animal rescuers - resources - support

[christie]

I posted this in the Pets thread, but thought that some of you dealing more with rescue canines might have some ideas for the transition/socialization of Sookie, our latest Giant Schnauzer rescue.

All of our schnauzer pack are rescues. Max who is almost 22/23, Scooter was a Katrina rescue boy and Samson also came out of rescue.

Here is my conundrum. In all my years of having rescues as pets, I usually get the overly excited to have a home, in your face untrained behaviored pups.

Not our Sookie. While she has made great strides the last couple of days, I have never had a dog that just wanted to den up and be completely isolated. Since she came out of a horrific situation where she was found in a medium crate with a full size shephard, and obviously had no socialization/training, I am not expecting her to just perk up and be all, "Yay, I have a home" but I do want to figure out how to ease her process without reinforcing the behavior of isolating herself.

Treat bribing isnt working (I know Caesar would have my head for trying it), and she has started to come up to us for affection. I am hopeful that its just a time and patience thing. Ya'll all should know I have the patience of a gnat!

Any ideas for how we can facilitate the process?

[Diavolo]

Originally Posted by christie0918

I posted this in the Pets thread, but thought that some of you dealing more with rescue canines might have some ideas for the transition/socialization of Sookie, our latest Giant Schnauzer rescue.

All of our schnauzer pack are rescues. Max who is almost 22/23, Scooter was a Katrina rescue boy and Samson also came out of rescue.

Here is my conundrum. In all my years of having rescues as pets, I usually get the overly excited to have a home, in your face untrained behaviored pups.

Not our Sookie. While she has made great strides the last couple of days, I have never had a dog that just wanted to den up and be completely isolated. Since she came out of a horrific situation where she was found in a medium crate with a full size shephard, and obviously had no socialization/training, I am not expecting her to just perk up and be all, "Yay, I have a home" but I do want to figure out how to ease her process without reinforcing the behavior of isolating herself.

Treat bribing isnt working (I know Caesar would have my head for trying it), and she has started to come up to us for affection. I am hopeful that its just a time and patience thing. Ya'll all should know I have the patience of a gnat!

Any ideas for how we can facilitate the process?

Her comfort zone is going to be the crate, but she needs to get out. I would hook her up on the lead at regular times during the day and take her for a walk. She'll hate it at first but then it will become part of her routine and she will bond with you and eventually come out of the crate. She needs to go for dog walks with you, take her. It's the right thing to do. The best day will be when she walks over to you and puts her head in your lap. Or does the happy dance for a walk. It'll come. Sherman came out to me while I was reading in the yard and licked my arm today. Huge progress since last Friday.

[Corkey]

The walk is the most important aspect of her recovery. When she gets comfortable with it just being you or Jess, include the most calm of your pack to also go on a walk with her. You'll see progress.

[Soft*Silver]

I recently rescued an 11+ year old newfie/chow mix from our pound. His name is Old Max. He has been to the vet, who said he passes inspection and after treatment for kennel cough, will join Story (my 14 year old newfie girl) and myself in the house. (He is in quarantine at my house for now.) I have watched this old man go from total depression to doing the puppy play position with Story! He lost his missus when she died and the out of state daughter sent him to the pound. No wonder he was depressed. He is a happy little camper and yes, by god, if he does get along with Story in the house, he will live out his days with us.

I am setting up a portion of my property to be used as a foster program for our country pound. I SO loved fostering Max, that I do want to keep doing it. I already volunteer at the cat shelter where I got my one eyed limping kitty, Mr Smitty.

As for the Schnauzer, I think she needs more time to observe you and the pack. She has only been with you a few days, right? When I got Story, who was a kennel dog all her life, she had no idea what to do in the house. I got her when she was 7, so overnite, she lost her home and her pack and was thrown into a family setting. She shut down. She wanted to stay in a corner, away from people and the other dog. She needed time to process and watch. In time, she started coming out of the corner. (Just IMHO)

[christie]

Thank you all for your responses. I know that time and patience are key, as well as the walks. We leash them all up and off down the road we go! Our neighbors all think we are crazy anyway - we live in an area where pets aren't valued the same as Jess and I do. We experience a lot of "disposable" attitudes. They aren't bad people, but dogs, especially large ones, are often "outside" dogs and we are the only ones who actually walk our dogs. Most people open the door and let them run willy nilly. Makes me nuts.

I am happy to report that Jess says that Sookie has willingly come out of the crate and sat patiently by the door for her leash and has come for affection! (I travel for work 3 days per week). I can't wait to get home tomorrow to see where we are...

[Lady Pamela]

This is Fury





He is my new grandpuppy...smiles

I just wanted to share...He was rescued and still needs a good grooming job...But he is sooo cute!

[christie]

I am so glad to share that Sookie is coming right out of her shell. Yesterday, we saw a new side of her as she showed us her butt wiggle dance after a day spent being SO social that every time we turned around, her big ole wet nose was by your hand waiting for a pat.

We still haven't heard her make a sound but I think its coming.

Its really nifty to watch her progress and just makes my heart full.

[Diavolo]

My guy Sherman has come out of his shell a lot. It's been exactly a week today since I pulled him from the shelter. This morning he tentatively came down the hallway to my office. It's the first time since I picked him up. He's following my dogs' lead, so they've taught him to scratch the back door to get me to open it. He's a thief, but he doesn't tear stuff up. I've found a glove, a wooden spoon, a sports bra, a shoe, a bike bag and I can't even remember what else out in the yard. Just sitting there. Last night he actually came in to the living room, as opposed to spending the evening in his crate, even though the door is open. He gently snuck up on the couch that my dogs sleep on. My dogs were begging for ice cream so they didn't know he was there. When they went back to their spots, he hopped down and went back to his crate. He barks to be let out and sleeps in a hole that Rita dug in the back yard. Sunday the transport is running and he'll head up to the rescue. There is a family in Washington waiting for his arrival. He's going to have a great life.

[turasultana]

saw a kitten on the street the last couple days. we caught her tonite cause some kids said they wanted her. of course dad said no. So now there's a kitten in the spare room for the nite. She goes to a shelter tomorrow unless we find a home asap.

7 weeks old about. But we have 6 including the one we found and kept a few weeks ago. no more room at the inn. I'm tormented. I may need to learn to just walk past them but its so hard.

nyc/brooklyn - come and get her!

[violaine]

usually in one e-mail, sent out to LOTS of e-mail routings.

i looked here- Resources for cats/animals in ny/Brooklyn area:

http://www.hellobrooklyn.com/Brookly...al_rescue.html

turasultana,
maybe you could write to someone at each of the e-mail addresses provided below, and explain all of the [great!] work you have been doing. Also, be sure to mention the number of cats you already have. In doing this very same thing as I’m suggesting to you- after composing a warm and respectful letter- indicating my own work with dogs/cats/gpigs/et c., plus, my efforts to place animal[s], usually, what I have found [again and again], is that my letter gets forwarded to people who may not be otherwise accessible to me via search on the net . Your local humane society or animal control may also have a list of contact people to share with you for cat fostering, so when / if you write that one e-mail, add these to your list for sending out. Maybe checking one county over too, if you can get the kitty there. the local library may permit a flyer to be posted, groomers, and find out which businesses support your humane society [check their online newsletter], to see if you can post flyers there as well.

here:
http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NY396.html

https://www.netpets.org/militarypet/foster.php

http://www.kensingtonkitties.net/foster.html

one letter with an attached image of the kitty, certainly saves time and energy. I mass e-message it to [cat] rescue groups, and individuals listed who foster pets [kittens/cats].

Thank you for helping the kittens out there on the street! Someone will offer help to you this time.

Best,
belle

[turasultana]

Thanks Volaine!

I live in kensington brooklyn so I'll def. call kensington kitties. Maybe if I give them a donation they can get the kitten a foster home.

[violaine]

the little pig from the animal control facility is as sweet as can be. he is smallish, his toenails were very long/coiled round and round, wood chips/bedding were stuck to several of his toes with poo, and he was seriously impacted. this happens with poor diet, husbandry, & lack of mental and physical stimulation.

i'm not sure if anyone knows about older pigs and this condition, but i am posting a link. he will need help- being emptied once or twice daily, and neutering will not help a pig once the impaction begins.

information:

http://www.guinealynx.info/impaction.html

not a lovely job, but someone has to do it for them!