Penelope, 6 years old, Hound/Pit mix
Rocky, 2 years old, Bull Dog mix
Roger's original sad intake photo above... The improved shelter photo below...
Roger, the Wonder Dog by Mirja BishopRoger's story is truly a miracle story. His story began long before November 2009 but that part of his life will never be known to us. On Nov. 17, 2009 the West Los Angeles Animal Shelter became the new home for this wonderful, happy, 8-year-old shepherd mix who was found as a stray.
Roger never let his circumstances get him down. He was described by the volunteers who got to know and love him as "happy, playful, gentle, and a winner." He walked well on leash, made good eye contact and was a fast learner. He was just a sweet and happy boy who loved to be around people. In the play yard he ran around with a look of sheer delight on his face. He loved life and he loved the people from the shelter who were his life.
However, the weeks and months passed by and still Roger waited for that forever home where he could love and be loved by a special person. Things did not go well for him. He was found to have an upper respiratory infection that put him into medical isolation for weeks until he was well again.
Then the more serious problem was discovered. Roger had an orthopedic problem that would require either amputation of one of his rear legs or at least palliative care including pain medication, water therapy etc. Yet, his leg problem did not seem to bother this amazing boy. He ran on four legs, and then he switched to three legs but ran with the same gusto.
To find a home for this eight-year-old dog had been difficult enough, but now with the newly diagnosed orthopedic problem it seemed like an impossible task. An application was submitted by the shelter staff to Best Friends and all fingers were crossed that he would find his forever home in Dog Town. Sadly he was not accepted.
On the same day that that his rejection was received, a visitor to the shelter put his hand into Roger's cage (no explanation was given) and Roger unknowingly nipped his finger. The visitor reported the event to the staff. Could anything else go wrong?? Roger was placed in quarantine for 10 days and now his future looked grim.
Finally, after all of the hardships that this dog had endured during his six months at the shelter, a miracle happened. On May 5, 2010, a day after he was released from quarantine, he was rescued by the Association To Save Abandoned Pets (ASAP). He is currently living with the founder of that organization and is doing well. One look at the following photograph tells the whole story. This was truly a miracle ending for Roger, a wonder dog who was loved by many.
Every year, five million dogs and cats are killed in animal shelters across the United States. Most were once someone's pet. NO KILL documents the unending tidal wave of abandoned pets in the city of Los Angeles and how animal services staff and volunteers deal with the constant threat of euthanasia. Witness an intimate portrait of the shelter environment through the eyes of four surrendered pets - Penny, Dotchie, Patience, and Rex - and what fate awaits them.
NO KILL also shows us there is a better way. The largest animal shelter in Reno, Nevada, has embraced the No Kill philosophy, a restructuring of how animal shelters are run in order to drastically increase lifesaving and eliminate unnecessary euthanasia. Capture a glimpse into how a No Kill shelter works through the eyes of a dog named Charlie, a surrendered Brussels Griffon.
NO KILL tells the heartbreaking but inspirational story that befalls so many animals every day.
Featured a few weeks ago, I'm giving Isabella top billing again!
Hey, anybody who's anybody is going to this groovy event! Sound fun to me and supports two amazing rescue groups! In fact, 20% of the proceeds will go to Karma Rescue and Molly's Mutts & Meows... See you there!
As always, this event is the mother of all adoption events. Pretty much all rescues and shelters throughout the city are represented as well as lots of cool vendors. It's a BIG day for the dogs so come out and meet them!
Although this series focuses on West Los Angeles dogs, there are wonderful Happy Ending stories to be found all over. This is one of them.
Jessie and Callie: Everyday is a Holiday
By Marda Winnick
They were a family, you know, with the proverbial happy home in San Diego County. There were six of them—3 dogs and 3 cats—and their humans, who had them since they were young.
And then one day they no longer owned a house, courtesy of the recession. The home foreclosing, the family was forced to move out, leaving their pets behind in the now-abandoned dwelling. It’s not that they didn’t care, but they, like so many others, just couldn’t take their pets with them. They returned when they could to provide food and comfort. Grateful for that, 14-year-old Callie, 5-year-old Jessie, and their elderly brother waited in the lonely house, missing their humans, and although thoroughly housebroken, were forced to do their business inside their home.
The three cats were eventually turned into a local shelter. The three dogs waited patiently for their family. One day their brother was taken away and put down because the family couldn’t find a home for him. The family did not want to turn in the girls to a shelter because they knew that with Callie being fourteen, she would most likely suffer a similar fate, and Jessie would lose her best friend.
So then there were two in the silent, deserted home. Weeks went by and still they waited, but to no avail.
And then, as sometimes happens for a fortunate few animals, a chain of events is set in motion. One day an appraiser showed up to evaluate the home for the bank and discovered the dogs. He mentioned to his wife that they were there by themselves, the owners had moved out, and they needed a home. She contacted a dog lover friend, Escondido-based realtor Geri Bekmanis of Bekmanis & Associates who asked the appraiser to arrange a meeting with the owners at the home to take pictures, get their story, and network the two girls to find an immediate foster home.
When Geri showed up at the house a jarring sight greeted her: a kitchen strewn with paper and garbage and that reeked of pet waste. One dog was staring forlornly out the window. She knew time was critical to get the dogs out of there. She networked and within a few days had lined up a foster home. When she called the owner to arrange to pick up the dogs she learned that the county had just put an impound notice on their door because the dogs had been reported as appearing abandoned.
Geri got to the home quickly and left with the two dogs. They literally had nothing: no beds, no toys, an almost empty bag of food, old tattered collars, and only one leash. First stop was the vet, who pronounced them in surprisingly good health. In fact, Callie is a very spritely senior. Then to the pet store where she bought them new collars and leashes, had them bathed, and then took them to their waiting foster home. To ensure they got off to a good start, she also supplied the foster with a pet store gift card and some cash.
They were safe, but couldn’t remain in foster care indefinitely. And considering they been together all their lives, they really needed to find a home together. A task akin to finding hens’ teeth.
And so the search commenced to find them a home. Geri reports she sent over 1,000 e-mails and posted them on Craigslist, Petfinder, and myriads of rescue websites. One day Jessie and Callie were even featured on San Diego television. Nothing.
More than 100 miles away, long-time pet owner Paulette Cohn had recently lost her dog and was thinking it was about time to get another one. She had looked, but none had “spoken” to her. Actually, she was thinking about more than one so they could keep each other company during the day. “I wanted two dogs, dogs that were bonded, but that was hard to find.” She knew; she had looked.
Then one day she received an e-mail from a friend with the dogs’ photo and story. She immediately called Geri and told her that she just knew that these girls were hers. “They just spoke to me,” she recalls. Yes, hens’ teeth!
She completed the adoption paperwork; arrangements were made; and on May 2 Jessie and Callie no longer had that long, lonely wait for someone—anyone—to come. At last, they were home.
And gourmet cooking to boot. Paulette makes their food herself and is slowly transitioning them from store bought to her own mix, tailored to their dietary needs.
“They are adjusting really well, “she reports. Jessie, the shyer of the two, has really started to come around. They are playful and affectionate. In fact, she reports, “I wake up in the morning to kisses.”
She also reports a surprise this past Sunday: a Mother’s Day “card” from the girls. Maybe the perfect Mother’s Day gift for Paulette, but everyday is now a holiday for Callie and Jessie.
4275 N. Elton
Baldwin Park, CA 91706
(626) 962-3577
Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed Holidays
Directions:
Exit 605 Freeway at Ramona.
Shelter is located off of Ramona, between
Maine and Puente Ave.
Pauly - A1100154 
Tiger - A1079663
Peanut - A1088572
Reggie - A1104261
THIS IS DAISY. SHE IS 14-YEARS OLD AND HAS BEEN NEGLECTED FOR A VERY LONG TIME LIVING WITH HER ALCOHOLIC GUARDIAN. WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY, DAISY WAS LEFT ALONE WITH NO ONE TO CARE FOR HER...except some amazing folks who took her under their wing...Daisy was filthy, flea-infested, her rear end was stained from sitting in her own pee. She has weak back legs and had a cough.Daisy's nails were so long, she couldn't put her paws flat to the ground: very painful for a senior dog like Daisy with arthritis.
THIS IS DAISY NOW!The cleaned-up Daisy seems like a new dog. Freed from all that dirt and matted hair, she walked around,albeit slowly, sniffed, and was curious about everything.It took a long time to groom Daisy but she was as good as gold on the table, in the tub and with the hairdryer.
Keeping Hope alive: A boy and his dog
by Marda Winnick
The volunteer spotted “Hope” immediately, a big furry ball of gentleness and dignity, a new dog that had just arrived at the shelter and was being walked in the yard.
But, she was 8-years old. It’s not that older dogs don’t ever get adopted, but it can be a long wait. Sweet and well mannered though she seemed to be, this could be a challenge.
Soon thereafter the volunteer stopped to help a mother and her son, who were looking for their first dog. Sensing some uncertainty on the mother's part, the volunteer discovered that the parents, born abroad, had never been around dogs as pets before. The mother was nervous, but determined that their son should have a pet. The son really wanted a dog, but confided he was concerned about his mother's fears, which caused him some hesitation. It was clear how much they loved and were concerned about each other.
It was sort of like a canine “Gift of the Magi,” O. Henry's classic short story about giving and receiving.
This would take a special match, and the volunteer immediately thought of the dog she had just met. At eight, Hope was mature and obviously had come from a loving home. The introduction was made, and as they say, it was love at first sight for young “Trevor”.
Throughout the adoption process both mother and son separately expressed their concerns to the volunteer. Hearing all this, Volunteer Coordinator/ACT Charla Fales whispered to the volunteer, “I’ll bet she is returned.” And she, concerned Charla might be right, was determined to make sure this adoption stuck.
Since they were first-time dog owners, she volunteered to help them with Hope’s training. What she knew was that Hope didn’t need any training; indeed, Hope was one of the most balanced dogs she had come across. Rather, it was the family who needed some help.
She called the next day to make an appointment to visit, and was crushed when Trevor said they had decided to return Hope. His mother thought she was too big and that a puppy would be a better match. Reading between the lines, the volunteer knew that if a calm, well-behaved dog like Hope made Nadia nervous, a puppy would be far worse, and gently conveyed her thoughts.
Twenty minutes later, Trevor called back and said they had decided to keep Hope. Wasting no time, the volunteer set a time to meet with them.
Trevor had a wonderful instinct with Hope and learned quickly about leadership and how to handle her. And it was clear the bond that had immediately developed between them.
So now, attention turned to the parents. “David” seemed okay, so Nadia was the focus. The volunteer patiently addressed her questions and concerns over the course of several visits and phone calls and gradually saw a change in her. Flash forward: Trevor reports that his mother now loves Hope.
Go visit your local shelter!
