Red or Blue–There’s One for You

I was looking at my blog stats and one of the biggest drivers of traffic are the search terms related to heeler/Australian Cattle Dog rescue.

It just so happens, I have connections! Texas Cattle Dog Rescue (TCDR) rescues and adopts out blue heelers, red heelers, Queensland heelers and Australian Cattle Dogs. TCDR rescues dogs from city and county shelters throughout Texas. They find new, loving homes all across the state for these incredibly loyal and intelligent dogs.

If you’re a heeler fan, this is a great resource. Check out the TCDR brochure.

Proof that Shelter Dogs Rule

Here I am, sitting in front of my computer researching. Researching any possible opportunity for my shelter foster dog, Raleigh. She’s a wonderful house dog and fun companion—that is until you introduce a cat, go on a walk or see a squirrel. Then she becomes a tornadic terror. Yeah, she has an issue or two. But one on one—what a great dog.

So I’m belaboring this problem and the possible solutions and I came across this wonderful story about shelter dogs and people dedicated to them. I think I’ll stop bitching about Raleigh for a while.

The Hairless Dog

Do dogs just seek me out? I was fixing my fence that had been tagged over the weekend when a dog walked up and stared at me. He has less than half his hair, isn’t neutered, has several sores and is underweight. Dammit.

I’d seen him in the neighborhood over a week ago—but at that time he wanted nothing to do with me. Well, not yesterday. Yesterday, I was his best friend. He gladly let me put a leash on him, feed and water him, and put him in the garage.

After about an hour, I went out to check on him and he’d busted out of the garage (if you saw my crappy-ass garage, you’d see just how easy that would be). I walked down the street and found him and he happily followed me back home. I put him in a crate in the garage, gave him more food, a treat and a Benedryl and went to bed—thinking about what I’d do in the morning.

Well, morning came and I decided to take him to my vet. If mange was his only issue (and likely heartworms) and he was young, I’d treat him and try to find him a home. If he was an old dog and had a long list of ailments, I decided I’d put him down and end what must be pure agony.

Well, other than being extremely unattractive, he’s a nice boy and young and in pretty OK shape. He has demodectic mange, which I’ve read about but don’t really have experience with. So the vet is treating his mange and hanging on to him for now.

He looks like he’s probably mostly black with white feet. He’s tall and maybe a lab/pit mix, but even the vet couldn’t tell. Because of the hair loss, he just looks like a really wrinkly, old fart dog. We’ll see how he progresses.

Pixie and Ivy

This is Pixie

I’m taking a foster break. That’s what I have to tell myself every time I walk through BARC and see all of those sad eyes looking at me. Fostering is a tough job and sometimes you need a break to restore your sanity, your household, your bank account…

Apparently I fell off the wagon because a few weeks ago, I pulled a sweet mom and her pup from BARC. In addition to being on an alleged break, I also said I wasn’t going to foster any more puppies. Guess I messed that one up, too. And they’re small dogs. While I don’t have a thing against smaller dogs, I’m really more of a big dog gal.

Little Pup, Ivy

Pixie, the mom, is by farthe easiest foster I’ve ever had. She’s house trained, quiet, well behaved, HEALTHY, cute, sweet–and she has an adopter! She’s going to her forever home with a very nice, caring couple next week.

Luckily, I have a great friend who not only comes up with excellent pet names (Pixie and Ivy), but is also fostering Ivy until Pixie gets adopted. Ivy is cute–seriously, damn cute. And she’s smart. An excellent combination of beauty and brains!

Any guesses on the breed mix for either of these two? I think dogs like this are the reason someone invented doggy DNA testing. I think Pixie (about 18 months old and 16 lbs.)  is spaniel/sheltie and Ivy (about 10 weeks old and 8 lbs.) is spaniel/Australian shepherd. Who really knows? And does it really matter? Not to me. Mutts rule.

 

Meet this Gorgeous Purebred Lab, Elliot

Take a look at Elliot. This gorgeous purebred Labrador retriever arrived at BARC on New Years Day. His characteristics scream lab—friendly, active, loves to fetch, silly. I spent about 30 minutes with him Sunday taking photos and getting to know him so he could be marketed in this week’s BARC Starz email that features highly adoptable dogs. Lab rescue was also working to try to spring him from the shelter. Options—a lot more options than some shelter dogs have.

Isn’t he great? Don’t you think there’s a family out there who would just adore such a smart, attractive boy?

Oh, I failed to mention. He’s dead. That’s right. Twenty-four hours after receiving confirmation from Dr. O, the head vet at BARC, that Elliot would be ready and available to be featured in BARC Starz, she euthanized him due to “illness.” I spent half an hour with this dog two days ago. Firm stool, no coughing or sneezing, no injuries. In addition, this dog was fully vaccinated on intake and heartworm negative. So why, exactly, did Elliot have to die, Dr. O? Unfortunately, she has yet to provide a response.

Willow Needs Your Help

 

Help Willow with her Vet Bills

This sweetie is Willow, rottweiler puppy rescued from BARC, Houston animal control/City pound, at the end of July after all of her litter mates were euthanized.

Willow has spent her very short life in and out of a shelter, foster homes, and vet clinics. One minute is seems like she’s fine, the next she’s in an oxygen tent fighting for her life. Rottilove Rescue is footing the bill while vets try to do their best to make her healthy. Willow has pneumonia and an oxygen block in her lungs. This is a photo I took of her the day she was sprung from a certain death from the shelter.

The bills have really stacked up for the small, underfunded Rottweiler rescue group. They could use some help with Willow’s treatment. Bills for this little pup will exceed $1000. I’ve pitched in $100 and will try to do another $100 in September.

No amount is too small. Seriously, $5 can help! Donations can be sent to:
Rottilove Rescue, Inc.
175 Fawn Ridge Rd.
Cedar Creek, TX 78612
Include a note that your donation is for Willow. Rottilove is a 501c3 non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible.

 

Willow in an Oxygen Tank

Don’t let funding get in the way of this little pound puppy having the life she deserves.

O Happy Day for Mel

I’m so happy! Melbourne, my Australian Cattle Dog foster, has officially been adopted. There ended up being several people interested in him but the final choice was pretty obvious. Mel’s new Dad is a very nice guy who had a heeler for 15 years. Man and dog bonded almost immediately. Mel will live in the city but will spend weekends in the country on several acres with cattle. Mel the cow dog will get a chance to see cows! The adopter is willing to continue to work with Mel on obedience and socialization and seems to be a very committed owner. I couldn’t be more thrilled. I hope there will be many happy days ahead for Mel. He has been through a lot and he deserves a happy and fun-filled life.

Pups Abandoned at Park Need Your Help

A litter of Australian Cattle Dogs/heelers were recently dumped in a Houston park and were taken to BARC. Three of the litter of six are still at BARC awaiting adoption. Pups do not do well in shelters. They get sick and die. Sad, but true.

Adopt one of these abandoned pups

These guys have had a rough start that they did not deserve. You can help by adopting or fostering one of these cuties. Or even passing the word to your friends can help. Let’s get them out of the shelter this weekend. Here’s BARC’s info:

BARC (Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care–Houston animal control)
3200 Carr
Houston, TX 77026
M – F 11:30am – 5:30pm
S & S noon – 4:00pm

Australian Cattle Dog/Heeler Needs a Home

Mel the Australian Cattle Dog is Looking for a Home

A couple of months ago I wrote about 2 Australian Cattle Dogs I was trying to get out of Houston Animal Control. The female was adopted. I lined up the male to be transported to a humane society in Canada for adoption. I went to BARC to pick him up and realized he’d never been tested for heartworms. The vet tech said testing had been attempted several times but the dog always resisted. I figured they were probably man-handling him plus the stress of the shelter situation. Anyway, the vet tech tells me since the dog has issues with restraint he’s unadoptable and would be euthanized and I couldn’t pull him. Luckily, the volunteer coordinator stepped in and I was able to take him.

So I loaded the dog in the car and asked myself–“What now?!” I called my vet as I drove and told them the situation. He was so stressed that they did have to sedate him to do the heartworm test. He tested high positive for heartworms. While he was knocked out, I asked my vet to neuter him. For the second time within about an hour I asked myself “What now?!” And to top it off, I was about to leave town for several days.

I call him Melbourne, Mel for short. I kenneled him at my vet until I came back. I then lined up a longer term kennel that frequently helps BARC rescues. I started his heartworm treatment at PetCare Express. He needed three shots–#1 followed by 30 days of rest then shot #2. Shot #3 came 24 hours later followed by another 30 days of rest. Mel was a trooper and did really well. He just finished up his 60 days of rest.

Mel is still living in the kennel. I can’t bring him home because Scout is still recovering from her ACL surgery (a long story for another post). On Saturdays, I pick him up and we go out exploring. We went to the dog park this weekend and he was fabulous. He was mostly interested in sticking close to me, but interacted appropriately with the other dogs. After several hours of dog parking, walking, riding and hanging out, we ended his outing with two plain McD’s burgers. Happy dog.

I’d still like to try to get him into breed rescue, but there isn’t one in Texas. I have him listed on an ACD forum that has been very helpful. I’ll keep trying. I have him posted on Petfinder and on his own site, AdoptThatDog.com where you can read more about him. He’s such an awesome dog.

These Dogs Have Until 4/27 to be Adopted…

…or they will be euthanized.

We’ve got seven dogs at BARC whose time is up–they’ve been at the shelter for 90 days. All of these dogs have until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 27. Please take a look. These dogs have been vaccinated and microchipped and the adoption fee is only $55. There are some that are low heartworm positive, but that can typically be treated with regular doses of heartworm preventative which is what a responsible owner would give their dogs anyway.

1.) UPDATE: ADOPTED! 4/21/08 A879141 Cary Grant: Time up 4/23. He’s a 6 month old shepherd mix; just a sweet young pup. 

2.) UPDATE: ADOPTED! 4/21/08 A879113 Rooney: Time up 4/23. He’s a small (about 25 lbs.) mix, about 2 years old, low heartworm positive. He’s one of those dogs that just makes you laugh…great personality! You either think he’s adorable or funny looking….I really think he’s so cute!

3.) A879286 Thelma: Time up 4/25. Female lab mix, 6 months old. You might guess that there was a “Louise” who was a chocolate girl so she’s been adopted but the poor sweet black labs always get left.

 

4.) A876999 Duke: His time was up 2 weeks ago…HELP! We really need to get him out asap! He’s 2 years old and only about 40 lbs. and heartworm negative. Just a sweet dog that looks too much like the other BARC dogs for him to stand out.

5.) A879234 General: Time up 4/25. He’s a Shar Pei mix, 1 year old, and low heartworm positive. Really good looking dog with a very Shar Pei face, not aggressive.

6.) A878759 Dexter: His time is up TODAY…we need to get him out ASAP! Male, heartworm negative, 1 year old. Very well behaved in his cage. Nice boy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.) UPDATE: ADOPTED! 4/18/08 A879226 Allie: Time up 4/24. 8 months old, a real sweetheart. Too thin at the moment but she will clean up nicely.

 

Please help them! Adopt a furry friend. Not ready to adopt? Think about fostering one of these dogs until they can find their forever homes.