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Flunking Fostering
| Posted on July 31, 2013 at 12:15 PM |
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"Flunking Fostering." That's what it's called at the Ketchikan Humane Society when a foster family falls in love with their temporary pet and makes it permanent. How many people flunk fostering? It's probably about twenty percent. It's happened at our house. That's how we got Rocket Man, who was rented out here in town for stud services and whose primary value seemed to be the money he brought to his owners. Shut in a kennel almost all the time, he came to us emaciated, with infected teeth, ears, and nails, and urine scald all over his feet and belly. He was scared spitless of our other dogs, of feet, of hands, and most of all, of us. We had no intention of keeping Rocket. Our job was to nurse him back to health, teach him about house training, socialize him, and then allow him to be adopted, where he would live out his life making some other family happy. One day, as we were watching him chase another one of our dogs across the grass in the sunshine, dodging in and out of the shrubs, ears back and tail out, and practically grinning from ear to ear, it hit us: We love this dog. This dog has already found his forever home. Now, here's the thing: we have had ten dogs pass through our home since January, and probably about thirty in the last three years, and we have thought that about every single one of them at some point during their stay. You get attached. You can't help it. When you invest time and love in teaching these little strangers about living in a normal home and fitting into normal family life, you can start to think that they would really only be happiest with you. You look with a tiny bit of suspicion on the people who apply. It's hard to see them go to someone else. Even when you know that the KHS does a really good job screening applicants, even when you know that once an applicant has been approved, the home is going to be a good one, even when you know that your job is to help make a wonderful pet for someone else's family and there's no way you can keep them all, there's still that little hurt in your heart when you say goodbye. But you know what? That's okay. That little hurt means you did a good job. You gave that animal love. You fed it the food the KHS provided, you took it to the vet for the appointments the KHS set up, you monitored its health. If necessary, you took it places where it would learn to behave properly around people and enjoy them. You taught it what it needed to know to fit into another home where it would be cherished and where it would give joy in return. You were a good foster parent. We always need good foster homes. If you think you'd like to try fostering for the Ketchikan Humane Society, contact us via our website or email us at <[email protected]> and we'll tell you all you need to know about doing this most important job. |
New Girl
| Posted on July 22, 2013 at 11:29 PM |
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We got the sweetest little Chihuahua into rescue this week. She is about eight years old. She is a special needs girl. At some point in her life she had some sort of neurological damage, which makes her walk like she's a scuba diver flapping up onto the beach. She sort of "pats" her feet out in order to maintain her balance. Despite walking like she's had one too many Margaritas, she's game to try anything, and loves being outside in the grass. She charmed the socks off the staff at the veterinary clinic when she had her checkup. She's house trained, she eats well, and she loves her new food, although it must be admitted that she has discovered that she does not care for peas. She can, in fact, spit a pea about thirty feet. This little peanut needs a home without slippery floors and must be carried up and down stairs. She will tolerate other dogs, but believes in her heart that she was born to be the center of the universe, and would love to be someone's personal sidekick and bodyguard. Her foster family already has a number of sidekicks and bodyguards, so they are looking for just the right home for her. Speaking of finding homes, did you know that for the price of a large specialty coffee drink, you can buy your pet an engraved ID tag locally? No on-line ordering, no waiting. Groomingdales Pet Resort does them right on site in just a couple of minutes. The Ketchikan Humane Society has started using these tags (generously donated) to identify our rescues. Nobody ever expects to lose a pet, but it happens every day. Just having one of these on a collar can have a lost pet home in minutes instead of hours or days. There are several shapes, sizes, and colors from which to choose. You can have more than one phone number put on them. Both sides are engrave-able. Additionally, think about micro chipping your pet. Any vet clinic and most shelters across the country will have a scanner which reads these chips, so even if you're far from home, someone who takes your pet to one of those places can have it back to you quickly. It's worth the peace of mind knowing that your pet will be one of the lucky ones who finds its way home |
Ketchikan Humane Society - Blog Post 1
| Posted on July 15, 2013 at 1:11 PM |
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The 4th of July float felt like a success to us, even though we didn't win any prizes or make national headlines. We learned a few things: start earlier, add a lot more bling, have more people on the float, let the float come first and the dogs can walk behind, and make the music a little louder. Next year we'll know how to do it better, but we felt like it was a good effort for our first time. We had lots of positive responses, and one family even said that they were going to buy from a breeder, but decided after seeing our float to call us and look into adoption. YAY! Many thanks to KHS husbands Brian, Eric, and Ozzy, and to Alex and Woody, who helped us with the work. It took a lot of their time, but as one wife pointed out about her rescue hobby, "Honey, it's cheaper than pull tabs!" Several KHS rescues went to new homes this week: Davenport, Phoebe, Charm, Buzz Bomb, and Gingersnap are all on trial runs in their new homes, and things are looking positive for them. What's not to like? They are the sweetest, best-trained, most socialized pets in the world, as far as we're concerned. A giant Paws Up to the families who chose to make adoption their option! We have several kittens and one adult cat available for adoption after they've been spayed or neutered. Check our website for photos of the soon-to-be-available adoptees. We also have the nicest little dog coming available as soon as he is housebroken. Buster Brown is an All-American Mutt, probably some kind of Sheltie mix. His foster family is already in love with him. He's five years old. He was never allowed inside during his previous life, so he had no idea when he arrived that he was not allowed to lift his leg just anywhere. His entire philosophy was, "If you didn't want me to pee on the refrigerator, then what did you put it there for?" He is making progress, however, and as soon as we know he can be trusted indoors, he will be ready for a new home. He's already neutered, but he'll need a dental, so his adoption fee will be about $150. Don't forget about the Third Annual Ketchikan Humane Society Fundraiser, to be held Saturday, September 21, 2013 at the Ted Ferry Civic Center. Lots of great food, beer and wine, and the most fabulous silent auction items ever. We owe a debt of gratitude to the many businesses and individuals who are so generous with their donations. We rely completely on this generosity to fund our rescue efforts. All KHS board members and volunteers donate their time, so all the money earned goes to care for the animals. Save the date, and come have fun! We've already rescued seventy animals so far this year! |
