Derek A1250979 @ WLA : his angel needs a little help...

Derek, a scared but sweet boy who needs your help!

This story is written by a woman who wants to help Derek but needs a rescue to pull him out of the shelter and assist in finding a permanent home. Derek is a sweet but very scared dog that isn't doing well in the shelter. Please help!

A1250979

 "My temporary name is Derek.  I am a Rottweiler/German Shepherd mix, approximately 7 years old, and have been at the WLA Animal Shelter since September 18, 2011. 

For over 90 days I have been in the same kennel – across from the cat room -- hiding as far in the corner of the bedding cave as possible.  Around my 80thday of hiding in my kennel cave, a lady came to find her lost cat and stopped to see my picture on the front of my kennel.  Every few days she comes back to talk to me but I am too terrified to come out and meet her.  The noise in this shelter gives me anxiety and I am too scarred to find out what is going on around me.  Therefore, I just stay in my cave, hide from the noise, and stay invisible from all the people going by. 

 

So far it’s been working and aside from this lady no one ever sees me.  Near my kennel are two gates that slam all day long, which also frightens me.The woman who took an interest in me decided to bring some roast beef to see if she could get me to come out of my hiding place.  She throws the meat into my kennel, close to the bedding area, but I will only come out when she is not looking.  One of the shelter staff persons decided to help the lady get a look at me and came behind my kennel.  When I hear a staff person behind my kennel I know I have to get out.  When the lady saw me come out of the cave I tried to run back in and the gate hit me in nose.  I just curled up in the corner of the concrete run, closest to my cave, and trembled until she told the shelter man to open the gate and let me back into my hiding place.

One day, after many visits, another Shelter staff man decided to take me to the visiting area to meet the lady.  It was my first time out in the sunshine in over two months!  I was well behaved and did not pull on the rope leash or misbehave in any way.  The Shelter man noticed many good things about me and thought I would be a very nice dog who could live in an apartment with cats.  He made this assessment based on seeing me interact with a very small dog next to the visiting area.  I went up to smell he little dog and I did not display any aggression towards him.  I jumped up on the park bench and let everyone pet me.  I looked all around with interest through the fence to the parking area.  

Perhaps someone I know will come back to get me but I’m losing hope and am now very depressed, losing my desire to eat from constantly being scared.The next day the lady came again and they took me back to the visiting area.  Again, I was alert and well behaved but after a few minutes I had to go back to my hiding place.  The lady noticed that I have pressure sores on my elbows from laying on the concrete in my kennel, so she bought me a nice bed from Costco and makes sure that I still have my bed every time she comes to visit.The lady's husband is not sure that someone big like me should live in an apartment. 

I just wish someone would take me out of this shelter to some place quiet where I could heal emotionally.  I am so very scared at the shelter and too afraid to try and make friends.  I just want to be someplace warm and quiet with someone who will try and find out what a nice dog I am.Will someone please help me get out of here?"

by  BY JOAN STANDAFER

West LA City Shelter  310-207-3266  Tues-Sat 8-5,  Sun 11-5 

11361 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064 

Contact: Samantha Westbrook, NEW HOPE COORDINATOR

213-485-0494 / CELL  213-792-5811  aninewhopewla@lacity.org.

Call to NETWORK! Gorgeous Muddy finally unchained needs a home!

Those of you who read this blog know that this cause is very close to my heart. This dog was tethered his ENTIRE life. Thankfully, he was rescued and now needs to find a real home.

Please help this very sweet boy - look at that face! - he is in desperate need of a foster!

MUDDY (after Muddy Waters) is a special boy. He has seen so much in his short 9 months, and he has remained sweet as pie though it all. He is mild mannered, a little shy, mellow and calm. He is fantastic with kids and people, loves to give kisses, and adores other dogs. Now it is time for Muddy to get a little love himself...a woman who has devoted her life to freeing chained dogs found Muddy chained in a yard- that is where he had spent his young tethered life. This kind soul has never lived inside a house before - and he needs a calm, happy home so he can get used to being part of a family. He is neutered, up to date on shots, and just a very tender spirit. PLEASE, PLEASE if you or someone you know can find it in their heart to foster Muddy, he would be so grateful.

Thank you for networking Muddy, and please contact Deana at unchainsocal@yahoo.com if you can help.

JACK (formerly Gio) the wonderful blind Pit Bull needs a NEW FOSTER!

This incredible dog was rescued from the West LA shelter a couple of months ago on the day he was to be put down! Reunion Rescue decided to take a chance on an older blind Pit Bull because they saw what a wonderful dog he was and that he deserved to have happiness in his golden years.

Unfortunately the current foster situation isn't working out due to NO FAULT of Jack's. He is very chill with other dogs, but the foster's dog doesn't like Jack :-( so here we are now. Jack really needs some help! Reunion Rescue is a great operation and fully support their fosters.

The only issue that Jack has had at his foster home is some separation anxiety. The foster has been working on crate training but Jack still has a way to go. It would be great if the person was knowledgeable about dogs and training to help Jack get over this issue. Other than that, Jack is just an amazing and inspirational dog!

Here is a little about Jack written by his current foster:

Jack has been excelling in our training. The obedience class has done wonders for his leash manners when around other dogs. He used to pull to try to meet any dog. The act of putting him in many dog situations every week has really helped.

One more class and he will have his certificate indicating that he has passed basic obedience. He may have passed but he truly is excelling. Jack has a good sit, down, stay, and recall. He has an excellent heal with me and i'm sure with his next person given some time for him to get used to their voice. Jack is doing very well with the "leave it" command. I have been doing the training at home to pass a canine good citizenship test which i'm sure he would pass. I have been looking for a test that isn't full that I could take him to.

Other general things about Jack...

Jack is sweet, gentle and friendly. He gets around well despite his sight impairment, and adapts quickly to new situations. He generally gets along well with other dogs and people. We do not take him to dog parks so we do not know how he would do there but I can say that he is quick to do a playbow when meeting new dogs.

I feel totally comfortable now leaving Jack unattended around food and treats. He will leave it alone unless I give it to him. I can't even do that with my dog.

He also will only destroy toys that are given to him. He does not chew shoes or furniture but has had a couple incidents due to separation anxiety when left uncrated.

His favorite things in the world are eating, sleeping in the sun, playing with balls, and riding in the car. He has absolutely no separation anxiety in the car. I can leave him there for extended periods of time

I have attached a pic of Jack riding in the car. The patch on his vest reads "blind dog gentle and friendly". That was given to us by someone who met Jack and had the patch made for him. She thought it was fitting and we do too. This is just a little more of the impact Jack has on the people he meets.

If you can foster or want to adopt Jack please contact
Cindy of Reunion Rescue at doggirl1@earthlink.net
www.reunionrescue.org