people or children?

Anyway, this shelter was opened in 1960 and it is private, without "help" from the Government.
Five people are employed, working to improve the cages that the dogs are living in
(around 5-6 dogs in each). At the moment they have 500 dogs.

It was such a wonderful moment to meet them, some dogs were roaming outside-- those who have a great difficulty to be locked in. There were old dogs, three-legged dogs, puppies; big ones and small ones and everything in between.

So many people want a "pure bred" dog. But there are so many souls out there already, waiting for the family or master they deserve. If you are even thinking about a dog, take a trip to a shelter near you. There will always be someone for you!

This is Amore!

I Need Your Help

At the end of this week I am going on a new mission, to do research and take pictures.

Many shelters here are run for profit... they get paid by the government for each dog they "shelter". So there is little or no motivation for the operators to find homes for the dogs. In many of these concentration camps-for-dogs, up to 1000 dogs or more are being held in horrible conditions. They will never get out unless someone adopts them, and the chance of being adopted by a family is near zero.

I have been told they are sitting on a cold wet floor, (one square meter) day in and day out. No exercise. Some are sick and in terrible condition.

Already I feel very bad going there, and I would rather stay home with my four healthy loving dogs.

I need your support to get the strength to walk into these places, where I know the dogs are very unhappy.

Their freedoms are gone, they are just waiting to die.

Their days are so long. Remember when you have to sit still and wait, for maybe one hour, how restless and bored you become. Well, they are there forever!

So when you see homeless dogs, wait to feel sorry for them, they are at least having some kind of freedom. Every dog is unique, and has it’s own story to tell. Wait and listen before you judge. Maybe he is a lucky stray dog!

This is not Amore but please help me give them some kind of Amore!

Lawless and Problemness

Told this week:
Castle Vultorno, close to were we live, is the best place to hide in if you are having any problems with the law. You can just disapear there, and live very cheap. No one asks for your paper.
Heard this week:
Hundreds of dog shelters with up to thusands dogs inside. Once they are in there they never gets out. Adoption rate = zero. Living space = 1 m. Amore = zero. Hope = zero. Life = zero

This is not Amore!

A Shelter in Sweden

When I visited the shelter for homeless dogs I was forced to acknowledge one of the humankind’s darker sides. There are people who hate animals and don’t see them as living creatures.
Inside the shelter I saw a mixed dog that they had found in the woods tied to a tree. For how long, no one knows, but he was just skin and bones and very frightened. When rescued, given a bath and food he started to vomit, and up came a piece from a tube and small leaves and sticks.

Dogs with a tough up-bringing can many times be kind of wild. And, as un-patient that we humans can be, we want fast results, even in behavior changes that are deep rooted. We should try to understand that it takes time to build a new trust in an animal that has been abused and we must have insight and the understanding that animals do have memories and feelings.
Animals can show misbelieve through “eating” up the home, or if they are in pain they can growl and bite. But four out of five dogs that bite can be saved, and ultimately be at home in a loving environment. It demands time, of course, knowledge and – love. One love that will be returned a thousand times over.
At the same time we must realize another important factor: Dogs and others are pack animals by nature, and need structure and leadership.
A wise leadership… friendly but firm.

From my first book, Listen when the Animals Talk.