For Buju | Chandra

This is not the story of a shelter dog who needs a home. Instead, this is a very small tribute to a very big dog.

Buju is a beautiful black Great Dane in our neighborhood. We've watched him grow up from puppyhood and he's always been a sweet, gentle soul.

The most amazing thing about Buju is that he stands calmly outside his house, right on the sidewalk, and watches the world go by. All the time. He never goes further than the lot line of the house, and he greets everyone serenely, dog and human alike. He's up for a brief hello and pet on the head, but he's really just there to take it all in. He's our neighborhood mascot and everyone knows and loves him.

Years ago, when we still had our dog Gracie, he had a big crush on her. Every time we'd walk by with her, his eyes would follow longingly. When we'd bring her over to say hello he'd get really, really happy. It was our little inside game and it was wonderful to see him light up.

Tonight on my walk I noticed that Buju was resting on the lawn. Not standing like normal. The last few times I've petted him he's looked very thin and we've suspected that he's nearing the end of his life.

Tonight I made a point to walk over to him to say hello, thinking it might just be the last time. My eyes immediately filled with tears. His once beautiful body is just fur over a skeleton at this point, his eyes are rheumy, he smells of the end. He let me pet him, but there wasn't any joy anymore.

It's time for Buju to leave this place. It's time for him to vacate his post on the sidewalk, to go somewhere else entirely.

I sobbed for the rest of the walk home.

Buju, so many of us in the neighborhood love you. I wish you Godspeed big boy. You deserve it.

You are the example of what a good dog can be. May all the dogs one day have homes. May they all be loved like you are.

Buju in his prime, at his Post.

Buster Celebrates Freedom | Ron

Update: Buster was adopted the same day our video and blog were posted!

A kennel in the isolation ward at the shelter is no place to spend the 4th of July...especially not for a handsome, friendly firecracker like Buster.

You could tell by Buster's first reaction to us that he was ready to explode like a bottle rocket. He spun and leapt and shot from his kennel. This was a dog ready to paint the day red, white and blue.

Our destination, once again, was the river. I mean, who doesn't want to spend the fourth on a delightful beach, dangling your toes in a cool stream? Our boy Buster was a little reticent when he saw the crystal-clear waters of the American River. We weren't sure he was ready to take the plunge. But, hey, this was a holiday and he gently plodded along the river's edge, testing his courage. First, two paws, then four, then his furry belly.

Ahhhhh. The joy of patriotism, a cool river, and celebrating freedom - at least for a few hours. 

Buster was gonna take his day of independence and make the best of it. He bounced proudly along the shady river trails. As we watched him explore from behind, we were quite amused by his curly-q-swirl of a tail.  We'd never seen a tail quite like this, curling round itself like a cinnamon roll or a ballerina bun.  

We stopped at a bench to do the most American thing we thought possible on this day - take selfies. Buster happily obliged, posing for an array of photos even Taylor Swift would proudly display on her Instagram page. Turns out Buster enjoys being part of the pack. He will bound onto your lap and sit there for as long as you want - and maybe longer than you want.  A friendly boy, this Buster.

We were a little saddened to leave Buster back in his iso kennel, but at least we know he'll nap well and dream about his holiday respite. 

We're all hoping that the internet works its magic so that Buster will make his way home to a new family soon. Tomorrow would be perfect. 

Tomorrow would be especially perfect because adoptions are FREE and folks adopting PB SOC dogs score a free family glamour portrait shot by our very own Shannon Skalisky. But really, any day soon would be just fine with us.

Do your part and share, share, share. You can sing "Oh, Say Can You See" at the same time if you want.

Happy Fourth!

(If you cannot see the video below, please view it HERE.)

For more info on Buster, please visit his webpage at SacCountyDogs.com.

--Ron

Just a Puppy - Jackie | Chandra (Adopted!)

Today was a very good day.

Sometimes when I spend the morning at the shelter, it feels like I helped a bit by getting a dog out for a walk, but it also can feel like anyone could have done it. I know that every single person counts, and every time a dog gets out of their kennel and has some attention definitely does matter, but there are some days when there just isn't a real connection.

Today wasn't one of those days.

Meet Jackie.

Jackie is a five month-ish old puppy with a case of noncontagious Demodex. That means that much of her hair is missing, her skin is very scabby and she smells kinda yeasty. She's also very itchy.

You would think that all of this would make Jackie one miserable little girl.

You would be wrong.

Jackie is the happiest, most exuberant, sweetest puppy I've ever met. She has absolutely no idea that there is anything wrong with her. Sure, she's probably itchy, but that isn't going to stop her from greeting each and every person she encounters with a huge smile and a big case of the wiggles. Jackie is just thrilled with life.

When she first came out of her kennel, Jackie was very rambunctious, jumping up and twirling around. A cement kennel is no place for a puppy, and especially not for this one. All she wanted was to be petted and to be OUT.

Once we walked for a bit her real personality started to emerge. This sweet grey girl absolutely adores snuggling. She wants to climb right onto your lap anytime you sit down, and preferably have you scratch all of her itchy bits. She's happy to kiss you too and thrilled with treats. Once Jackie got her wiggles out, she caught on to the idea of sitting for a treat super quickly and even started to get the hang of watch mes. Shake should be very easy to teach her as well because one of her go to moves for a treat is lifting her paw. This is a smart girl.

We hung out, we cuddled, Jackie walked beautifully on her leash once she got some energy out and then was content to lay on a dog bed and chew a bone that had some little pieces of kibble in it. She barks when other dogs walk by but was extremely responsive when I called her over and offered her some treats for a focused-on-me sit.

I spent about two hours with Jackie and felt like we made some breakthroughs. She settled down enough to focus on me and learn a few things and she had some time where she just got to be a puppy, not a shelter dog with Demodex. That felt so good. That felt like it mattered.

(If you cannot see the video below, please view it HERE.)

Jackie needs a foster home where she can heal from her Demodex (just some medicated baths and some oral medication) and get ready for her forever family. She'd also be perfect for a foster-to-adopt situation...that means she goes home with you now, but medical costs are paid for by the shelter.

If you are interested in fostering or adopting Jackie, please email sacramentocountydogs@gmail.com.

And if you can't take in Jackie personally, that's okay, I can't either (although I sure wish I could).

Instead, please do share this blogpost and help get this wonderful puppy out of the kennel and into a loving home, stat!

xo

Chandra

Update: PB Soc posted our blog and video to Jackie's page and that afternoon she went home with a wonderful family in a foster-to-adopt. So, so happy for this sweet girl and her new family.

SWF, 8, Seeks Partner -- Charmaine | Ron (Update: Adopted)

I don't usually respond to personal ads in the K-9 Daily Herald, but this one caught my eye. It was unique. It was well crafted. And it had me very curious.

Here's what it said:

SWF, 8, seeking partner or family to share my life. Mature and cute as hell. If you prefer an older women, I'm your gal. Those younger chicks will chew you up and spit you out, including your shoes and other valuable household belongings. I'm just looking for someone who wants a sweet disposition. I enjoy mellow walks along shady paths. My favorite movie is Pitch Perfect. Wait until you hear me sing. And I don't want to be too forward, but I enjoy a good roll in the hay.

Wow, I thought, I gotta meet this girl. So off I went to introduce myself.

I was nervous at first, as I am on all blind dates. What if she didn't like my leash work? What if she wasn't a fan of boiled chicken?

Her name was Charmaine. And my fears quickly subsided as we began our stroll. She was a delightful companion, barely tugging me on our walk. And she was pretty, too. I mean, I personally like older women, but this girl was really a looker.

We paused under a shade tree and relaxed. She eyed me for a moment, then began to roll on her back. And roll some more. This was obviously what she meant by "roll in the hay"... I gotta admit, I was impressed.

Charmaine was winning my heart. I was thinking about the two of us vacationing in a vineyard in the south of France.  Side-by-side strolling happily.

But I had to hear one more thing. Her voice. I needed to hear her sing.

She coyly shook her head no when I politely asked. We walked a bit further, sat down, and I asked again.

"Wait," she said to me with her doleful eyes.

"Wait for what?", I thought to myself.

So we waited. She casually stretched out in the cool grass and sat silently.

Until it came. In the distance at first. And then closer. The sirens of a passing fire truck. She rose to her feet, put her nose to the sky, and the next sound I heard was pure nectar to my ears.

 

You might be asking how the date ended. It's hard to say. I gave her a hug when we returned to her place, but I knew she would have many other suitors.

Little did I know that later that same day she would find her forever love.

I'll never listen to singing the same way again (wipes tear from eye).

Want to find your love match? Visit the Bradshaw Shelter or check out more adoptable dogs at SacCountyDogs.com.

(And if you cannot see our videos in the post, please view them here: Howl & Roll)

--Ron

Cuddles Are Worth a Walk in Nature | Chloe (Update: Adopted)

Nature and I, we aren't the best of friends. My parents always say, "Who would want to go to the gym when you can be out in the beautiful outside?" You know who? Me. The gym means no bees (or any bugs, for that matter), no itchy grass or plants, and some even have those fun TV screens on the treadmills.

But this Sunday, I made an exception. "Want to go with us to the river?" NO. "Want to go with us to the river with a really cute dog?" YES YES YES PLEASE. I got packed and ready to go. My bag included my polaroid camera, my DSLR camera, and my phone. The necessities only, obviously.

When we first picked up Mai Tai, she was shy and scared. I felt bad her. Her tail in between her legs, hesitantly following along on the leash. She even peed on my Dad's hand a little bit being lifted into the car. She paced around the back, but eagerly took treats from my hand.

After walking around at the river for a little bit, she started to become her amazing self. She was so cute frolicking around in the water, and letting out some zoomies. I was waiting the entire walk to have her curl up on my lap and snuggle, that's always my favorite part of outings.

Mai Tai was an excellent model. Have you seen those ears? She's just about the cutest thing on the planet, and not to mention already knows basic commands and is pretty good on leash!

The ride home was my favorite part. She snuggled up on my lap, we took selfies. It was all good.

Mai Tai would love a home with a polite male dog and a place where she feels safe (and has a lap to curl up on!) 

Visit SacCountyDogs.com to learn more about Mai Tai. And be sure to watch the video I made for her, below my pics.

--Chloe ♥

Update: Mai Tai has been adopted but there are many other wonderful dogs still waiting:)

Told you she was photogenic.

Mai Tai and me

(If you cannot see the video below, please watch it HERE.)

Smokey, the River, and the Shoe | Ron (Update: Adopted)

It's tough to imagine the amount of joy found in a single lonely sneaker floating in the American River.

Smokey, a portly black pit mix with a graying snout, was the lucky recipient of said joy. He continually dropped the sneaker in a small divot of mud, then chased it with glee as we hurled the abandoned shoe back into the water.

Smokey & the Shoe

This was one happy pooch, free from the confines of the shelter for a few glorious hours.

But wait, let's back up a bit.

We had decided that we wanted to do a road trip with one of the shelter dogs instead of our usual routine. Walking dogs around the facility is a great way to get them out and about, but it doesn't seem as invigorating as a get-in-the-car, find-a-fun-place, and let-them-romp destination.

Smokey, a 10-year-old who was recently surrendered by his owner, was our first test subject. The American River parkway was our destination. We weren't sure how he would react.

Would he be scared? Would he feel comfortable? Would he like the water?

The answers to those questions? No. Yes. Hell yes.

We entered the The American River Parkway from an entry just off American River Drive near Rio Americano High School.  I've been to the American River plenty of times, but this area is incredibly inviting. Biking trails, jogging trails, and shady wooded trails that lead you on a journey along the tranquil waters.

There are wild flowers, rocky bluffs, and amazing views that have you believing you are far from civilization.

Ten minutes into our walk and we were at a small beach along the river. Smokey wasted no time, prancing into the water and exploring.  He struck gold immediately in the form a single white sneaker. And the fetching was on.

You could gauge his sheer pleasure by the crooked look he gave us every time he dropped the sneaker at our feet. "Throw the damn thing," his eyes said. "I don't have all day here."

He didn't have all day. But we gave him a few hours. And he devoured every minute of it, tugging us down winding dirt trails and chasing sticks at the river's edge.

At one point, Smokey found a rather large stick in the water. Maybe stick isn't the right word. It was like a small tree. He gathered it in his jaw and yanked it right out of the water. Damn impressive.

Our road trip was a tremendous success. And we gave Smokey a joyful respite from his situation.

Great scenery. Great dog.

Not a bad way to spend a Sunday morning.

(If you can't see the video below, please view it HERE.)



Update: Happily, Smokey has been adopted after a terrific foster family took him in and gave him the time he needed to find his family.

--Ron

On Shelter Dogs and Luck | Chandra

It happens to all of us dog people...you are out for a walk and you see him. You look around hopefully for someone, anyone, who might just be the owner. Maybe he's just off leash and his owner is here, somewhere, please. You approach the dog, hoping for a collar, crossing your fingers for a tag with a working phone number. And sometimes you luck out, the collar is there, the dog lets you approach and you can actually read the tag. The address is somewhere nearby and you take the dog home to nice people who answer the door and are completely stunned that their loved dog has somehow gotten out. They are grateful and you leave with a smile.

But mostly, that's not how it happens. Usually, there isn't such an easy ending. The dog won't let you near it, there is a collar but no tags, or the phone number rings and rings. And sometimes there's this...

Last night, while out for a walk with a friend in my decidedly upscale neighborhood, I spotted a skinny black and white dog at the edge of the lake. I thought it belonged to some people fishing but when I asked them they said "No, we always keep our dogs on leashes." I tried to get close to the timid boy, but he wouldn't let me anywhere near him and ran across the street to some houses. He went to first one porch and then another so I hoped that he lived in one of these houses. At one of the doors, a sweet lady answered and said that maybe that was Molly, who lived next door. When I rang, no one answered the doorbell, and I walked around to see if maybe their gate was open. Sure enough, no latch and Molly had nosed her way back into the yard. In front of the gate there was an old tire half buried in the dirt and lots of empty bottles on the ground. Molly was slinking, tail between her legs, barking at me, extremely skinny and not very healthy looking.

When I came back around, three boys were standing in the open front door, just in shorts, no shirts. All of them looked a little uncared for themselves and when I asked them about Molly being so skinny, the oldest boy told me that Molly was just old. I let them know the latch on the gate wasn't working and went back to my friend and our walk. She told me that when she's seen that garage door open, it looks like a hoarder's house, and I imagine that might be the case. Those three boys had a hungry look about them underneath their freckles, not that happy healthy look you hope for.

When I tell people I volunteer at the shelter, the most common response I get is "I could never do that. I'd feel so sorry for all the dogs and want to take them all home." I usually respond with something like, "Well, you get used to it and shelters are much better these days with lots of great people working to make it good for the dogs."

But really, that's not the whole truth. The truth is that I firmly believe that the dogs in our shelter are much better off than a great many dogs that are in homes.

I spent time with a tan pit bull with cute triangle ears named Katy last weekend. She's a confiscate dog who came from a dog fighting case and has spent nearly all of her two years in the shelter after arriving at just eight weeks old. Katy hasn't ever been in a home or taken a trip to the river or slept with her human in a bed. She's never had a person of her very own to love. She hasn't had a lot of things. It's very easy to feel sorry for Katy.

But like most everything in this world, there is another side to the story if you look a little deeper. Katy has a whole crew of people who love her and take care of her. Katy has a warm, dry place to sleep with a raised bed and a clean blanket every day. She has an outdoor area where the volunteers can play with her and she can hang out with her stuffed toy and her tennis ball and things to sniff and other dogs to watch walk by. She has her brother Odin to wrestle with. She gets walks most days and a caring human to pet her and snuggle with her and tell her she's beautiful. Katy knows how to sit and stay and lay down and walk nicely on a leash and how to fetch a tennis ball. She regularly gets a Kong stuffed with peanut butter and a bath to keep her coat shiny and soft. Katy gets her shots and is strong and healthy and eats good food. The volunteers know that Katy likes a lap to cuddle in and are happy to oblige her. Katy is loved.

I'm pretty sure that Katy has a much better life than Molly does. I know she has it much better than the two dogs who used to live next door to us and almost never got out of their small cement dog run. When their owners moved, they dropped them off at the shelter before they went and I'm pretty sure their consciences were clear. I know she has it better than Lola, a pretty husky who lives all her hours behind a chain link fence, who one of the PB Soc volunteers writes about on Facebook.

So next time someone asks me that question, that "How can you do it?" question, I'm going to answer differently. I'm going to say, "You know what? These dogs, these wonderful shelter dogs, they aren't the ones you need to feel sorry for. They've got a second chance and most of them will find new homes after they've spent some time being taken care of by people who truly do care. Their worst days are behind them."

Our shelter dogs really are the lucky ones. They have a chance for a wonderful life and a safe place to wait for their forever families to find them. The few who don't make it out will at least exit this world with a kind word and a gentle touch. And I am lucky too. Lucky to be able to play a little part in making their wait a good one.

Giving Katy some kisses.

Katy's Glamour Shot | Photo by Shannon Skalisky

If you are interested in learning more about Katy, or any of the other wonderful dogs looking for homes, please visit SacCountyDogs.com. Sweet Katy even has her own Webpage.