He’s come a long way, baby…

 

It’s coming up on a year now from when I first brought Dillon home to get him out of boarding. He came to the rescue in the summer of 2011, prior to which he was in boarding for at least 8 months. Dillon had an angel watching over him, and we eventually moved him from where he was boarded and very isolated to a nearby animal hospital, where I later started working.

Over time, he developed the “kennel crazies” and was a mess. Once out of his run, he was a fun dog that loved to play fetch in the yard

next to the clinic. Before I started working there, I would spend time with him teaching him hand signs and other things. We would spend a little while playing ball, and then go for a nice calming walk. On those walks, Dillon jumped when he saw the leash hanging or

the poop bag in my hand out of the corner of his eye. He wasn’t too bad of a puller, but certainly didn’t have great leash manners.

When I started working at the animal hospital, I often spent time during my lunch with him in the yard and walking. He caught on to hand signals quickly, and became very good on the leash. However, when anyone walked into his run with his leash, he went bonkers and grabbed at it–and anything else close to it. I can truly say I’ve put my blood, sweat, and tears into this dog!

I couldn’t stand his frustrated barking–which seemed to be the equivalent to screaming–and decided to try a few sleepovers. It’s a little foggy from that point on, but Dillon remains in my care as a foster.

Unfortunately, despite brief attempts at “muzzle time” with Blazer and Suzy, my senior dog and my recently departed Safe Haven foster, he just couldn’t figure out that they weren’t going to threaten him or his “stuff.”

I’ve taken Dillon on pack walks with Chicago Sociabulls, where he was deemed a “celebradog.” They are a fantastic group where dog owners can work on issues in a pack-like and very structured atmosphere. He did great! His issue has never been that he’s “reactive” or, to use an often misused word, “aggressive.” He can even do a brief “sniff” (for about 5 seconds). I’m still figuring out just what it is that sets him off, but I know it’s related to fear and the lack of important socialization during his formative years. But I digress…(this is an entirely separate blog!)

 

The yard is just too muddy today, after a 20+ degree temperature increase, melting snow and ice, and now rain. That said, there was no “bawl” this afternoon when I got home. I decided to grab my iPod and head out for a longer walk than usual. Now, because we have the yard, he gets most of his exercise  playing bawl; we don’t go on a whole lot of walks. I put on his coat, grabbed my hat, and we went for a brisk walk around the neighborhood.

I am so proud of Dillon. I barely had to hold the leash, he stayed right at my side and went potty when I showed it was ok (as opposed to lifting his leg at everything that sticks out of the ground). He was relaxed, kept a consistent pace, and seemed to take in his surroundings with curiosity. I felt as if we were connected, and I hardly had to guide him with the leash, my hands, or facial expressions. 

Dillon is a very special guy…and although he has been with me for a year now, I still think he’ll make someone very happy. I cannot give him what he needs and deserves, but for now I treat him like my own, and get to enjoy being treated like I belong to him.

Make sure you check out Dillon’s Facebook page “Dillon the Deaf Snoots Dog!”

Dillon the Deaf “Snoots” Dog

It occurred to me that I don’t think I ever wrote about my current foster, Dillon. He’s got quite a story…

A 2 year old American Bulldog mix was with a rescue that had closed its doors. In order to prevent him from being euthanized, his Guardian Angel, Cindy, took him on by paying for boarding until a home could be found. This dog was deaf and had been in boarding for at least 6 months by the time she connected with us. After contacting an organization that Secondhand Snoots partners with for deaf dogs, we invited her to attend some of our adoption events.

Dillon was a handsome white dog with black spots on his skin. He was mistakenly listed as a Dalmation, most likely because of the combination of spots and deafness! He was out of shape and overweight, but sweet and well-behaved. Dillon spent his days alone in a dog run, having no contact with other dogs. We later found that Dillon did not do well around other dogs when the mere presence of food was introduced. It seems he lost his social skills from all those months spent alone.

Cindy and Snoots joined forces and he became an official “Snoots” dog last summer. The facility in which he was boarded could no longer house him at the end of October 2011, so we decided to board him closer to the rescue at a nearby veterinarian’s office. So, the weekend of Dillon’s photo shoot with Petraits Photography, he stayed with me until the vet opened on Monday. He was was a pleasure to have, but not knowing fully how he might be with my dog, I kept him separate. He took to his crate fine, and never went potty inside. I was impressed!

It was the end of September when I brought him to Morton Grove Animal Hospital that Monday, where I spent several days a week working with him in their yard and taking walks. He was a fantastic and fun dog. At the end of November, I started working there. Though he was a good boy, boarding started to get to him. Though he was given lots of love by myself and the staff there, he started to get the “kennel crazies.” I couldn’t stand to see it anymore, and my most recent foster had just been adopted, so I decided to have him come home with me for some sleepovers.

I kept him separate from Blazer and Suzy, and the cats taught him that it wasn’t ok to chase them around. Yemi (my first “foster failure,”, on the other hand, became Dillon’s favorite playmate, and they wrestled and snuggled.

Dillon and I began going to the pack walks with Chicago Sociabulls, where he became a local”celebradog” and they all fell in love with him. He did fantastic and had no problems walking with all those other dogs. He became even more of a celebrity when he was the featured dog on WGN Midday News “Adopt-a-Pet” segment on March 9th. WGN Midday News Adopt-a-Pet segment. Still, no interest from anyone to adopt him. People everywhere–all over the WORLD have fallen in love with Dillon via his Facebook page (same as blog title), but most who love him have other dogs and aren’t as crazy as I am to do the doggy shuffle everyday.

Then, a week or so after the television appearance, I received an email from a girl who said she was the one who originally saved Dillon from being put to sleep…

“Dillion (whom I named) was only about three months when he came in, they were going to put him down that day so I couldn’t take it I brought him home,not knowing he was deaf.” She said he was a great puppy and learned hand signals easily. The only problem she had with him was when he’d take off into the cornfields and she “had a heck of a time finding him!” She sent pictures of him as a pup…

Luckily he grew into his ears! She also sent pictures of him laying around with (and on) her other dogs.

Dillon is a wonderful dog that loves to play ball, follow me around like a shadow, and play with Yemi. He is a great snuggle buddy and running partner. No one can quite figure out why he has yet to be adopted, but all are happy that he is safe, loved, and cared for in my home. It isn’t ideal, but it certainly beats the fate he could have suffered had it not been for his Guardian Angel.

A lot can happen in a month or two!

It’s been a while since my last post, so I thought I’d toss out a few thoughts while I’ve got a moment. Quite a few things have happened in the past month or so, including a move for me (from which I am still recovering and unpacking), a litter of puppies born, adoptions, events, and more dogs and cats brought into the rescue!

Just five days ago, our pregnant mama from Chicago Animal Care and Control had her babies. Named “Vegas” at the shelter, she became Ginger, but only seems to respond to “Mama.” I got a call from Erica Monday just after I finished work, “we’re havin’ babies!” I grabbed some puppy pads and sheets and flew over to Ginger’s foster home. Apparently Ginger insisted on having the pups outside, so we sat around her in the dirt while she delivered her babies. It was an amazing experience and a first for me. She delivered 8 babies, but two did not survive past the womb. The other pups are doing wonderful and so is Mama. 

We have had several events to raise funds for the rescue, including Cinco de Snoots, Applause for Paws, a yard sale, and more. Our upcoming events include the West Town Pup Crawl (http://www.meetup.com/Chicagos-West-Town-4-Leg-Pup-Crawl-Dog-Friendly-Bars/events/70359492/), a HUGE dog wedding: 

…and Wags on Willow: http://wagsonwillow.com/.

We have taken in several dogs and kittens over the past several weeks, particularly from Chicago Animal Care and Control. We have had major surgeries, basic vetting, special medications, and more for many of our adoptables. In fact, just Thursday, I went to CACC for the first time with Erica to pick up a little Chihuahua with severe chemical (?) burns on his back. We came back with him (now named “Johnny Storm”) and another Chihuahua that needed his horribly infected eye removed (now named “Nick Fury.”) Nick had his eye removed, along with 11 teeth and, ahem, his other “orbs.” He is doing great, and Johnny Storm’s burn wound is healing great.

If I could rattle them off at the moment, I’d list all of our current rescues, but after a long day of work and a week + of ridiculous heat, I’ll have to get back to ya on that one!

Until then, please peruse our website and Petfinder for more information!

~Kristine

Safe Haven Suzy update…

It’s been a while since I yapped about our Sweet Suzy! In case you don’t know who that is, she’s our second Safe Haven foster. A Safe Haven animal is one who is still a part of the rescue, but no longer adoptable due to medical and other issues. A little about Suzy for those of you who may not be familiar:

Last year around June, Erica and I went down to see our friends in Kankakee (where we got my first two fosters) to pick up a kitty named Maria. We were to meet up with someone from Jasper County Animal Control nearby to pick up a dog–Shadow, but were early. So, our wonderful friend at “K3” shelter told us to go ahead and say hi to some of the dogs they had. We managed to maintain as much self control as possible as we looked at the dogs in all the cages. Then, I passed by a row of cages that had a sweet and happy face, panting, watching me go by. Down to my right, there she is: a little old Border Collie with a big smile on her face. I looked at her cage card, which indicated she was 11 or 12 years old. I grabbed Erica and said, “look at her; I can handle her with Trey (a foster at the time) and Blazer (my dog). She’s never gonna get pulled by someone–she’s on ‘the list.'” We hemmed and hawed, and even left a message with our rescue President (at the time). The kennel staff took her out so we could meet her. Despite horrible dermatitis from a treated flea infestation, she immediately flopped on her back for tummy rubs. As usual, I was scanning my brain for names. She sure looks like a Suzy. “What’s her name?” I asked. “Suzy,” replied the staff member. Damn I’m good. Ha!

While we met up to pick up the other dog, we sort of discussed it. Sort of? Yeah, the way that Erica and I do…some thoughts spoken out loud, some just known, completing each other’s sentences, etc. Erica made the executive decision to take Suzy, too. When we had the kitty all packaged up and ready to go, we leashed the sweet little black and yellow (she was VERY dirty) dog and loaded them up into the car. Suzy hopped right up and sat in the back seat, looking at us as if to say, “ok guys! Are we ready to go yet?”

When Suzy had bloodwork for her dental, it indicated that she was in the early stages of renal failure. Since then, we have managed to cut her levels in half, and keep them pretty close to there. With special food and fluid therapy twice a week, she’s doing great. She started to lose some bladder control a few months later, so now she’s on medication for that. She is also on a medication to help her kidneys. In the past few months, we learned that she has an enlarged heart, but there is not a clear reason why. She may also have a collapsing trachea, and some spinal issues.

All of those things said, one would never know she was uncomfortable, in pain, or whatever else she might feel as a result of these conditions. Not only did her heart actually look like the shape of a “love” heart in her x-ray, but the nose art on my living room window is heart-shaped. I wouldn’t be surprised if her poop came out heart-shaped.

Our vet visit on Friday went smoothly, aside from Suzy having to patiently wait for me while I directed traffic with several of our newest dogs coming and going that day (I went there for a 15 minute vet appointment with her, and ended up being there for an hour and a half with all the other stuff going on!) She has ear infections, which are easily treatable. Her BUN was at 44, and creatinine was at 3. What does that all mean Kristine? It means she’s still on track.

Sadly, when we got home, Suzy had trouble using her back legs. I’m not sure exactly why the timing of it was like that, but I’ve learned that with senior dogs, malfunctions can show up with the blink of an eye. She is much better today, but still having a little trouble getting up from the wood floors. That makes two dogs I have to help up! My pleasure, of course. I’ll have to start a ChipIn just to get rugs for my apartment!

Every person who has had the opportunity to meet Suzy has become entranced by her sweet, friendly, and calm demeanor. I can’t explain how sweet she is–it’s something that has to be witnessed. When she struggled to use on of her back legs on Friday, it hit me that she isn’t immortal, either. Hopefully she and Blazer are fighting to win the “who stays alive the longest” contest!

Suzy is yet another example of how “they choose us.” All it took was for me to sense her little smile and look, and turn my head down and to the right. My sweet princess Suzy is a gift to all who meet her. How was I so lucky to get to see her every morning when I wake up, and every evening when I sleep? It is my honor to care for such a sweet soul.

If you would like to help out with some of Suzy’s veterinary costs, which includes bloodwork, medications, fluid therapy items (needles, lines, fluid bags), and exams, please visit http://secondhandsnoots.chipin.com/kylers-fund. This ChipIn was named in honor of our first rescue loss, to cover the costs of our Save Haven and hospice animals.

The list keeps growing: update on our newest additions…

It’s been a busy week at Secondhand Snoots (and our vet!) We have welcomed several animals these past few weeks. There have been many changes, not all good, at Chicago Animal Care and Control as of late, and many rescue have been putting all hands on deck to save as many animals as they can.

Filbert, Ethel, Spirit, Barney (now Buster), Jax, Rocky, Kyler (formerly Farrell–RIP sweet man), Moby (now Lefty), Jake (now Mase), Oliver…gosh, I know I’m forgetting someone! All of these dogs were on death row, and there were even some that we were unable to get to in time. These, and many others pulled in the nick of time by other wonderful rescue, are a few of the lucky ones.

Our list has grown rapidly, and we are in search of foster homes for a few of our fur-kids still: Princess Grace, Jax, Happy (who just arrived today), China, and Lefty. Berlin is currently in foster and loving life at a doggy day care in Chicago. Dillon, my charge, would probably have a lot more fun in a foster home that can provide him with more attention and exercise, but he is safe, nonetheless. China, Grace, and now Jax are currently being boarded. Did you know that being a foster is an amazingly gratifying experience? (wink)

We also picked up a little kitty a couple of days ago. Someone brought in a stray somewhere, and I immediately claimed her as a Snoots kitty, so she wouldn’t have to go to a shelter. She is a sweet little diluted tabby named C.J. She, too, needs a foster home. Someone asked me, “you guys take cats, too?” My response was, “yes, we’d have horses if there were fosters for them!” Our mission is to save animals, not just dogs, not just pitbulls, not just deafies. We are often contacted when there is a deafy in need of rescue, as people know we have experience and sort of “specialize” in them, and other special needs animals.

With all of these additions, we will also be incurring vet bills. We didn’t start pulling animals “willy-nilly,” but this flood of intakes means a flood of vetting and, for some, boarding costs. Our ChipIn can be found at http://secondhandsnoots.chipin.com/snoots-veterinary-bills. Kyler also has a fund set up in his name: http://secondhandsnoots.chipin.com/kylers-fund.

In the last ten days: Little Jake (Mase) has Demedectic mange and is recovering from pneumonia, and will be vaccinated and neutered when he is up-to-snuff. Oliver has a broken foot that is being treated and recovered from kennel cough, and will be vaccinated and neutered soon. Barney (Buster) was neutered and vaccinated. Jax and Rocky were vaccinated and neutered. Grace was just spayed. Little C.J. the kitty was vaccinated, Frontlined, and will be spayed soon (however, she MAY be pregnant.) Lefty will be vaccinated, neutered, and possibly have surgery to correct a birth defect on his front left leg (hence “Lefty.”) Happy, our newest arrival (as in, a few hours ago), needs medication for his arthritis and a SERIOUS grooming!

I’ll do my best to get some blogs out about each one of these fantastic animals. They all have stories and they all have great pictures of their smiles. I would include pictures in this post of each one, but it would probably take me half an hour just to get the pictures all in one place! I’ll be sure to include them for each of their individual posts. Don’t forget to check out Dillon’s very own Facebook page, “Dillon the Deaf ‘Snoots’ Dog.”

More ramblings to come!

 

~Kristine

Jake, now Mase, is a very sicky puppy. :(

Our little Jake, now “Mase” is a sick little guy. We took him to the emergency vet today for coughing, lethargy, and vomiting when he coughs. I met his foster parents there, and saw he had green snot on his little snoot. They said it started last night, and he has been listless and lethargic. Poor little man.

The x-ray taken proved he had pneumonia, probably as a result of a kennel cough infection. When I dropped him off at his foster home for the first time, I explained that they should listen for any signs of coughing. He was transported with another dog from CACC who had kennel cough, but showed no signs while he was at our vet for a few days. Sure enough, like many of the dogs coming from CACC, he is now sick. The doctor suggested that the antibiotics he has been on for his mange may have kept his infection at bay, and from being REALLY sick.

Kennel cough isn’t something that always rears its ugly head right away; it can lay dormant and seems to just show up. Unfortunately, it is very contagious. I made sure to take off my shoes before I went in my apartment when I got home from the ER, and changed my clothes and took a shower before any of the dogs could get close to me.

With some stronger antibiotics and some anti-histamines, we hope little Mase will feel better soon.

If you wish to donate to his care, please go to our general vetting ChipIn: http://secondhandsnoots.chipin.com/snoots-veterinary-bills.

Thanks!

~Kristine

 

“I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

Erica sent me a text this morning telling me to call her. I was almost to work, but I knew that a directive text like that meant it couldn’t wait.

She explained that Dr. S. called from our vet this morning. “Oh no…” I said. Last night they gave him fluids, and cleaned him up after severe diarrhea and vomiting. I’m assuming they continued fluids through the night. When Dr. S. came in this morning, he was gone. Little, emaciated Kyler passed on to what we, in rescue, call the Rainbow Bridge.

Erica and I agreed that at least he was able to die with dignity, warmth, and having experienced a great deal of love from the minute he left the shelter on Thursday evening. “I have no regrets. I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” she said. She took the words right out of my mouth. THAT, folks, is what rescue is about. It’s about taking an animal out of a horrible situation or conditions, and helping the universe bring them to happiness and the love they deserve. We told ourselves that perhaps he knew he was safe, that it was ok to relax and let go. He touched us deeply. Somehow the planets aligned just right, and we all got an opportunity to give Kyler love and hugs on Friday, shortly after he arrived at the vet. I feel honored that I had the opportunity.

Kyler didn’t choose to be without a home, food, love, or warmth. For whatever reasons, he was out on the street. Though animals have a sort of “free will” like humans do, I don’t know that we’ve been all that fair to domesticated animals. In packs, prides, schools, and whatnot, there is a distinct and very clear way of doing things and expectations. There is a system, a homeostasis that must be maintained, or someone gets hurt, killed, or lost. Our failure, as humans, is lacking that consistency. So our domesticated animals are caught balancing the fence dividing instinct and chaos. Kyler may have been deaf, which some people find is good reason to toss a dog aside, abuse it, or even use for dog-fighting purposes. His fault? No. A flaw? Not at all. I did think it would be aprapo for him to find his way to our rescue if he was deaf–and we didn’t even know it when we pulled him. Not that we choose only deaf dogs, but there are several shelters that know our experience with them, and they often contact us when they have a “deafy” on their hands.

It’s easy to focus on the “attrocious human” that did this to him, that would allow an animal to get to this point. Us rescuers are passionate people, and often driven to madness when we see how awful and ignorant some humans can be. I’ve seen too many times on Facebook the rants and unproductive anger toward said humans. Yes, it is beyond upsetting. Yes, we are human and it seems human nature to have at least an inkling of a need for revenge. But that anger, frustration, and need for vindication only distracts us from the whole reason we got into rescue in the first place.

Let Kyler’s last 24 hours of life be a reminder that we are here for THEM. Not the “stupid” veterinarians that insist a very unhealthy dog should not go to a different vet for better care. Not the crazy people with googley eyes who had a backyard puppy mill with almost 400 dogs. Not the jackasses that think it’s ok to let dogs fight–and consider it “playing” because there is “no bloodshed.” Not the veterinarian that has lost sight of why he/she became a veterinarian in the first place. Not the crazy woman who slanders a fellow rescuer because SHE wanted the dog that the rescue pulled. Not the foster that bailed. Not the person that can’t handle their dog. Not the person that doesn’t clean up their dog’s poop on your street.

It is for the animals. WE ARE THEIR VOICE.

I would like to thank the other rescues that supported us, particularly Chicago Pit Stop Rescue who transported and loved Kyler until they were able to bring him to our vet the next day. And thank you to all who supported our decision to bring this boy to safety.

Run free and let your tongue hang out of that great pittie smile, Kyler. We hope we did you right.

~Kristine

Secondhand Snoots Rescue Blog

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Please visit our website at http://www.secondhandsnoots.org for more information!