Buddy is One Lucky Mutt

Buddy was the kind of dog that gets passed up at any shelter.  A medium-sized hound-pitt-who-knows-what mix, Buddy was high energy and untrained on a leash.  The volunteers tend to wait and hope someone else takes these cases out.

Buddy’s break came because he was “housebroken.”  Sandra stood outside his clean cage and looked at Buddy who looked back at her as if to say, “I’m good; I’m really trying; just give me a chance.”  She leashed him up.  Buddy dragged her out to a spot where he balanced on three legs and peed and peed and peed.  Sandra felt sorry for him.

The next time Sandra tells Buddy, “This time we are going to the play yard first.”  She watched Buddy run three fast laps, go to the gate, and look at her.  She leashed Buddy up and they go for a walk.  This became their routine: Buddy waits for the leash, goes out and relieves himself, three laps in the play yard, and a walk up the trail. Buddy became Sandra’s project.

BUDDY

A month goes by and Buddy is still at the shelter.  They neuter him and give him another 30 days.  Sandra has grown fond of Buddy and urges the Shelter staff to take him on TV.  Monday, May 6^th, Buddy goes on TV.  No one calls.

Meanwhile, across the river, a man called James lost three dogs with the end of a relationship. His co-worker knows James is rattling around in an empty house and altered life.  She sees Buddy on TV.  She tells James.  She shows James the TV clip.  She reminds James. James is still thinking about it.  She takes James to the Aiken County Shelter that following Saturday.

Sandra was there when the party arrived and asked for Buddy.  She was breathless with her urgency.

Sandra says it was love at first sight between the man and the dog.   James describes a more considered interaction in the play yard.  His co-worker offered that she’d brought a sheet for the back seat, should James decide to take Buddy home.

James stroked Buddy’s head, ruffled his neck and said, “You’re not staying here any longer, Bud; I’m taking you home.”  Tears welled in Sandra’s eyes.  She knew that Buddy didn’t have much longer. 

Sandra had grown attached to Buddy and gave her contact information to James, suggesting he might call, or send a picture for the bulletin board.

As weeks went by, Sandra was at least relieved that Buddy was not returned.  Then she got the call.  On Saturday, July 6, James and Buddy came for a visit.  They arrived before the shelter opened.

Buddy gets groomed; Buddy goes to dog parks and plays well with other dogs.  Buddy has a whole house to share with James, who keeps saying, “This dog is a blessing in my life.” He means it.

Sandra looked down at Buddy looking up at James. “The dog was actually smiling,” she says, “He got the perfect home.”

Find your blessing at the shelter.

FOTAS Volunteers work with the AIKEN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER, 411 Wire Road.  For more information, contact “info@fotasaiken.org” or visit FOTAS on line at www.fotasaiken.org

Aiken County Animal Shelter:  “By the Numbers”

July 1^st thru 7^th, 2013

Brought in:  88 dogs and 40 cats!!

Adopted:  11 dogs and 2 cats 

Put down:    48 dogs and 40 cats!

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!” 

 

 

 

GEORGETTE – Adult calico.  Affectionate and unique.  She is a purr-fect pet!  Only $35

 

KYRA – 9 mos. 33 lbs.  Shepherd/hound mix.  Playful and bright as a new penny. Only $70

*All adoption fees include: Spay/Neuter, heartworm test, all shots, worming, and microchip.

The Tale of Dudley, the Carry-out Dog

The week before Christmas, Sandra, a regular FOTAS volunteer, found the boney black lab mix curled against the back wall of his cage at the County Shelter.  No amount of coaxing would get him to come out.

She didn’t learn Dudley’s history, but it could not have included enough to eat or positive associations with humans.

 “He curled into smallest ball imaginable,” Sandra said, “and if you got near him, he would try to squeeze himself even smaller.”

It did no good to put a leash on him.  He wouldn’t move.  In a way it was lucky that Dudley was so underweight, at only 32 pounds. Sandra picked him up and carried him outdoors.

“In the beginning, I didn’t even try to take him out to the play yard.  I just carried him out to the bench and sat with him.”

When she carried him back to his cage, she gave him extra food because he was so thin.

Each time Sandra went to walk the shelter dogs, that week, Dudley had to be carried out and carried in.

When Sandra did take him down the hill to the play yard, Dudley seemed lost.  He did not play, or even interact.  He would walk around as if he didn’t know why he was there.

Dudley originally had a cage-mate who was also very timid, and when that dog was pulled by a rescue group, a slight change came over Dudley.  When Sandra arrived at his cage, Dudley was standing.  And when she opened the cage door, he took a step towards her.

He allowed her to attach the leash, and he followed her cautiously to the building exit, but no further.  “That was it,” she said, “I had to carry him from there to the play yard.”

Sandra can’t explain it, but she has a special love for the black lab mixes.  They are very common at the shelter, and are often overlooked for adoption.

During the weeks before and after Christmas, Sandra was at the County Shelter walking the dogs twelve of fourteen days, including Sunday and Christmas Day.  It paid off.

Dudley began approaching the cage gate and walking to the outside door on his own, but he still needed to be carried to the play yard.

Then one day Sandra arrived at Dudley’s cage and there he was up and ready.  She attached the leash and out he walked: to the door, through the door, and straight to the play yard.

The transformation continued.  Dudley would allow anyone to walk him to the play yard, and when he got there he would run, play with other dogs, and chase a ball.

“He was a happy, happy, affectionate dog,” Sandra said, the pride and satisfaction clear in her voice. “We didn’t know the dog that was in him,” she said, “We went and found him.”

In January, Dudley was transferred to New England and quickly adopted to a good home.

Volunteers make a difference, sometimes one dog at a time.  

FOTAS Volunteers work with the AIKEN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER, 411 Wire Road.  For more information, contact “info@fotasaiken.org” or visit FOTAS on line  www.fotasaiken.org

Aiken County Animal Shelter:  “By the Numbers”

January 21 thru 27, 2013  

Received: 29 dogs and 22 cats

Adopted:  11 dogs and 3 cats

Put down:  26 dogs and 14 cats

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!”  VALENTINE SPECIAL! Half price all month!

BRANDON- 9 mos.  A very special Tree Walker Hound for Valentines.. $35 This month!

SEBASTIAN - 3 yrs. This gorgeous guy is a perfect valentine love!  Only $35

 

 

*All adoption fees include: Spay/Neuter, heartworm test, all shots, worming, and microchip